Just left the venue. Initial thoughts is that Brian was in great mood and it was a fantastic evening!!!

definitely......have never seen Brian so obviously enjoying a show,right from the start.....wonderful

From the sound of it, these shows must really be a hit or miss affair. When I saw Brian Saturday in London he seemed more quiet and less enthusiastic than all other times I've seen him (4) - I went to the show with two friends who've seen him 5 and 8 times before. They felt the same as me.

I guess the span between Brian's good and bad days on the road is just pretty wide. (does this phrase make sende in English? It's not my native language...)

I'm not trying to be the old cranky internet dude, and I know it's not always easy for newer fans to go back and read 17-year-old fan discussions (or even find them), but some of these are "1999 questions" for lack of a better way to put it. And frankly, some of these issues go back to Brian's 1976 return to the touring band. The last time Brian gave a totally unaffected, not-weird-in-any-possible-way live performance on stage, was probably 1965. Even his brief 1970 Pacific Northwest stint got a few sketchy reviews.
 
I don't think some questions about Brian's stage demeanor are unwarranted. But really, who buys tickets to a Brian Wilson show not *already knowing* what his deal is? There are a million YouTube videos, numerous official video releases (Brian's stage presence is *never* not at least a little weird, even on the official DVD releases), and so on.

It's like going to a Bob Dylan gig and asking why his voice sounds weird, or asking why McCartney does his "now all the boys, now all the girls" bit during "Hey Jude", or why Mike Love points to his temples or "drives" the mic stand like it's a steering wheel (dunno if he still does that one), or why Bruce claps and points. It's just part of the gig.

Brian has never looked completely relaxed and slick on stage. Ever. I've seen him come surprisingly and pleasantly close on some occasions (when I saw him on the 2000 "Pet Sounds" tour, he didn't touch the piano and just sat on his chair and sang a bunch of the show with his eyes closed, like he was recording in the studio; he sounded good, was in a *great* mood, etc.).

But I can't imagine dropping major coin for a BW show and being surprised by his stage demeanor and performance. He sometimes lacks energy, he hits a sour note once in while, he biffs the lyrics once in awhile. Sometimes some of those things are more on point, sometimes not as much.

The leaving before the last song thing is something Brian has been doing for years. I always assumed, while stilted, he's doing the same thing George Harrison did at the "Concert for Bangla Desh." He's leaving for slight dramatic effect and letting the band play out. Many leaders of bands have done this over the years. Brian's not great on showmanship, so it does kind of have the comical effect of just abruptly leaving. But again, this is all par for the course for Brian.

Go watch TV shows and live shows going back to the 70s. Brian (and the BBs on the whole at varying times over the years) have had moments where casual fans probably asked "Wtf?"

The piano thing is mostly for comfort. Brian does play some, often not. Go watch his late night Dick Clark talk show performance from 1988. *That's* why Brian doesn't just grab a mic and stand and perform!

When Brian first started touring in 1999, I think he probably felt the same as he does now: He mainly wants to just sing at his shows. We know he *can* play piano, but he doesn't want to at live gigs too much. So for early 1999 gigs, someone (whether it was someone else or Brian himself) made the weird and misguided decision that led to him feeling like he needed to keep moving his hands on the keyboard even if he wasn't playing. That *was* fake, obviously so, and was misguided for numerous reasons including that it gave the incorrect impression Brian couldn't play. Thankfully, by later in that same year, and certainly by 2000, he just kept the piano on stage but didn't play it.

Some good points there. Well put.

My two cents in regards to Brian's performance,...

I was at the Saturday show in London and although I enjoyed it I must say Brian's vocals threw me off a bit. Prior to going to the show, I'd read some nice reviews by other fans. As someone who's seen Brian a few times before, starting with the second Smile premiere show in London in 2004, I've heard my fair share of shaky BW live vocals, but to my ears his performance Saturday was the worst I've heard. Not for a lack of effort as such, I'm sure he did his best, but he just seemed to sing more off-key than usual as well as run out of air much quicker than before. That's just my experience of course, others obviously enjoyed it immensily which is great.

During 'Caroline No' he left the stage in a hurry before ther song ended... Has it been so during the other shows? I don't think I've seen him do this in any of the shows I've seen. Maybe I've just been lucky. It did seem a bit odd in a sort of 'get me out of here NOW' way but you could just as well regard it as a bit of BW quirkiness, I guess. ;-)

The band was, as usual, stellar with Matt Jardine doing a surperb job - 'Don't Worry Baby' and 'Wouldn't It be Nice' were the highlights for me. And the Palladium was a beautiful setting...

I'm going to the Saturday show at the Palladium in London.

I haven't read through the whole thread, so forgive me if I've overlooked something, but will fans meet up before the concert somewhere close to the Palladium? Like in a pub or so? Seems like there was something like that in Bristol recently. Could be cool meeting other fans.

