The Smiley Smile Message Board

As follows:

Friday 16th
Front stalls - sold out
Rear stalls - 151
Balcony - 337
Boxes - 4
Sides - sold out
Total sold - 2,132 [81% capacity]

Saturday 17th
FS - 2
RS - 65
BC - 261
BX - 2
SD - 2
Total sold - 2,292 [87% capacity]

Sunday 18th
FS - sold out
RS - 357
BC - 407
BX - 5
SD - 2
Total sold - 1,853 [71% capacity]

1595 seats begging to be sat on. Help make a seat less lonely.

Is it an uncomfortable one, Andrew?

No, it's a Comfortable Chair.  ;D

... must be a pincushion then...

But seriously. I'm doubting whether I should go or not.... I already have a ticket for the Paradiso Amsterdam gig on the 21st. And if I'm going, I might choose for Gateshead instead...

I'll be in the front stalls on the 16th. I was worried the venue would be empty-ish, so I'm actually pleased as much as 81% have sold - pleasantly surprised even (the ticket prices gave me doubts).

Darn…    I'd just got permission from the missus to attend one of the RFH gigs for old time's sake (the 02 PS gigs were a blast, the first run of 04 BWPS gigs even blastier… I have tremendously fond memories of hanging out during those gigs) but turns out I'm working in West Yorkshire over that period anyway, so can't go.

Sorry Andrew, can't help on this occasion.

Gotta ask though, why did you buy so many tickets in the first place?

 

The Mrs and I already have box seats for the Saturday show.

I got my ticket for the Friday show over the weekend and I'll hopefully be going to the Saturday night as well.

Don't worry Andrew, you'll have someone next to you......I've just bought a ticket for Phil Cohen!

Although he said the gigs weren't going to happen-is this true?!!!

Am in the rear stalls on Sunday. Am really excited!

I've not been to the RFH before, what's their view on people taking photograph of gigs?

The tickets say no recording or video but don't say "no photography"....but would I get away with the big SLR I took successfully to Brian's Portsmouth gig in 2004?

Love the RFH, last time I was there was for That Lucky Old Sun, wonderful evening !

As long as it's not obvious, no problems. Turn your flash off, crank the ASA up to maybe 200 - there's enough light onstage. A good optical zoom helps a lot too.

I never use a flash at gigs....but normally when I take a big camera it is by prior arrangement with the band  ;D

I recall sitting in the 4th row for the Portsmouth SMiLE gig, and whenever I lifted up the camera Brian turned to me and smiled or mugged an amusing face. He was on good form.

I was at that gig too.

I'll be in the rear stalls on the 16th. First BW concert. Can't wait!!!  :happydance

Any chance of posting a few?

Were those ticket stats from a website? Or did you calculate it? If you yourself calculated it, it may be time to check into a "friendly environment", for some "peace and quiet".  ;D

SMiLE gig, Portsmouth August 2004

[attachment deleted by admin]

Pretty impressed with the sales, GFC and all. Should be fun very envious, was planning to come and marry the Mrs at the same time but decided on Fiji instead.

Counted the green dots on the RFH website seating plan for September 16-18.  ;D

Judgement call.  8)

I went out drinking with some friends last night and we discussed Brian Wilson to some degree. Anywho, I woke up this morning to a confirmation email from RFH for the 17th show ... looks like I'm going to two shows now  :beer

Fantastic  :lol

Probably because every time he does one more RFH gig everyone over here thinks 'Well, that's it, he won't be back to the UK again so I'd better see him one last time before he a) stops touring for good b) dies, c) whatever.

I shan't be going. This time.

Well, the die is cast.... I'm going to the UK for a long weekend... but it's not going to be London.

Sept. 10^th Gateshead, and Sept. 11^th Glasgow !   :) 

I might be selling 1 or 2 tickets to front stalls center seats for both the first (16.09) and second (17.09) shows.
If any of you guys is interested, let me know.

STE

Are Brian or his band likely to hang around for autographs etc, or is it just not worth the bother?

Usually an organised meet & greet afterwards, in the building.

Thanks Andrew, and is that for very lucky people indeed or is there any way people like me can attend? I guess it's already been sorted.

Guys, I'm still selling 1  ticket to front stalls center seats for both the first (16.09) and second (17.09) shows.  Will sell it the same price that it cost me.
PLUS, you get to sit net to me!! That alone is priceless!

If any of you guys is interested, let me know.


STE

So, this time in two weeks we'll be seeing BW! I have tickets for the 18th. Who else from the board is going, and on what days? It'd be nice to put some faces to (user)names.  :)

well, for me it's next week (Sat. 10th and Sunday 11th), and in  2½ weeks in Amsterdam (21st)

I'll be there on the 18th - chances are you know what I look like, if not -

(http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/10452pic.jpg)

- probably not quite so solemn.

