Brian in Toronto - 6/18/11

[37!ws]

brianwilson.com seems to imply that they WILL be doing Gershwin in July:

2011 U.S. Tour
Brian's wildly popular shows in June will resume in the U.S. in Grand Rapids, IN [sic] on July 29. Don't miss the opportunity to see these memorable shows. Brian and his band are performing Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin in its entirety, along with a selection of classic solo and Beach Boys classics. Click below for tickets and more information.
 
June 6, 2011: Vienna VA: The Filene Center
June 8, 2011: Ridgefield CT: The Ridgefield Playhouse
June 9, 2011: Montclair NJ: The Wellmont Theatre
June 11, 2011: New York, NY: Highline Ballroom
June 12, 2011: New York, NY: Highline Ballroom
June 13, 2011: New York, NY: Highline Ballroom
July 29, 2011: Grand Rapids, MI: Meijer Gardens Amphitheater
July 30, 2011: Saint Charles, IL: The Arcade Theater
July 31, 2011: Clear Lake, IA: Surf Ballroom
August 3, 2011: Atlanta, GA: Chastain Park Amphitheater
August 5, 2011: Hollywood, FL: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

[Mikie]

But yeah, I'd love to see Brian sing the "At three-score-and-five" lyric!

Me too. Has he ever sang that line live??

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I hope he does some dates in New England. 

Already did - Ridgefield CT on the 8th.

Andrew - I was asleep when the CT schedule was posted...additional dates, is what I was thinking of, since I missed that boat...Massachusetts, Rhode Island,(he played Lupo's in Providence, Rhode Island, about 18 months or so, ago, to a pretty "full house"  or Southern New Hampshire...where Hampton Beach Casino is located.  Even with the gas prices, and the bad economy, people are going to the resort towns and renting cottages in droves this season. 

9/9 - Bestival, Isle Of Wight (not BWRG)
9/10 - Gateshead England
9/21 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
9/11 - Glasgow, Scotland
9/13 - Manchester, England
9/14 - Birmingham, England
9/16 - London, England
9/17 - London, England
9/18 - London, England
9/20 - Paris, France
9/22 - Brussels, Belgium
9/24 - Copenhagen, Denmark
9/25 - Stockholm, Sweden
9/26 - Oslo, Norway

Should add the Dublin show to that

and what happened with Amsterdam sneekily squeezing herself comfortably between a few U.K gigs?

Yup... definitely pulled up the wrong file. 

Zombie Wesker is shocked and appalled

[Andrew G. Doe]

[brain fart]

[Mark Dillon]

I was a little bit apprehensive about the Toronto show, having read mixed reviews of earlier shows here, but was very pleasantly surprised. There was an enthusiastic crowd at Massey Hall – not sold out, but close – and I think Brian and the band fed off that. I thought the first half – Beach Boys classics and some lesser-known tracks like "Salt Lake City" and "Pet Sounds" –was very strong. Then he did the Gershwin stuff, and I thought it went over very well. The crowd was into it. Then the encores. First time I've seen him not close with "Love and Mercy". He ended on the more upbeat note of "All Summer Long". I thought Brian was in good form and a little more chatty the usual.

A couple of days earlier, he received the NxNE lifetime achievement award sponsored by Now magazine. That was pretty funny. There was a good crowd of media and fans for the awards ceremony. First, the arts editor of the magazine came on and said some nice things about Brian, followed by a video montage – which strangely featured a lot of footage from Brian's "dark years" – and generous song clips. Then Jim Cuddy from popular Toronto country rock band Blue Rodeo came on stage to introduce Brian. Cuddy talked about how when he was a kid it was all about the fun songs from The Beach Boys, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Then, when "Good Vibrations" came along it awoke his consciousness about how records were put together. After that he heard his sister's copy of Surf's Up and thought "Wow, somebody bummed out The Beach Boys!" So the stage was set, and he introduced Brian. Brian came onstage and appeared at ease. He went to the podium, thanked everyone in a few seconds and then said, "BYE!" He didn't even wait for Cuddy to hand him the award. He just grabbed it off the podium and left the stage as quickly as he could. No questions from the crowd, no onstage Q&A. Nothing. Some in the crowd thought he was kidding. But nope, that was it. It was quite hilarious. In all fairness, we were told we wouldn't have any "face time" with Brian, because he had to head to Montréal for a concert.

All in all, a memorable few days for Brian in Toronto.

[37!ws]

Just to follow up....