I do think Denny Tedesco was remiss in not dedicating more time to Phil Spector and any time at all to Jan & Dean, as those two were pivotal in bringing the WC into prominent use with more popular/rock & roll artists in the early days.

I agree.

I have a con amore project of mine, Cue Castanets!, a blog solely devoted to dissecting the Wall of Sound. I've just posted an interview with Don Randi of the Wrecking Crew specifically focusing on their work with Phil Spector. I think you and others on the board will dig it - and hopefully other posts on the blog. Don briefly mentions his time with Brian in the studio as well:

www.cuecastanets.wordpress.com

Thanks guys. Yeah, I think both the cover and the video turned out really well.

And feelflows, glad to know you also like some of our own songs.  Regarding 'Glad You Decided to Stay' which closed our first album; have you heard 'Ebb & Flow' which closed our second album? If not, you might also dig this song as it has a similar feel:

https://surfschooldropouts.bandcamp.com/track/ebb-flow-2

Hi guys. Here's something I think you'll dig, it's a recent project by my band, Surf School Dropouts.

We took a cool original song by a fellow Danish band, the Beatophonics, and turned it into something Brian or Phil Spector could have worked up in LA in '66 along with the wrecking crew. Very pleased how this one turned out. The video was filmed in our rehearsal space last week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Psk3qyLiHw

If you'd like to compare our version with the original by the Beatophonics, you can see their video here. It's really cool but in a more stripped-down Beatles/Merseybeat vein.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9WSPUNr-Ms

I think that reputation mostly has to do with the pretty dull and straightforward drum sound he had on the various production Work he did for others after shutting Down ELO. The Tom Petty stuff as well as George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Joe Cocker, 'Free as a Bird' etc. I quite like those productions but I can understand where some of the critics are coming from. It has a certain Lynne sound for sure - but you could say that with Spector, Brian and others as well so I guess it's just a matter of personal taste.

I will add though that I think Jeff Lynne has been massively underrated as a gifted songwriter and producer if you look at his ELO stuff. It's cool to see power pop fans and others in the know starting to give him the respect he deserves. 'Livin' Thing' alone is a work of genius.

Here's a new video with a montage of harmony vocals from the recent Second Nature album by my band, Surf School Dropouts. The montage was inspired by the similar montage-style Alan Boyd and Mark Linett compiled for the Smile Sessions release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr_j76JDuX8

Lots of interesting things going on in the harmonies. The montage has been added as a free bonus track to the Second Nature album on our bandcamp profile.

https://surfschooldropouts.bandcamp.com/album/second-nature

Bumping in order to post this new video. It has a montage of harmony vocals from the Second Nature album and was inspired by the simalr montage-style Alan Boyd and Mark Linett compiled for the Smile Sessions release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr_j76JDuX8

Lots of interesting things going on in the harmonies. The montage has been added as a free bonus track to the Second Nature album on our bandcamp profile.

https://surfschooldropouts.bandcamp.com/album/second-nature

The great, late Roy Hamilton. Elvis' favorite singer. I rest my case.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI3gKJw7RbA

'Second Nature', the new album by Surf School Dropouts gets a great 8/10 rating at Powerpopaholic.com

"Unabashed Brian Wilson love is the whole reason Denmark’s Surf School Dropouts continue to churn out harmony-laden songs of sun, fun and summertime. They are also one of the few modern bands that can pull off the surf harmonies as good as this. (...) For Beach Boys fans this is manna from heaven."

Go here for the review and an embedded player to our Bandcamp store where you can buy the album for 7 bucks:

http://www.powerpopaholic.com/2015/05/surf-school-dropouts-and-minky-starshine.html

Very sad to hear Ben has passed. Such a fantastic singer.

Not only was his Drifters & solo 60s sides top notch, he also issued some great material later on. I've always been really fond of his collaboration with Scottish blue-eyed soulsters / funk boys Average White Band.

RIP!

Get It Up for Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_jr8UWha4k

A Star in the Ghetto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8_Jiwo5WnM

Just noticed this great thread. Count me in as someone who LOVES those gorgeous harmonies during the verses. As others have mentioned I don't think you can underestimate the importance of the double tracking the Guys did of the harmonies to get that full, almost chorus-like sound.

And speaking of which, - I've posted this video of my band singing the song at a church hall before but I don't think many have seen it. The acoustics in that church was mindblowing - we're only four guys doing the harmonies but it almost sounds like a choir. Imagine how Brian & the Guys would have sounded at a place like that!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXt89wgzBT4

Here's something I've really been diggin' lately but that I bet none of you has ever heard of. 'Harmony' - a new album by local Danish artist Vinnie Who.



