I for one thoroughly enjoyed that!  Always love hearing Brian and a piano, especially at this stage of his career.  Bravo Brian!

Wanted to give a quick recap of Friday night’s show in upstate NY at Del Lago casino.  This was my 11th time seeing Brian over a 19 year span and first since 2016.  I originally wasn’t going to attend after reading this thread, hearing about Brian’s recent cancellations due to mental instability, back problems, etc.  Finally my mother who is also a big Brian fan convinced me that maybe this would be the last chance to see Brian and it being only a 2+ hour car ride each way that we should go.  

I had very low expectations going in and hoped that my last time seeing Brian wouldn’t be a sad memory.  Well if that was indeed the last time I ever get to see Brian, Im ok with it.  I say this because it was truly one of the most emotionally uplifting performances I have ever witnessed.  Great art has the capacity to touch us deeply and this concert certainly did just that.  From the opening dedication to the late great Nicky Wonder, I had quite a cascade of feelings.  Seeing Brian helped onstage by 2 others was hard to watch.   Brian was on for the most part early but seemed to drift in and out at times.  When Brian was not as active I sat back and appreciated this incredible group of musician’s talents and felt the love and respect they have for the man and this music.  I also found their performance nothing short of triumphant in light of suddenly losing a dear friend and musical partner just days before.  This band deserves their own documentary to celebrate their achievements over the last 20 years.

I was so happy and relieved to see the crowd enthusiastically cheering, dancing, hooting and giving the love right back to the band and Brian.  This music is certainly timeless and will go on even after we’re all gone.  One highlight for me was Brian singing God Only Knows.  As he sang, it hit me.  Brian wasn’t singing about a person that saved him, he was singing about how only God knows what he’d be without music.  As he has struggled through 77 years, it is music that has always been there for him.  
Darian’s Darlin’ was a big high point as it is my mom’s favorite song and he absolutely hit it out of the park, as always.  Matt’s energy, charisma, falsetto and lead vocals are another treat.  He also did a great job covering for Brian when there were any missed entrances.  Paul’s sax was top notch as was his enthusiasm, it is truly infectious.  Probyn is the man playing so many tasty and intricate guitar and horn parts.  The rhythm section had me moving in my seat as I vibrated to their groove.  Al is all class and his voice never seems to age.  Blondie added some high powered distortion and his rendition of Feel Flows would make it’s author proud.  

Having said all that, my favorite moment came after Fun,Fun, Fun.  We were all standing and ready for the guys to take a bow and be finished when Brian said something to Matt, and Matt was like “sure let’s do it”.  Suddenly Darian started to play the opening chords to Love and Mercy and Brian delivered a beautiful and heartfelt rendition that brought me to tears.  Afterwards, we again gave them all a standing ovation.  Again Brian was helped offstage rather awkwardly, as he stepped gingerly towards the darkness, he paused and gave us all a wave.  I found that to be quite symbolic of Brian’s life.  His will to go on in the face of tremendous adversity is quite an inspiration for us all.  If that’s the last time I ever see Brian, I think he gave me one heck of a send off.  Thanks Brian and your incredible band for giving such love to a world that needs it more than ever.

I’m in shock.  I’m all set to see Brian on Friday and was very much looking forward to seeing the great Nicky Wonder.  I will always remember Harrisburg, PA July 2000.  I was with my buddies and we weren’t sure where we were going.  I saw a guy with a Pet Sounds press pass on and asked him, “hey man, do you know where the show is?”.  He replied, “yeah, I’m the guitar player”.  We talked a bit as we walked and he could tell how much of a fan I was.  When we got to the venue he said, “wait here”.  A couple minutes later he appeared and said “I have good news and bad news....the good news is I got 4 back stage passes, the bad news is only 1 is signed by Brian”.  I was flipping out!  I literally ran to a CVS to buy a disposable camera and ran back.  I was drenched in sweat and we barely made the 8:00 start.  We had front row seats and backstage passes, what a night.  I’m now an elementary music teacher and tell this story each year when I teach about Brian and the boys.  I still have the pics and the autographs.  As I walked out on cloud nine, I accidentally knocked over Brian’s Diet Coke and it spilled everywhere!

Fast forward to summer 2013 at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.  Awesome show.  Afterwards my Dad and I leave our hotel room around midnight to do a little gambling.  Who do we run into?  Nicky Wonder!  He’s got his post show meal and he’s by himself.  I go up to him and say, “excuse me, but I have to tell you, great show tonight...and one more thing, you did a really nice thing for me 13 years ago, you got me to meet Brian and I just wanted to say thanks!”.  He said he remembered, but of course I think he was just being nice.  The really weird thing is I had a premonition days before the show that I would meet Nicky and thank him for 2000.  Anyways, his act of kindness will stay with me always.  Brian’s late career renaissance is directly due to Nicky and the Wondermints.  RIP Nicky!!

Awesome show.  You forgot the ending credits for one episode in season 2 featured “I’ll Bet He’s Nice”.

