Brian Wilson 2016 Tour Thread (Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Tour)

[TonyW]

Last night was a triumph. Brian and the band nailed it!

It looks like the day's rest ... and a little bit of motivation from the Bernard Zuel article - really did the trick.

Last night was a different experience from the night before for me. The first night I was three rows back from the sound board but last night I was second row right in front of Al and Blondie.

First off I want to say how much Al adds to the show and how much vocals work he does and to be honest the more the better. The sound was fantastic - at least where I was - and talking with others in attendance throughout the theatre it was agreed the sound was much better. For example on night night one the bass harmonica was absent in the mix but last night it was loud and clear.

While last nights set list had less depth than the first show it was still a great mix of Brian's career.

[HeyJude]

While I know that "a variety of parties" read this board, one never knows how often or how meticulously. So let me just say, if they bounced back with a good show based on critical feedback, then good on them, and if they're listening, please keep the rare, deep cuts in the setlist! And add more!

You've got a pretty learned group of fans in the audience, already waiting to hear PS in full. They'll be fine with and probably prefer "Wake the World" and "Honkin' Down the Highway" instead of "Shut Down."

My weird deep cut pick that I think Brian and the band could do really well: "Goin' On." Mertens is even there to do the 80s sax solo.

One of my things is to just hear something new and different. It's not even like "Honkin' Down the Highway" or "Funky Pretty" are two of *all-time favorites.* I like them, but they wouldn't be my first picks on my own wish list. But I dig it, because it's different.

Just changing it up night to night (and preferably a change more substantive than just *cutting* a song, or swapping the order of existing songs) is exciting, and makes it a bit of a surprise for nerds like me looking at every setlist. 

[18thofMay]

Thursday's concert gave the family and myself to experience a Brian Wilson with us all in attendance for the first time. My Wife and 4 (7,9,10,11) boys plus me. Having spent over $1000 on tickets alone it was money very well spent. Being at the back was different to where I was seated on Tuesday but allowed great viewing and a more orchestral experience. The comparison to Tuesday would be that the band was tighter, they are so good at their craft that even if they are tired and or off they can still pull it together. No need to pull it together on Thursday , they were flying! Paul made a reference at the encore to the foolish SMH "journalist" by stating that they are not too old!
Brian was more talkative during songs but to me sounded just as good as he did on Tuesday.
The crowd was more receptive with several standing ovations which Brian would talk over to get the show moving along.
I once again had the pleasure of attending the after show gathering, all the guys were great and most were in attendance, no kick on shenanigans at the pub like Tuesday as I was still recovering!

[Debbie KL]

Thursday's concert gave the family and myself to experience a Brian Wilson with us all in attendance for the first time. My Wife and 4 (7,9,10,11) boys plus me. Having spent over $1000 on tickets alone it was money very well spent. Being at the back was different to where I was seated on Tuesday but allowed great viewing and a more orchestral experience. The comparison to Tuesday would be that the band was tighter, they are so good at their craft that even if they are tired and or off they can still pull it together. No need to pull it together on Thursday , they were flying! Paul made a reference at the encore to the foolish SMH "journalist" by stating that they are not too old!
Brian was more talkative during songs but to me sounded just as good as he did on Tuesday.
The crowd was more receptive with several standing ovations which Brian would talk over to get the show moving along.
I once again had the pleasure of attending the after show gathering, all the guys were great and most were in attendance, no kick on shenanigans at the pub like Tuesday as I was still recovering!

So glad you and your family all got to attend the shows.  It is worth the expense, isn't it?  Every show like this is a once-in-a-lifetime event.  Who cares about a journalist looking for mouse clicks with some controversy?  Other reviewers gave an actual balanced view of the performance. 

[John Stivaktas]

I went to the Tuesday Sydney show on the 29th. Yes, Brian had a few moments where lyrics were forgotten, he was off-key etc. but I was in the 12th row with my work colleague (and from there they sounded fine), a fellow Beach Boys fanatic, and I still consider the experience money well spent. The band were outstanding and I'm grateful I got to see them. If you've experienced the 2002 Pet Sounds tour shows then you'd know that Brian's band and show then were at the 'top of their form'. Surely no-one can expect the same at this stage of their careers? I was happy with the band performance on Tuesday night.

[mabewa]

While I know that "a variety of parties" read this board, one never knows how often or how meticulously. So let me just say, if they bounced back with a good show based on critical feedback, then good on them, and if they're listening, please keep the rare, deep cuts in the setlist! And add more!