1) That's right, no Taylor...and you know what? I thought the vocal blend actually sounded better. Could have been because EVERYBODY had vocal mics, including Brett and Nelson, which wasn't the case before...don't remember the Tasty Brothers ever having vocal mics, so there were at least two additional voices in the mix fattening up the sound. And Taylor? Never said this in a public forum before, but I'm proud to say it now: her sole purpose with that band was eye candy. I don't mean to disparage Taylor herself --- I've heard some of her own material, and she's an excellent singer -- but musically I don't think she was a good fit with these guys. Basically, her voice added too much treble....and she also was the only one in the band, besides a bass player, who was not a multitasker, unless you count ringing the triangle once and tipping a little thing that went "moooooo!" during the Smile concerts; everybody else -- especially Scott and Probyn -- always worked their hearts off as instrumentalists...

2) Just read a 3 and a half-star review (I wouldn't mind such a review for my own stuff!) with the reviewer claiming that he could have done without the Gershwin stuff (oof!!! I felt a fist right through my stomach) and that Brian was missing a lot of notes....gee, I have perfect pitch (no baseball jokes, please!) and I only noticed pitch problems during "The Like In I Love You." I dunno, maybe the sound waves in the fifth row aisle seats are such that they turn sour notes into good ones???

3) Forgot to mention...the venue was pretty jammed. Only a few balcony seats toward stage right were unoccupied....

[Jim McShane]

Just to follow up....

1) That's right, no Taylor...and you know what? I thought the vocal blend actually sounded better. Could have been because EVERYBODY had vocal mics, including Brett and Nelson, which wasn't the case before...

Incorrect. Nelson has always been miked and part of the blend.

don't remember the Tasty Brothers ever having vocal mics, so there were at least two additional voices in the mix fattening up the sound.

Bob Lizik only sang on Love & Mercy, but Jim Hines is an excellent vocalist. You can see him in the mix quite often - look at the BWPS video and you can see a lot of his vocal contribution.

The voice needed back in the mix is Mike D'Amico's - before he came back and took Jim Hines' place on drums he contributed vocals on almost everything (when he was the percussionist/guitarist).

And Taylor? Never said this in a public forum before, but I'm proud to say it now: her sole purpose with that band was eye candy.

You're proud to say it? That seems rather strange... proud?? Why?

I don't mean to disparage Taylor herself --- I've heard some of her own material, and she's an excellent singer -- but musically I don't think she was a good fit with these guys. Basically, her voice added too much treble....and she also was the only one in the band, besides a bass player, who was not a multitasker, unless you count ringing the triangle once and tipping a little thing that went "moooooo!" during the Smile concerts; everybody else -- especially Scott and Probyn -- always worked their hearts off as instrumentalists...

True enough regarding the lack of instrumental skills. As far as whether she was a good fit... it depends on the song. For example,  I thought she was too strong in the mix whenever I've heard Surfer Girl, but she did a fabulous job on Good Kind Of Love and certainly on Can't Wait Too Long. Most times I thought she just blended in the mix nicely.

[Shady]

BWRG has shot up into the top 20 on amazon canada, also in the top 100 on itunes..

Nice to see

[Jason]

I wouldn't say Taylor was just eye candy. Sure, she's nice to look at and all, but...her voice is still an integral part of that band. And the camaraderie is another thing that seems a bit off when she's not there.

Personal anecdote...when I saw Brian in Glenside back in '09, during Jeff's introduction of the band members, he called out Taylor by saying she had eaten a huge cheesesteak from Pat's before the show, and when she came out she laughed, saying "thank you Jeff, but you know I don't eat meat." Jeff replied, "she had a vegetarian cheesesteak with just the cheese wiz and bread."

[TdHabib]

This is the same show when introducing Foskett, Darian says "You know the Miles Davis album "Kind of Blue?" Well Jeff has a new album out, check it out, it's called "Kind of White."

And then Scott says, "it's the follow up to "Round Noon""

[donald]

I wouldn't say Taylor was just eye candy. Sure, she's nice to look at and all, but...her voice is still an integral part of that band. And the camaraderie is another thing that seems a bit off when she's not there.

Personal anecdote...when I saw Brian in Glenside back in '09, during Jeff's introduction of the band members, he called out Taylor by saying she had eaten a huge cheesesteak from Pat's before the show, and when she came out she laughed, saying "thank you Jeff, but you know I don't eat meat." Jeff replied, "she had a vegetarian cheesesteak with just the cheese wiz and bread."

I missed Taylor at the Vienna VA show earlier this month.  Her voice, her presence on stage, and her comaraderie with the band.
She has a relaxed and graceful presence that adds to the performance and is missing when she is gone.  One notices even more the somewhat awkward nonverbal communication between Jeff and Brian. 

One other thing that keeps coming up in the reviews is Brian leaving the stage before the songs are over.  I wonder why the band doesn't address this.....it detracts and unnecessarily calls attention to BWs awkwardness.  He should stay until the song is over, have the lights dimmed, and THEN leave.

