I attended my first Brian Wilson concert ever this last weekend It was life changing!
So the story goes like this:
PART I
Calgary, Southern Jubilee Auditorium, June 25,2011
A fan of my BB covers, Robbie, sent an email to David Leaf. David Leaf emailed me expressing how he enjoyed my covers and that I should meet Brian and the band when they come to Alberta. Because of this I got talking to Probyn Gregory who got me backstage passes! When I talked to Probyn he said there was no guarantee that I would meet Brian but that some of the band are always around after the show to chat for a bit. I knew that I might not get to meet Brian and I expected not too but I was still beyond elated that I could meet the band!
We arrive at the venue in Calgary, get our backstage passes and see that there is a pre-show meet & greet at 6:45. I asked the lady what this entailed since I was told I would be going backstage after the show. She said to wait around the box office and someone would soon be there.
A crew member comes shortly after and takes us back stage. I walk into Brian Wilson's dressing room and he, Jeff Foskett and another man (possibly a manager) are standing there. I grasp for breath and start tearing up instantly. Jeff says "Hi Kayla. David Leaf sure speaks highly of you". I was still a little breathless but managed to thank him and say how happy I was to have heard from David. Brian then comes over and shakes our hands. Jeff tells me that they watched a couple of my YouTube videos last night and Brian looks at me and says "You make some good music!" I'm stunned at this point. I thank them and then they ask if I would like a picture. Tyson's first attempt was accidentally a small video then we got the picture. I got to stand there hugging Brian for half a minute or more (thanks Tyson! LOL) and he says "Alright!".
Jeff then asks what I do. I said I was a waitress but now I'm doing construction. They laugh a bit and say really? and I explain that I'm doing it to work on music full time in the winter. They ask if I want something signed and I grab my SMiLE album. Jeff spells my name to Brian and he signs it. Then I said to Brian "Thank you Brian, you've changed my life" and he says "Thank you! Enjoy the show!".
Jeff then walks us back to the auditorium. He tells me "We watched two of your videos last night, Wouldn't It Be Nice and Let Him Run Wild". I asked if Brian really watched them and he says "When I say we I mean Brian and I" to which I respond "amazing!". I thank him a few more times and tell him how excited I am for the show, he says it's an amazing show and to enjoy. We shake his hand, I thank him again and he shows us our seats. He says "Man, those are good seats!".
After that I just stood there in a daze. I was going back and forth from tearing up to screaming with giddiness. I really was not expecting to meet him and I could have gone home happy after that!
Then we watched the concert. First he played the Gershwin set then the classic Beach Boys set. It was all amazing. The band was shockingly amazing! Everything sounded perfect, just like the album if not better. The harmonies were spot on and Brian sang so beautifully. I didn't know what to expect from a 69 yr old mans voice but it was really good! The band is so impressive. They are all multi-instrumentalists and they play it all wonderfully!
The only down side to where we were sitting is Brian's face was blocked a bit by the prompter he was using. I was pretty agile though and twisted my neck enough to get a pretty good look!
At the end of the show when everyone was exiting the stage Jeff walked past. He stopped for a second and pointed at me. I waved at him and just laughed.
Then we were taken backstage to meet the band. We talked to Probyn, Scott and Nelson. They were all so nice and told us some great stories. They signed my SMiLE and TLOS albums. When they were getting close to leaving Nelson asked us if we would be going to the Edmonton show the next night. We said we would have been there but could only afford to go to one show. Then he and Probyn told us they would give us tickets if we came. We said we would and thanks for the offer but we would be too tired...are you kidding me? We said hell yes we'll be there!!!
PART II
Edmonton, Southern Jubilee Auditorium, June 26, 2011
We arrive at the venue in Edmonton a good hour or more before the show. We knew we had tickets waiting for us but we had no idea that they would be front row seats! We also didn't know we would have after show passes again! What wonderful surprises. I couldn't have asked for more than this and yet I got more!
Before the show started Probyn came out around the Merch booth where we were and we got a chance to thank him again and chat a little. Then we grab our seats and talk to another couple about the excitement! I tell them my first story excitedly before the show starts. Then the lights go down and Brian and the band enter. It was just as exhilarating as the day before.
This time I enjoyed the Gershwin set even more! I thought it was just beautiful which must have been why it went by so quickly. Before we knew it we were at our 20 minute intermission. While Tyson runs to the washroom I hang out taking a couple pictures of the stage. While I'm fiddling with my camera Jeff Foskett pops up beside me and says "Come with me". At first I thought it was security busting my camera use but I quickly caught on. I follow him backstage all the while clumsily dropping half a million things from my gorged purse (I didn't want to leave it behind with no one around)...( Not that I don't trust you Beach Boys fans).