You've got a pretty learned group of fans in the audience, already waiting to hear PS in full. They'll be fine with and probably prefer "Wake the World" and "Honkin' Down the Highway" instead of "Shut Down."

My weird deep cut pick that I think Brian and the band could do really well: "Goin' On." Mertens is even there to do the 80s sax solo.

One of my things is to just hear something new and different. It's not even like "Honkin' Down the Highway" or "Funky Pretty" are two of *all-time favorites.* I like them, but they wouldn't be my first picks on my own wish list. But I dig it, because it's different.

Just changing it up night to night (and preferably a change more substantive than just *cutting* a song, or swapping the order of existing songs) is exciting, and makes it a bit of a surprise for nerds like me looking at every setlist. 

I just wanted to heartily concur with this post. I was sad to see Honkin', Add Some Music and Wake The World dropped from the show last night, and I'm really hoping they will be played on the Japan dates. If songs have to be dropped, I don't really see the point in 'Then I Kissed Her.'  Sure, it's a good chance for Al to have a lead vocal, but two of the dropped songs give the same chance (as would 'Add Some Music' if Al sang part of it), and since the setlist seems to mostly be avoiding songs that Brian didn't write or co-write, I'd personally be OK with dropping 'Then I Kissed Her,' and also 'Barbara Ann' as well.

[HeyJude]

Sadly, if anyone was willing to sacrifice "Barbara Ann" from the setlist, it would probably have been done long ago.

It makes sense, because Surfin' USA and Fun Fun Fun work fine as rousing show closers. But it'll probably never happen.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Don't know if this is still the case but I was told a few years ago that it's still there because Brian likes it.

[bringahorseinhere?]

it's not about Brian, it's about us cheeky, greedy, leeches that want Brian to do what 'we' want 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Interesting... I've been told by an FB friend that Brian was told of the less-than-flattering SMH review. Don't know if it was just "Brian, some dude gave you a really bad review" or if someone read it out to him. Hopefully not the latter: it's widely known that I'm not overprotective of Brian, but really, did he need to know this ? Hopefully whoever was responsible was censured. Maybe that's why the second night was a 180 turn.

Uh... can someone write a really, really bad review of the Cardiff gig, please ? 

[AndrewHickey]

Interesting... I've been told by an FB friend that Brian was told of the less-than-flattering SMH review. Don't know if it was just "Brian, some dude gave you a really bad review" or if someone read it out to him. Hopefully not the latter: it's widely known that I'm not overprotective of Brian, but really, did he need to know this ? Hopefully whoever was responsible was censured. Maybe that's why the second night was a 180 turn.

Uh... can someone write a really, really bad review of the Cardiff gig, please ? 

Yeah, it's bad enough for normal artists to read bad reviews, but for someone with Brian's problems, that could really hurt.

[Ang Jones]

The SMH review would be more devastating if it had been fairer. It's live theatre, these things happen and not just to Brian but to most artists. I remember Mike Love telling us at a 1970 London show at the Finsbury Park Astoria that at the previous show (which I'd also attended) they'd only been "40% there". Parts of this review were hardly objective, let alone empathetic.

I'm not blaming the management either - what a task trying to balance demand and availability and sometimes it doesn't matter, sometimes it does.

Anyway, from all accounts I've heard so far the second show was great so the guys ironed out the mistakes.

Inevitably there'll probably be other nights that are less good and hopefully many that are splendid. Those who want to hear Pet Sounds as it was in 1966 have got the records.

[RubberSoul13]

I was actually wondering if that had happened considering all the songs that were hand-picked by that POS review were snipped from the set the second night.

[filledeplage]

Feel free to tear this ageist reviewer a new one:
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/brian-wilson-review-beach-boy-was-once-genius-but-its-time-to-let-it-go-20160330-gntq79.html

BRIAN WILSON REVIEW: BEACH BOY WAS ONCE GENIUS BUT IT'S TIME TO LET IT GO
March 30, 2016
Bernard Zuel

I'm of the sentiment that no one should be expected to give up their art just because they're getting older.

Thanks, Emdeeh for this.  This guy was born in 1965 and was a year old when Pet Sounds was released.  For starters, he has no historic context.  And he is playing the "age" card.  My turn.   They sent a boy to do a  man's  job. (Or a girl to do a woman's job.)  I just watched the Youtubes and he could not be more wrong.  I hope by the time Brian is back in the States, they have added Leaving This Town for Blondie to take the lead.  