This was the glaring oddity of the otherwise stellar fall 09 shows as well.  One reviewer noticed little else.

[37!ws]

Just to follow up....

1) That's right, no Taylor...and you know what? I thought the vocal blend actually sounded better. Could have been because EVERYBODY had vocal mics, including Brett and Nelson, which wasn't the case before...

Incorrect. Nelson has always been miked and part of the blend.

don't remember the Tasty Brothers ever having vocal mics, so there were at least two additional voices in the mix fattening up the sound.

Bob Lizik only sang on Love & Mercy, but Jim Hines is an excellent vocalist. You can see him in the mix quite often - look at the BWPS video and you can see a lot of his vocal contribution.

The voice needed back in the mix is Mike D'Amico's - before he came back and took Jim Hines' place on drums he contributed vocals on almost everything (when he was the percussionist/guitarist).

And Taylor? Never said this in a public forum before, but I'm proud to say it now: her sole purpose with that band was eye candy.

You're proud to say it? That seems rather strange... proud?? Why?

Proud because I really don't give a s**t who disagrees or how unpopular that opinion is.

[Jason]

Proud because I really don't give a s**t who disagrees or how unpopular that opinion is.

I salute you for offering your opinion without apologies. We need more of that on here. Shame it's in such short supply...

[Wirestone]

Seems to be in quite copious supply to me ...

[hypehat]

Fella did demand an explanation, though. I can hear Taylor a lot throughout all of Brian's 'band' efforts, so I for one am not prepared to dispose of her as just eyecandy.

I mean, it's a big vocal thing, right? Singers are important. You don't need Jeff, really. Nick Walusko covers the majority of guitar parts, and it's not like it's guitar heavy music. Or there are two keyboard players - samplers being what they are, you can trigger different samples playing same chords and etc. The only one who is truly indispensable is Probyn. Or you could just view women as inferior musicians, idk....

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Proud because I really don't give a s**t who disagrees or how unpopular that opinion is.

Wow. How daring.

[Mikie]

I wouldn't say Taylor was just eye candy. Sure, she's nice to look at and all, but...her voice is still an integral part of that band. And the camaraderie is another thing that seems a bit off when she's not there.

Completely agree!

[Mikie]

She has a relaxed and graceful presence that adds to the performance and is missing when she is gone.  One notices even more the somewhat awkward nonverbal communication between Jeff and Brian.

Yes!!

One other thing that keeps coming up in the reviews is Brian leaving the stage before the songs are over.  I wonder why the band doesn't address this.....it detracts and unnecessarily calls attention to BWs awkwardness.  He should stay until the song is over, have the lights dimmed, and THEN leave.

Totally agree, Don!!

[stack-o-tracks]

Soooooo.... Where is Taylor? And when is she coming back?

[onatrain]

Videos from NxNE life time achievement award.

http://www.nowtoronto.com/guides/nxne/2011/story.cfm?content=181296

[bgas]

Soooooo.... Where is Taylor? And when is she coming back?

She's gone for good. never to return. Her time is done. she's made her peace and moved on

[Andrew G. Doe]

Soooooo.... Where is Taylor? And when is she coming back?

Of late she's been playing live with an Austin Floyd tribute band, Which One's Pink. My feeling is, she's not coming back.

[MBE]

Made a silly joke no one should have to read.

[bgas]

Made a silly joke no one should have to read.

It's OK.  Bring it on

[Doo Dah]

I'm been enjoying reading this thread - I had the opportunity to catch the Toronto show as well, and like many I was cautiously optimistic after reading some of the lukewarm early tour date reviews. The band really really knocked it outta the park at Massey, they really did. The first set, with nice surprises like Little Girl I Once Knew, SLC as well as H & V really came off fresh and FULL. I gotta tell ya, even sans Taylor the vocal blend shined. Add a string quartet, and the total sound was pure caramel. Brian was very loose and engaging, and I can't remember a better 'greatest hits' performance of his - and I've seen most of the US tours the past decade.

Gershwin was fascinating to hear live. The album's orchestral links obviously recall BWPS, and heard as a complete body of work really flowed. The down tempo / lounge tracks leading to 'They Can't Take That Away' and 'I Got Rhythm' completely rocked the audience. The only hiccup (and it was a major one to me) was Brian's complete lack of intonation and voice control for 'The Like In I Love You'. It was almost as if he needed a warm up or something, because when he settled into 'Summertime' that's when the performance completely jelled and took flight.  As mentioned before, he was now bringing it and delivered a commanding performance for the balance of the Gershwin set.

Probably one of my favorite shows of Brian's. No kidding. Oh and by the way (regarding the whole 'will he retire or not') - as he left the stage he said, 'Thank you! We'll see you next time!' So there you go.