Maaan, I'm going on the 16th and 17th :(

If anyone's at those shows though it'd be great to meet up, it's bad enough I have to go by myself, might as well socialise at some point ::)

Could be there one of those dates too.

Going on the 16th and very much looking forward to my first Brian show!

Shall look for the man with the thousand yard stare  :lol

I'll be with some friends, but I'll definitely say hi if I see you. I'll be the man who isn't Van Dyke Parks.

(http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff491/Hypehat/225166_10150196119793979_818943978_6932158_5176890_n.jpg)

Dublin for me on Wednesday then on to Manchester..

So freakin excited

Well, seeing as almost all of us aren't VDP, not very helpful.  :p

haha, it's the only recent photo I have of me, I'm honestly not posing  :lol

Is no-one else around on the 18th? A damn shame, imo.

Would love to be but work dictates different. Gone are the days when I'd walk out of the office to follow Mr Wilson and his SMiLE tour around Britain for a fortnight then nip over to California for six months to see what all the fuss is about!

Will be at Manchester though.

(http://www.outdoorsmanning.com/JohnManning3.jpg)

Beard's a bit lighter now!

I wonder if the recent Smile revelations will encourage a few more to buy tickets to these shows? I hope there is a good turn out but 80% approx. isn't bad as it stands.

I'll be at the 16th and 17th shows, front stalls, row H seat 30.  Come to say hello!

Awesome, on the 16th I'll be in the front stalls Row D Seat 37 :) On the 17th I'm in the rear stalls, ah well.

Looks like the 17th will sell out with the rest just about..

Man I'm so tempted to go to one of these shows

Come to the 18th!

I still have one front stall ticket for the 17th available, if you are interested.

Anyone know if you can take personal, digital cameras into RFH? I don't want mine to be taken away!

Yeah, compact cameras are usually fine, especially without much flash and if you are not too close to the stage.
And in the worse case they will ask you not to use it.

Just got back from Brian at Newcastle/Gateshead Sage... OMG!!!!!! Still excited!!! THAT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!

I know how you feel, you can't beat a Brian Wilson show

If that's not the greatest live show anywhere on the planet then I'm a chicken-and-ham pie  8)

We all know the hits are faultless but what did you think of the Gershwin set?

Even better than the album in my opinion. Sounds fantastic live

The Gershwin set — I agree it was so much better to witness it in concert. Almost faultless. Wonder if this has ever been filmed?

(Thought they might squeeze in a Disney toon but next time!)

Really looking forward to next week now! I saw the BBs in July and it was the best gig I have been to, so if Brian tops that then all the 'top' bands of the moment have got their work cut out!

I thought Brian sounded brittle during the Gershwin.  Wish he'd done it during the second half when he's always seemed more comfortable. Also wish he'd sing softer now and then.  Heroes and Villains, however, was stunning.

For them as is still undecided, tickets still to be had in London. Thus:

Friday 16th [85%]:
Front stalls - sold out
Rear stalls - 64 left
Balcony - 314
Boxes - sold out
Sides - sold out

Saturday 17th [92%]:
Front stalls - sold out
Rear stalls - 7
Balcony - 206
Boxes - sold out
Sides - sold out

Sunday 18th [77%]:
Front stalls - sold out
Rear stalls - 240
Balcony - 357
Boxes - sold out
Sides - sold out

One other thing, he was playing a fair bit of piano last night, sometimes to the detriment of his singing because he looked down away from the mic on occasion.

I'll be there. I am quite recognisable, same size as Jeff Foskett was on the SMiLE tour. With my similarly rotund missus. Got box seats and am taking a large camera.

Hi everyone, it's my first post here ,although I've been visiting this board regularly for 5 years and have been a BB fan for 20 years. How lucky we've been to receive such a variety of recent and forthcoming releases of BB and Brian material. I'm going to see Brian on Friday woo-hoo, rear stalls (KK-50 your welcome to say hi if you pass by!), don't care if the view's not great; at least i can say i was in the same room as him.
It's my 4th time I've been able to see Brian live; I've always left feeling grateful and amazed to listen to him perform-but have also felt damn, wish I'd have been able to say thanks to him personally for the wonderful and unique music he has given us; even in some hard times.
Have any of you been lucky enough to meet Brian for a few minutes after any of his concerts?
I'd love to as he's my only musical hero, but guess lots of us would and he probably wants to chill! Let's raise the roof for him each night at the RFH :smokin

Cheers

Andy

Hey Willy, I was there as well. Shame we didn't meet there. And I agree: it was a great performance. Not just BW and the band, but the venue also was perfect; the sound was great !