When an artist decides to cease creating, or touring is his or her business alone.  Not a hired-hand reviewer.   It is aegism at it's worst. I don't have the expectation that a live show sound like a studio product.  Or, that a 73 year-old sound like a 20 year-old.  Give me the real deal that has aged like a fine cabernet.

The only one having an "off night" was Bernard Zuel. He was ill-suited to present the work for the readership.  Next time they should send a man instead of a boy.    

 

[Debbie KL]

Controversy = click bait.  I clicked once.  That was enough.  This reviewer should be in our rear-view mirror. 

We know how amazing Brian, Al, Blondie, Matt and band are.  More realistic reviews were published.  The fans who attended were happy with both shows.

[HeyJude]

Interesting... I've been told by an FB friend that Brian was told of the less-than-flattering SMH review. Don't know if it was just "Brian, some dude gave you a really bad review" or if someone read it out to him. Hopefully not the latter: it's widely known that I'm not overprotective of Brian, but really, did he need to know this ? Hopefully whoever was responsible was censured. Maybe that's why the second night was a 180 turn.

Uh... can someone write a really, really bad review of the Cardiff gig, please ? 

That has to be a tough decision to make. On the one hand, any artist has to know that criticism exists, and Brian certainly has to remember that not every gig and album has received flattering reviews over the years.

I don't think there's anything wrong with appropriate people (e.g. road managers, agent, those whose job it is to manage one's career) mentioning the review. I also don't think it's always best to immediately just dismiss the criticism. Ultimately, I think the Sydney guy wrote a pretty hack review. Some of the observations perhaps were not without some warrant, but his context seemed all off and despite the assurance that he had liked previous shows, it kind of read like a hit piece. The Foskett comment was a tad weird as well. But I don't think it would need to be a "Hey, Brian, there's one review from some guy. It's total BS and you shouldn't even listen to it." But at the same time, I don't think it would need to be dragged out and recounted word-for-word in anguishing detail.

If Brian and the band got a bad review, whether justified or not, and upped their game, I guess that can't be a bad thing, right?

As someone else alluded to, the main reason I *hope* they're not listening to the bad review is that three deep cuts got cut for no immediately obvious reason (it wasn't a festival show or a casino show; it indeed was the same venue for a second night, so why three songs less, and three of the interesting ones?).

Al might end up being the one who got fudged by this review if the reaction is to drop "Honkin'", since I can only imagine he's been chomping at the bit to do that one with Brian more than Brian has.

[HeyJude]

Controversy = click bait.  I clicked once.  That was enough.  This reviewer should be in our rear-view mirror. 

We know how amazing Brian, Al, Blondie, Matt and band are.  More realistic reviews were published.  The fans who attended were happy with both shows.

Click bait is a good point, and it sadly does work. What's going to get more eyes. Generally positive review #5, or controversial scathing review #1?

It's the same reason those magazines name "Sgt. Pepper" #1 on "Worst Album of All-Time" lists. They want people to turn their heads and go "whaaaa?"

[filledeplage]

Controversy = click bait.  I clicked once.  That was enough.  This reviewer should be in our rear-view mirror. 

We know how amazing Brian, Al, Blondie, Matt and band are.  More realistic reviews were published.  The fans who attended were happy with both shows.

A 2-star review might need to be reviewed by those concert goers. I just reopened the page, and there are no comments from those who attended. Or those who have seen the Youtubes and can opine. There should be an op-ed.  

The paper owners pay attention to the commentary.  Bemoaning the review here, might not be as productive as commentary from those who attended, supported by Youtube references, for all to see and review, and might be more useful.  It is not in the rear-view mirror in my opinion.  The informed opinions of those who actually also saw the concert render the review less one-sided.  

We are not always "going forward" as the politically correct narrative of today, would like to lead us. We have to look in that rear view mirror to see what is chasing us.  And fix those past mistakes if they were mistakes.  I would urge those who actually saw the concert to take a minute and thoughtfully counter this ageist review on their website.  Zuel is suggesting that Brian (and others) be put to pasture.  Highly inappropriate and intolerant.  

Zuel is not the arbiter of that decision and needs to be called out on exactly that.  JMHO  

[Pretty Funky]

...did he need to know this?

Hell yeah! He had done a good show just 3 days earlier. Call me tough if you like but leave the kid gloves at home or in the hotel room. As soon as you are taking money from people you need to be a professional. That goes for any entertainer or sportsman. Hopefully Brian or his people could then say "Something needs to be done about the schedule." As others have said, having so many shows around travel days and time zone changes must be tiring. I last saw Brian at the C50 in Melbourne the day after the Sydney show. He sang ok but his stage presence appeared uninterested. Auckland was much better as he had been in town a few days, and it was the first night of course.