It's his third album. The two former ones were very different and in a kind of glitzy & decadent Disco-vein and not bad either. (here's his breakthrough hit in these parts, 'Remedy': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faPJa5vmFCM)

But for this third album the sound has been changed completely. Out goes disco, in goes a very mellow, winsome and sometimes quasi-psychadelic collection of sounds harking back to the earlier part of the 70s. I hear a bit of Space Oddity-era Bowie, some George Harrison with a profound use of slide guitar, the occasional touch of Fleetwood Mac etc.

It's all very cozy and warm-sounding; some tunes are better than others but overall I was indeed very pleasantly surprised. Recently, there was a thread at the Hoffman board about music that's perfect to fall asleep to in the sense that it's comforting and wellserved as a rite of passage between being awake and dreaming, - if I wasn't a longtime lurker there I would no doubt throw this album in with all the other recommendations in the thread.

I love the sound he's achieved on all songs. There are even a few tracks that remind me a bit of the overlooked 'Blue Marble' album by Gary Usher's Sagittarius. (probably purely unintentional!)

Here are a few samples off 'Harmony'

Seven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yTyp9A0Mkg

Only Dreaming
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3YT3BLC4eY

Definately a grower! Highly recommended.
 

"Saturday night" : Great lead and an ear catcher! But as I mentioned before, I wonder if Brian didn't go too far in using Bacharach's "I say a little prayer" for the chorus. Reminding of the case of using familiar melodies for "That's why God made the radio" (the song). The middle part, though, sounds like it was a different song and doesn't fit imo.

Nice review. And good call on the 'I Say a Little Prayer' thing on 'Saturday Night'. I knew there was something familiar about the chorus on the latter but hadn't thought of this comparison.

Are we entirely certain those are synth horns on "Don't Worry"? They sound real to me.

If it's real horns - how do you record real horns to have them sound like synth horns and why on earth would you do that? At least some fills in the chorus sound synthy.

Well, I'm no horn player but I've listened to tons of soul and funk through the years and believe I'm pretty good at spotting fake horn sounds a mile away. The horn sounds on Don't Worry really does sound synthy to me - I don't hear any real horns anywhere on the track. I could be wrong of course but that's just what my ears are telling me - and it makes me cringe whenever I hear this otherwise quite nice and catchy song.

Don’t know if it makes any sense to post my personal review here any longer since the latest discussions about the album seems to, sadly, have curtailed into negativity in the ‘Many negative reviews of NPP’ thread. But here goes anyway – some basic thoughts. I haven’t read all the pages in this thread, so bear with me if I’m restating what others may have noted before me.

I was among those who purposefully kept away from listening to preview cuts from the album before release; when I received my Deluxe copy I had only heard Right Time, On the Island and Runaway Dancer (live version) via the youtube videos posted beforehand. I loved all three songs so that, along with some of the early praise from others here, had me stoked about the album.

I wish I could say it lived up to my expectations but I think it does fall a little short. For me, there’s definitely been much to enjoy but I don’t think it can touch TLOS, or perhaps even the Gershwin album in terms of Brian’s vocals and the overall production value. I’d say that I enjoy 2/3 of the album so, having said that, this is one happy fan though I had honestly hoped for a bit better album. Still, a fairly good Brian album is much better than most of the new releases out there so I’m not complaining.

A few opinions:

-   This Beautiful Day – THIS, as short as it is, is the stand-out track for me. GREAT opener! When I listened to the album in the car today I immidiedetly re-played the track after it ended so it basically sounded as if the verses were sung two times after each other. Works well that way. Brian could easily have stretched this one out with the second half having word-less harmonies like Think about the Days off TWGMR.

-   Al is otherworldly on the tracks where he sings lead! I wish he’d sung even more here. I particularly like him on Tell Me Why. Wow! I wish he’d sung lead on Saturday Night though – would have made an otherwise nice song much more compelling for me since the grit in Al’s typical vocal would have given the song a bit more power. Nate Ruess comes across as a bit to polished in his vocal for my taste.

-   I’m a bit perplexed by some of the negativity about Runaway Dancer. To these ears, it’s possibly the catchiest song on here. Really cool and kudos to Brian for trying something new. I guess the mixed emotions are due to the very modern, club-aimed production. And I must admit, had the production been toned down a little & more vintage-sounding like, say, Right Time, it would probably have fit the song better. But man, is this catchy!

-   I was curious to hear how almost all songs seem to end on a final drawn-out note instead of fading or having some of those gorgeous tags Brian is known for. It’s a shame he hasn’t incorporated a few into some of the dying seconds on these songs. Oh well, can’t have it all I guess.

-    The Right Time is such a great, catchy song. Unlike others here, I find it to be much superior to Lay Down Burdon.