Anyone know anything about whether or not there'll be a meet 'n' greet and whether plebs like myself have a shot at meeting Bri and the band?

Yeah, usually there is

Are there any get togethers after the aftershow's?

The tradition has been the Travel Inn but I haven't heard of anything happening unless I've missed it-it would be good to put some faces to names

I'm sure the usual suspects will foregather in the TI afterwards, although I hear tell Stu & Sue probably aren't attending this time.

I'll be heading off to London tomorrow for the shows the day after and the day after that (the result of a poorly planned coach trip).

I'm not going with anyone so I guess before the show I'll just be in the bar sipping on a free 'Good-Ping Pong-Vibrations Martini Bianco' or a 'Rhapsody in Blue-Berry Cognac Martini' :rock

I was thinking of hanging out in the bar before the gig, but the Mrs wants to dine at Los Iguanas in the South Bank Centre....fair enough as she's agreed to attend the concert when normally she runs a mile at live amplified music (can't stand the volume).

I'm off to see Brian LIVE tonight for the first time!  :spin :spin :spin :happydance :happydance :thewilsons :thewilsons :thumbsup :huh :huh :tm :tm :banana :listening

Dead jealous!!! You'll have a great time!!!  :huh :banana :brian :spin :tm :wave

Man, you are gonna have a blast

Second gig just finished!

Just got back, WOW that was MUCH better than I ever could have expected!  :thumbsup Brian seemed to be in top form and the band was 'Wonderful'! Heroes and Villains was a massive highlight as was Good Vibrations which was just the greatest thing to be a part of. :) Also Scott was amazing doing Sail On Sailor and Darian doing Darlin'. Brian said this was the first time they had done 'Surfer Moon' in 45 years, was this the first or second time he performed it in all that time? Also I normally hate Barbara Ann but it just seems so much better when Brian stands up to play bass on it!! He also performed bass on Fun, Fun, Fun and Surfin Usa', to top it all off the version of Love and Mercy must have been the best performance i've ever heard of that song. I'm so glad I went and if there's any Smiley Smile people who haven't seen this man Live, it is a must as he and his band are excellent. I may change my name to something else because I think I have a new favourite live performer.  ;D

Really is nothing better than a Brian Wilson show..

Truly hope I get to see him again, twice was not enough this year  :-\

Oh that was a GREAT show. My Mrs, who isn't more than a casual Beach Boy fan was dancing most of the time and shoting "BRIAN BRIAN BRIAN". The Gershwin set was presented immaculately, Brian was in good voice for all but a few short moments. The rest, you probably know what to expect. Brian was animated, vocally good to excellent and though his banter may be scripted it's delivered with enthusiasm - at least it was last night.

I shot some 677 photos....yes six hundred and seventy seven. Not once did I use a flash (unlike many other audience members).

A great time was had by all, at times the entire RFH was on it's feet dancing.

BTW who was the little girl dancing?

Just got back from London. Wow, both shows I saw were inredible. Some great surprises on the setlist too (I posted the 16/9 one in the Concert Reviews section). I'm a little down that "In My Room" was cut, but since it seemed to make way for "The Surfer Moon" (ha) I'm not too displeased.

I'd like to upload some photos but even having reduced them to 500 pixles wide and around 50kb in size they won't upload :(

try www.tinypic.com. Much easier, and you don't have to reduce the quality.

Just got back! Amazing! Brian sang great during the first two sets! And also finally shook hands with AGD and his loud shirt. Heroes & Villains was the highlight for me, I think - Brian was killing it. Met Scott & Nelson after the show, who were lovely. Was walking home on air  ;D

Awesome..

Shame I missed out on the RFH shows

A review from yahoo! entertainment news.

http://uk.omg.yahoo.com/news/wilson-wraps-tour-royal-festival-hall-092814751.html (http://uk.omg.yahoo.com/news/wilson-wraps-tour-royal-festival-hall-092814751.html)

Owned by News Corporation.....based in the US (and therefore subject to inadequate US data protection laws).

No thanks.

Pix from the RFH on my Facebook pages:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150814901045510.742822.854765509&l=a9705a22c0&type=1 (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150814901045510.742822.854765509&l=a9705a22c0&type=1)

Loud ?  Loud ?  That shirt, sir, was the acme of subtlety.  :P

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/n_gulliver/BW/

The same selection of photos that I have on Facebook...though I don't think anybody from this board is currently friends with me on the book of the face.

There was a song playing before the concert that sounded a lot like "California Girls" but wasn't; it had a similar organ pattern and had some sleigh bells - definitely seemed influenced by CG at least. Does anyone know what it was? It's been bugging me.

If that shirt is subtle, my name's Brian Wilson  ;D