[Ang Jones]

...did he need to know this?

Hell yeah! He had done a good show just 3 days earlier. Call me tough if you like but leave the kid gloves at home or in the hotel room. As soon as you are taking money from people you need to be a professional. That goes for any entertainer or sportsman. Hopefully Brian or his people could then say "Something needs to be done about the schedule." As others have said, having so many shows around travel days and time zone changes must be tiring. I last saw Brian at the C50 in Melbourne the day after the Sydney show. He sang ok but his stage presence appeared uninterested. Auckland was much better as he had been in town a few days, and it was the first night of course.

I accept this to a point but the opinion of one reviewer should be considered in the light of the other reviews and the audience reaction and posts in places like this. A great shame if certain songs are dropped from the setlist just because of the feelings of one person. Funky Pretty "questionable"? Meaning what, exactly?

[guitarfool2002]

Interesting... I've been told by an FB friend that Brian was told of the less-than-flattering SMH review. Don't know if it was just "Brian, some dude gave you a really bad review" or if someone read it out to him. Hopefully not the latter: it's widely known that I'm not overprotective of Brian, but really, did he need to know this ? Hopefully whoever was responsible was censured. Maybe that's why the second night was a 180 turn.

Uh... can someone write a really, really bad review of the Cardiff gig, please ? 

That has to be a tough decision to make. On the one hand, any artist has to know that criticism exists, and Brian certainly has to remember that not every gig and album has received flattering reviews over the years.

I don't think there's anything wrong with appropriate people (e.g. road managers, agent, those whose job it is to manage one's career) mentioning the review. I also don't think it's always best to immediately just dismiss the criticism. Ultimately, I think the Sydney guy wrote a pretty hack review. Some of the observations perhaps were not without some warrant, but his context seemed all off and despite the assurance that he had liked previous shows, it kind of read like a hit piece. The Foskett comment was a tad weird as well. But I don't think it would need to be a "Hey, Brian, there's one review from some guy. It's total BS and you shouldn't even listen to it." But at the same time, I don't think it would need to be dragged out and recounted word-for-word in anguishing detail.

If Brian and the band got a bad review, whether justified or not, and upped their game, I guess that can't be a bad thing, right?

As someone else alluded to, the main reason I *hope* they're not listening to the bad review is that three deep cuts got cut for no immediately obvious reason (it wasn't a festival show or a casino show; it indeed was the same venue for a second night, so why three songs less, and three of the interesting ones?).

Al might end up being the one who got fudged by this review if the reaction is to drop "Honkin'", since I can only imagine he's been chomping at the bit to do that one with Brian more than Brian has.

Thank you for finding and keying in on one line from the review that I missed on the first read-through, but saw it jumping off the page when I re-read it after seeing this post. The whole thing makes more sense now...good catch.

[CenturyDeprived]

Al might end up being the one who got fudged by this review if the reaction is to drop "Honkin'", since I can only imagine he's been chomping at the bit to do that one with Brian more than Brian has.

I do wonder how much Al truly wants to perform "Honkin'", and whether he truly digs the song or not... or if it's more of an obligation to play it since it's somewhat of a hardcore fan favorite, and there aren't all that many of those with original Al vocals.

At the recent Wild Honey show in Glendale, CA, Al made a comment to the effect of "Here's a song that Brian wrote and I sung... maybe he should have sung it!"... which made me think Al might feel ill-suited to sing it because of its odd lyrics.  

I wonder if the "take it, one little inch at a time now, till you're feeling fine now" double entendre lyrics were lost on Al when he sung the studio version, much in the way I imagine the "now she's tripping on some Chinese junk" lyric from "Somewhere Near Japan" might not have had its ulterior drug meaning register on Al's radar until after the fact, when the song had been recorded and released into the wild. I would love to have seen the look on Al's face when he learned that he'd unknowingly sung about dodgy topics he may not have wished or known about at the time of recording  

I could see that Al, years later, having learned about "Honkin"'s rather graphic sex reference, might feel a touch embarrassed singing it, but still nevertheless does sing it from time to time depending on the circumstances.

That said, I *love* "Honkin'" and I really, really hope that they keep playing it!

[Pretty Funky]

...did he need to know this?