-   I’m Feeling Sad is pure Brian. Super song. It reminds quite a lot of ‘Ticket to Wyoming’ by Ocean Blue. Has anyone else noticed this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iq0-MUjn34

-   What’s up with the heavy processing on Kacey Musgreaves’ vocal? It really sticks out like a sore thumb and really annoys me whenever I hear the song.

-   My two least favorite tracks on the album are Half Moon Bay (boring to these ears, doesn’t really go anywhere) and Our Special Love. (I have always hated that kind of all-vocals backing tracks like on this one. Basically, I think it sounds very messy and annoying…)

-   Don’t Worry is a decent song and I quite like it. But don’t get me started on those fake synth horns. I don’t know what Brian was thinking. The production value on the album is high throughout so I can’t fathom why he wouldn’t feature real horns on this song. Had he done that it would have sounded much, much better. Others on here have made comparisons to the 70s output of the Four Seasons. That comparison is spot-on!

-   The Last Song isn’t quite what I’d hoped it would be. It’s nice enough and has some lovely harmonies but I don’t think it measures up to the last songs on TWGMR – which I’d hoped it would. And which I think This Beautiful Day does.

Overall – nice album which I’m thoroughly enjoying. Not as much as I’d thought I’d do but there’s lots on here for me to enjoy. Some have taken issue with the use of autotune. That doesn’t really bother me. On the other hand, I think the production sometimes come across as to white-bred, high-polished – and, to some extent, life-less. The sound on TLOS was more to my liking but if this is where Brian’s head is at right now I respect him for following up on it as decisively as he’s clearly done. (not wanting to open a can of worms in terms of the whole discussion of how much control Joe Thomas and other parts of Brian’s team have…)

... and here are videos for two tracks off the album.

'Coastline Cruisin' (with Probyn Gregory sitting in on guitar solo)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqT0KDV-Shs

'Lanikai.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnfBqxRyfJQ

This may interest some of you guys;

I'm a member of a group called Surf School Dropouts who, to put it mildly, is inspired by the Beach Boys & the 60s/70s California scene. We are four friends who originally got together to harmonize some Beach Boys classics just for the fun of it but then started to write & record our own songs. Our debut album came out on vinyl in 2013 and we've just released our second album. If you like the Explorer's Club and similar groups you might dig our music.

Here's what www.beachboys.com wrote about our new album 'Second Nature':
"Banjos, vibraphones, jangling twelve-string guitars, saxophones are all featured, and sweet ethereal vocals swirl and tickle throughout. (...) Surprising chord progressions, inventive and ear-catching instrumental touches, and incredibly gorgeous harmonies make this album a fantastic pick for Beach Boys fans looking for something fresh and new to dive into."

Album available at www.surfschooldropouts.bandcamp.com

... as well as itunes, Amazon, Spotify etc.
Our Bandcamp shop is the only place you can stream & buy our debut album 'Summer is a State of Mind.'

Hope you'll check it out!  

Thanks Zach and Seltaeb. Yeah, I'm pretty pleased at how the cover turned out.

First review in; 5 out of 5 at www.beachboys.com

"Banjos, vibraphones, jangling twelve-string guitars, saxophones are all featured, and sweet ethereal vocals swirl and tickle throughout.  While not strictly in the Beach Boys mold, their music more strongly resembles the melodic singer-songwriter Andrew Gold (who was himself a die-hard Beach Boys fan), but with a far richer harmonic element wedded to their sound. (...)
Surprising chord progressions, inventive and ear-catching instrumental touches, and incredibly gorgeous harmonies make this album a fantastic pick for Beach Boys fans looking for something fresh and new to dive into."

http://www.beachboys.com/relatedV.html#SN

GOD-like review Craig! 

Makes for fantastic reading - but also a bit of torture for me as I still havent received my Deluxe edition from Amazon. And I have purposefully shied away from checking the album out online other than seeing the Right Time and On the Island videos.

Man oh man, I'm in for a treat!

Thanks.

Jared's post about his forthcoming album spurned me to post our own album cover for 'Second Nature'. Not as attention grabbing as his but it'll have to do. 

This is really cool Seltaeb. 'Rock with You' has always been one of my favorite MJ tracks. You really do it justice with this re-imagination which I think could easily work on its own terms in a club setting.

By the way, I really dug that collaboration with some DJ you had some time ago where you sang on top of some vintage Northern Soul-type instrumentals & backing tracks. Any more projects like that underway?

Cool! I really liked Star Map. Apollo sounds great,.. promising for the rest of the album.
And yes, nice cover!

Here's a link for a video to one of the songs off the album, 'Coastline Cruisin'

Check out the short, but effective guitar solo. It's played by none other than Probyn Gregory who was nice enough to help us out on this track. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqT0KDV-Shs