As I follow him I see some of the band members, Scott Bennet comes around the corner and cheerfully greets me. Then we go up on the side stage and Brian's just sitting back relaxed in a chair. Not doing anything at all. Jeff says "Brian, you remember Kayla from yesterday?". I shake his hand and greet him. He says "Hey man how you doing". I tell him great and say "You're doing great so far" to which Brian responds "Thanks! You too."
Jeff and him banter a little bit about how he's doing. I tell him his voice is wonderful and the band is so tight. He responds saying "ya they're good boys". I ask if they are enjoying Canada so far. Brian says "Oh yeah it's great" and Jeff says "Oh ya we've seen some Arby's etc" jokingly.
I mention one of the band mates adventure getting stuck in Banff the day of the Calgary show and trying to hitchhike his way back. Luckily he got a ride from I believe wildlife park officials or something along those lines. We joke a little, all the while Brian's staring out onto the stage. So I decide to thank him once again. I shake his hand again and Jeff escorts me from the stage back to the audience. I thank him again and we talk a little about how long he's been with Brian and the Beach Boys. He tells me he likes my comment on Facebook about how I can die happy now and says that's how he felt when he first met Brian too. I ask him if he can sign my SMiLE album quickly and he replies "Sure, anything you want". We say farewell and I go back to my seat where Tyson is sitting. Of course he's quite upset his bathroom trip had to happen right when this did. I point and show him that the running shoes on the side of the stage belong to Brian.
Soon enough the second set begins. It was electric. Once they got into a few songs the whole audience was clammering for more. We all participated clapping and dancing and singing. During 'Barbara Anne', Jeff stands directly in front of me on the stage and cups his ears as if to hear me sing. Later, Scott turns his microphone in our direction during 'Fun, Fun, Fun'. Brian even comments on how amazing this Edmonton audience is. One of the strangest requests Brian made was when he asked "Not for any sort of joke or anything but how many of you have cigarette liters?". A handful of people light them and I believe Jeff says "32 Brian" and he says "32! OK!" and starts the next song. There were some sute Brian moments in this show, I loved all the ad lib dialogue, it was interesting seeing what he changed from the day before. Then, quicker than the first show, it was over.
We went over to our after show location and chatted again with some band mates. Tyson had a really good conversation with Probyn while I chatted with Darian. I approached Darian and asked if he would sign a couple albums. He willingly agrees and asks to who and I say Kayla (of course). He begins to write and then ponders "Kayla? Wait are you the girl who does the covers?" and I say yes. He says "I've got to shake your hand -(which we do)- actually I've gotta hug you". At this point I am beyond flattered that he recognizes me. We chat a little while about it and he tells me how inspiring it is to see a younger person take such an interest not only in the Beach Boys but in valuable music. He asks me how I break down each Beach Boys song and I tell him by ear and he says "that's impressive". We get into a really nice conversation where he tells a couple stories about Brian and getting to be in the band but we get interrupted because the bus is going to leave.
The story doesn't end here though. We get invited to a local pub across from their hotel! So for the next couple hours we visit and joke with them like old friends! We even got into discussion about the Canadian postal strike, of all things! LOL! Probyn, Scott, Nelson and Brett were there along with some other fans-it was a really fun time. When it got to be almost 2 in the morning we figured we still had an hour and a half drive before we got home as well as the fact that I had to get up at 6 in the morning. I would have stayed all night if I could, when will it happen again!?! BUT I thought anything less than 3 hours of sleep would be deadly. I get a few pictures and we say our goodbyes. I even got a little goodbye kiss on the cheek! LOL
I crashed almost right after entering the car. I also noticed my health was deteriorating fast. A sore throat and runny nose began on the car ride. BUT I sucked it up and worked a 9 hour shift today (worst day of my life). I'm pretty sick right now and I'm not at my best but I just keep thinking about all the conversations we had. This will be a memory to last a lifetime!!!
I feel like I can die happy now and I'm sure my SMiLE will still be plastered on my face until the grave! LOL Thank you Robbie, David Leaf, Probyn Gregory and Jeff Foskett. You'll never know what you've given me.
So to end this exciting post I will leave you with my latest cover. It's a Brian Wilson song called 'Love & Mercy' and it fits my mood right now perfectly!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYhlpJlLM60Thanks for listening!
~KAYLA~
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