Hell yeah! He had done a good show just 3 days earlier. Call me tough if you like but leave the kid gloves at home or in the hotel room. As soon as you are taking money from people you need to be a professional. That goes for any entertainer or sportsman. Hopefully Brian or his people could then say "Something needs to be done about the schedule." As others have said, having so many shows around travel days and time zone changes must be tiring. I last saw Brian at the C50 in Melbourne the day after the Sydney show. He sang ok but his stage presence appeared uninterested. Auckland was much better as he had been in town a few days, and it was the first night of course.

I accept this to a point but the opinion of one reviewer should be considered in the light of the other reviews and the audience reaction and posts in places like this. A great shame if certain songs are dropped from the setlist just because of the feelings of one person. Funky Pretty "questionable"? Meaning what, exactly?

They better get used to it. I'm sure this won't be the only negative review during the tour.

[Matt H]

Al might end up being the one who got fudged by this review if the reaction is to drop "Honkin'", since I can only imagine he's been chomping at the bit to do that one with Brian more than Brian has.

I do wonder how much Al truly wants to perform "Honkin'", and whether he truly digs the song or not... or if it's more of an obligation to play it since it's somewhat of a hardcore fan favorite, and there aren't all that many of those with original Al vocals.

At the recent Wild Honey show in Glendale, CA, Al made a comment to the effect of "Here's a song that Brian wrote and I sung... maybe he should have sung it!"... which made me think Al might feel ill-suited to sing it because of its odd lyrics.  

I wonder if the "take it, one little inch at a time now, till you're feeling fine now" double entendre lyrics were lost on Al when he sung the studio version, much in the way I imagine the "now she's tripping on some Chinese junk" lyric from "Somewhere Near Japan" might not have had its ulterior drug meaning register on Al's radar until after the fact, when the song had been recorded and released into the wild. I would love to have seen the look on Al's face when he learned that he'd unknowingly sung about dodgy topics he may not have wished or known about at the time of recording  

I could see that Al, years later, having learned about "Honkin"'s rather graphic sex reference, might feel a touch embarrassed singing it, but still nevertheless does sing it from time to time depending on the circumstances.

That said, I *love* "Honkin'" and I really, really hope that they keep playing it!

I would think that if he didn't like the song, he wouldn't have covered it on his solo album.

[CenturyDeprived]

Al might end up being the one who got fudged by this review if the reaction is to drop "Honkin'", since I can only imagine he's been chomping at the bit to do that one with Brian more than Brian has.

I do wonder how much Al truly wants to perform "Honkin'", and whether he truly digs the song or not... or if it's more of an obligation to play it since it's somewhat of a hardcore fan favorite, and there aren't all that many of those with original Al vocals.

At the recent Wild Honey show in Glendale, CA, Al made a comment to the effect of "Here's a song that Brian wrote and I sung... maybe he should have sung it!"... which made me think Al might feel ill-suited to sing it because of its odd lyrics.  

I wonder if the "take it, one little inch at a time now, till you're feeling fine now" double entendre lyrics were lost on Al when he sung the studio version, much in the way I imagine the "now she's tripping on some Chinese junk" lyric from "Somewhere Near Japan" might not have had its ulterior drug meaning register on Al's radar until after the fact, when the song had been recorded and released into the wild. I would love to have seen the look on Al's face when he learned that he'd unknowingly sung about dodgy topics he may not have wished or known about at the time of recording  

I could see that Al, years later, having learned about "Honkin"'s rather graphic sex reference, might feel a touch embarrassed singing it, but still nevertheless does sing it from time to time depending on the circumstances.

That said, I *love* "Honkin'" and I really, really hope that they keep playing it!

I would think that if he didn't like the song, he wouldn't have covered it on his solo album.

Well, that's a fair point to make. I'm not sure it's a "dislike" so much as a touch of possible unease, coupled with the fact of being appreciative that fans seem to dig the song. At least that's the takeaway I have based on the comments I witnessed Al make about how Brian should have sung it - I'm not sure why else he would have said that comment if not for the odd lyrics, with the sex reference probably the most quirky "easter egg" contained within the song (I, for one, didn't put two and two together about the sex reference until I heard it mentioned on this board).  

There seem to be very few BB songs with original Al leads (other than the done-to-death Help Me Rhonda) that Al probably to this day still gets attention/requests from fans... so I think he's perhaps made peace with the song, even if his comment seems to indicate he nevertheless feels a bit ill-suited to have been the BB chosen to originally sing it, IMO perhaps because he may think that the song is particularly Brian-centric lyrically.