I stumbled upon an interesting podcast discussing the music of Scott Walker.  Wouldn’t you know they did another episode on Brian and the BBs.  They just uploaded a 2nd part of their BW and BBs discussion.  I found it entertaining and included lots of personal anecdotes.  Good for listening on a long trip.  It’s called Music Lore.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn9L2VFP-0w&t=1679s (BW and BBs episode part 1, BW and BBs talk starts around 18 min mark)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qvsCQCN36Yg (BW and BBs part 2)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qyiEXtcV698 (Scott Walker episode)

Thanks for posting, I thoroughly enjoyed Carnie’s stories that only she could tell. 

I was pleasently surprised when watching a newly released Netflix movie called “The Clapper” to hear Love and Mercy prominently featured in multiple scenes.  The main characters bond over the song and even discuss Brian for a bit.  There’s also a video of Brian (the one shown at the end of the movie Love and Mercy) singing it live.  So cool!

Looking for face value, first row balcony.

So he didn't go to Julliard and isn't in the rock n roll hall of fame, and now i'm supposed to believe he helped arrange God Only Knows and Surf's Up?  For the record, I think you Stephen are far more integral to Beach Boys history than Bruce.  I adore your work with The Beach Boys.  I just find Bruce, who is a talented guy i'm sure, very overrated.  Not trying to flame here, honestly.     

This is the first I've heard of Bruce and Julliard.  I looked on the web and can't find anything to substantiate this.  Did he visit?  He certainly doesn't have a degree or we'd have heard about it ad naseum like we have his grammy.  You'd think someone with that skill set would actually be audible in performances.  One problem I have with Bruce is his incredible dorkyness.  Is there a person in rock n roll that could possibly be any less rock n roll? 

Piano Man is a fantastic album!

"Lines" is brilliant imo.  I play it a lot on piano.  Also "This Isn't Love" needs a full on studio recording and release.

What about "The Big O", Roy Orbison?  "Blue Bayou", "Crying", "In Dreams", "It's Over", "Oh, Pretty Woman", "Only the Lonely", "Running Scared", among many others should have earned him a spot somewhere. 

Here's a great article Jason Fine wrote about Brian for Rolling Stone in June 1999. 

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/brians-summer-plans-19990708

yes, on the "Doin' it Again" DVD

Just reserved my tickets for Friday, June 5th!  For anyone in the upstate NY area, here are two places I found.  One in Ithaca and a smaller art theater near Syracuse.  Hope everyone gets to see it without having to drive too far.  (not to tick anyone off, but this also coincides with my last day of school before summer vacation, (I'm a music teacher)  .  So happy I'm getting to see this the day it's released after reading about it for 3 years on this board.   

http://www.cinemapolis.org/?page=comingup

http://www.manliusartcinema.com/home.html

I'm not sure if I should say this at the risk of getting punched but maybe Surfs Up might be a bit too out there if he's just discovering the boys? When I was 12 that song would have went way over my head.

I'd have to disagree with this.  I'm a music teacher and included Surf's Up in our 6th grade chorus concert.  The kids really got into it and it really broadened their perceptions of what The Beach Boys are all about. 

I'm having trouble finding anything here in upstate NY.  Anyone found a place that's showing it?

Well as you know it's a very tricky song to sing.  So I included it  in a medley with "The Sound of Silence", "Eleanor Rigby" and finally "Surf's Up".  Sort of a 1966 moody song medley.  Since I didn't want the song butchered, I'm having a kid play the melody on a synthesizer with my piano accompaniment.  She does 1 verse of the first part (the diamond necklace..."), then a verse of the second part (surf's up mm, mm...), then the chorus (kids singing) comes in on the Brian falsetto part - ahh, ahhh, ahh.  Then the boys sing the "A children's song, have you listened as they play" part as the girls sing the other part (ahhh, ahhh, ahhh).  I don't think we're allowed to post school functions like that, but i'll report back on how it goes.  It's this Tuesday.  The main thing for me was to let them know that The Beach Boys are not just Surfin music and Kokomo.  I think they got the message.  Many have begun to investigate more of their music on their own which was my whole point in including Surf's Up.  
Yes, I made them write an essay on interpreting the lyrics.  I got some pretty interesting responses.  A lot of them tried to take the lyrics as literally as possible.  I tried to make the point that lyrics don't necessarily have to mean anything, they can just be beautiful words that sound great sung to an equally beautiful melody. 

I'm an elementary music teacher and am including an arrangement I made of Surf's Up in our spring chorus concert.  The kids (6th graders)  really love it.  It's a classic as far as im concerned.

Here's one of my favorite later day Brian vocals.  "I Sleep Alone" from early 1989.  I hear some of that old sweet Brian on the verses especially, and even some nice falsetto.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an5WiAzee-w

And one of the best God Only Knows performances ive ever heard from the same show. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhfGEFkf3UY

wonder what he'll play

Performing "The Last Song" in this setting was a mistake plain and simple.  I don't understand why they didn't pick one of the more up tempo new songs to feature.  Having said that, I just got 4th row tickets for Philly! 

C'mon, it's the mainstream media you're talking about.  It's not about truth, it's about ratings.  Scary what it has come to.  I get less spin on world events from my favorite message boards.

I heard Phish is going to cover Going Public in its entirety at their next Halloween show.