The Smiley Smile Message Board

I recall in some discussions this year about Brian’s shows, one of the areas we ended up discussing his how Brian has improved (or not) compared to recent tours, and tours going all the way back to 1999. My general comment has always been that Brian has been relatively consistent through all the shows I’ve seen, with some obvious variation here and there as there usually is. I did single out the show I saw all the way back in 2000 on the “Pet Sounds” tour in Saratoga, CA as being his strongest that I had seen.

So I finally got a chance to go back and listen to that show again (in very, very good sound quality) for the first time in a number of years, and I was a bit shocked. Brian sounded MUCH better at this show than he has in recent years. I’m not surprised in general in the sense that that show was 13 years ago. He’s 71 now; he was 58 back then. But everything about this 2000 recording was better. Brian’s voice was stronger, he was more loose, and was going for and actually nailing more difficult vocal passages including even some falsetto bits. Not only that, but as I recalled at the time, this was also the most “on” I’ve ever seen him in terms of both singing voice and mood. Brian laughed; like a real organic laugh, numerous times. He gave intros to most every song, and did so with enthusiasm. At one point he gets so into it and the asks “how loud can you yell?” and then repeats “how loud can you f***in’ yell?”

In any event, no great new insights, and I’m not downing his current shows. I saw him last month in Oakland and it was an awesome show. But I don’t agree in any way that anything I’ve heard from him live in the last several years has been his “best.” In fact, I’ll be so bold as to say this show from September 20, 2000 is the BEST Brian show I’ve ever heard, either in person or on a recording; and I’ve heard tons of live recordings of his. While I think all of the guys needed some time and growth to get to a place where they could reunite in 2012, it’s too bad we never got to hear the 2000 version of Brian blend with the other guys.

I would tend to agree with you also . The most engaged  I have seen Bw in concert no doubt were the 3 Pet Sounds shows And the 3 Smile shows ive seen ..Also add the TLOS show I saw.. The other 8 times I"ve saw him it was up + down all night . Most noticeable was summer 2007 show Pasadena Ca.. Just after that laying down incident onstage up north your way.. He speeded up his vocals to get the band to play faster to get through the show.. Greatest hits show !.. Now as far as recording tho his vocals seem to have improved..

Brian was cracking the "how loud can you yell" comment for a good few years after that 2000 show you saw.  Same with "Row Your Boat" and "Cigarette Lighter" joke.  Not really a good way to judge how spontaneous or into a gig Brian is.  As for most artists their studio vocals will usually be better, especially as the use of auto tune has increased in recent years.  Maybe this is why Brian's studio vocals are better.  His voice was stronger 10 years ago naturally.  However he was more 'shouty' back in the 80s and 90s and definitely 'sings' more now.  He's been up and down vocally over the years since I first saw him in 2002.  Pet Sounds Tour 2002, Smile in 2004 and Gershwin and TLOS when he did the new stuff all very good.  Greatest Hits stuff not so very good!  Studio wise I love "Little Baby Mine" on the Disney album.  Fabulous vocal.  ;D

I'm sure the "how loud can you yell?" was a common bit, but I was at the show; he was uncommonly upbeat and jovial, and  very loose and comfortable (I've seen around ten Brian shows in person and heard I'm sure dozens and dozens of recordings), hence the funny f-bomb. The recording just re-reminded me of how unique the show was. A real treat. One of the only times I've seen him live where I could say unequivocally that he was fully enjoying doing the show.