I noticed that at least one fan on Mike's FB page said they would think twice about attending Mike's concerts because of the Trump pic; Mike's people apparently subsequently deleted that comment. That doesn't mean they can delete that sentiment from existing in real life, which may well spread. If Mike wants people to not find more reasons to dislike him, don't you think publicly posting a thumbs up photo with someone controversial might be a bit contrary to his desire of being loved by everyone? It doesn't matter if YOU don't think it's an endorsement; as I've pointed out, it's already had a perceptible affect which Mike's people are trying to censor and pretend isn't happening.

Yep, just checked the photo again and all the negative comments have been deleted...including one that said 'this makes me wanna puke' that had about 7 likes (mine being one of them  )

I am the 'makes me ill' poster ( ) and HeyJude is absolutely spot on in his analysis.

It was indeed a hyperbole concerning the picture with the two gentlemen hugging. Nothing to do with veterans, as I'm not even from the US and therefore it's not something I know much or even have an opinion about.

Everything about that picture makes me physically ill.

I, too, find it weird how people don't seem to make too much of a fuss over it. It always seemed to me that, maybe 1 or 2 tracks aside, this is a masterpiece. It's all done in very good taste, in such a melodic and sweet way. I enjoy the lyrics a great deal, as they successfully avoid any cheesiness whilst touching on very deep stuff.

TLOS is the album I use to introduce Brian's solo career to anyone. It's pure quality.

(sorry for the double post) My thoughts on the evening, on waking up after a very late train journey through the pennines:

This is the only second Brian Wilson concert I have attended, so I'm basing any comparisons with the 2014 Cork (Ireland) gig.

Brian was in a great mood for the first half (the hits) of the show. He cracked jokes, got the audience to sing along to 'row row row your boat' and was moving quite a bit with the more upbeat songs. He sounded really good, and introduced almost every song in his endearing child-like way. Honkin' Down the Highway was tremendous and a big surprise - Brian started to explain who would play what instrument on the following track, and suddenly announces it was Honkin'! I never saw that coming, and it was one of the highlights of the evening.

Blondie did the final three songs of the first half, and he was very cool with his guitar playing and general stage presence. He looked like he was enjoying himself, as did the crowd.

Pet Sounds started somewhat abruptly, with many people being caught out of their seats in the bar or loo. Weirdly enough I thought Brian looked less excited from there onward. And whilst his voice was certainly strong and good, he struggled quite a bit with a shortness of breath. It seemed markedly more severe than I'd ever heard or seen from him (both in Cork and YouTube videos). God Only Knows got a huge and long ovation, as expected. I also noticed that whilst every band member was being greeted by the crowd and presented by Paul Mertens, Brian just rushed to his piano not giving Mertens the opportunity to call out his name. I don't know if he does that often, but he just seemed like he wanted to avoid applauses and the adulation.

The encore was a lot of fun, but by then Brian definitely seemed a bit more turned off. Al and Matt sounded great as always though.

I thought it was a lovely evening. The audience was very appreciative of Brian and the band, and Brian seemed and looked a LOT more comfortable than when I saw him in Cork.

EDIT: Here's a review from the Manchester Evening News (http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/review-brian-wilson-manchester-o2-11381585). They have the setlist, too, but it looks obviously wrong to me, unless I blacked out during Please Let Me Wonder and Cotton Fields.

I got an email from ticket master with an official 'timetable' for the evening, and Brian wouldn't be on until 20:15. If you got an official information like this then there's no way they will start playing earlier.

The word is that "Honking Down the Highway" was played tonight in Manchester!

It was. I let out a ridiculously excited shriek when Brian announced it.

I'll post more details when I get home (on a train now). They played Little Honda which surprised me as well.

Also no Cotton Fields (apparently it was played in London)

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

TODAY IS THE DAY! 

 My meet and greet with the big man and chance to watch him live for the first time. Excited is not the word! Watching the clock tick, tick, tick so bloody slowly!

 So anyone else on here doing the meet n greet? I don't think I'll be leaving the venue before the gig to join others in the pub but more than happy for general chat pre and break in the venue. I'll be the excited looking one in a 'Love You' T-shirt

I take it you are referring to the Manchester gig? I'll be there, but not for the m&g. What pub is everyone meeting?

I'm off to the Manchester show tomorrow, if anyone is going as well hit me up!

2. Soko sings that she will "never love you more than", inter alia, "God Only Knows".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdZhQrhtRac

I cannot stop listening to that song. And the video is magnificent!

Brian had no clue where he was but be was in pretty good form.

He sounded fantastic on H&V especially. He came in late on surfin USA so matt sang the whole song, brian looked confused.

Al was amazing, help me Rhonda and cotton fields went over really well.

A guy at the front was desperate to get his sunflower vinyl signed, I hope he did

Everyone had a great time, seriously everyone was dancing and left the show smiling.

The local pub had a beach boys themed after party with beach boys songs and karaoke, I had a blast

Oh, what local pub? Dammit, I wish I'd known about this  I was booming to talk to anyone about the concert, but ended up going to a pub in the city centre to watch the second half of the Brazil game as I had no idea as to where to go.

But, yeah, the atmosphere was quite good. I had a great time indeed. Just thought that Brian looked confused and not very into the majority of the songs, and often I couldn't make out his voice. When he did step up, he did great.

Brian wasn't in the best mood, but the band was fantastic. Matt Jardine did ever so well on Wild Honey.

I was literally in front of Brian, at the front. Got a thumbs up from Al 

Good experience for my first concert. Now I want more! Should have bought the Kent one as well...

I couldn't find a thread for this, but apologies if there is one and I've missed it.

So, is anyone on here going to Brian's concert in Ireland in two weeks' time? This is will be my first time seeing Brian live and I'm very, very excited. I would very much like to meet some fans in Cork, so give us a shout if you're headed there 

I have very little experience with concerts. Any possibility of arriving early and try to talk to Brian and get an autograph? I have no idea how these things work, to be honest.

Also, any advices on hostels to stay in Cork would be much appreciated, as would be a shared-cost ride for Dublin in the next morning 

I saw the title of this thread and immediately started to sing our beloved quirky song, only to be left heart-broken at finding out that the OP got the lyrics wrong 

A lonely mancunian shout over here...

Aside from some very strong winds in and around Manchester last week, things have been okay.

I feel for people down south. May their recovery be fast and efficient.

[he]

I think this might one of the coolest albums the Beach Boys ever did. I mean, it is not very often that we can link "cool" to them, but this album's got it all, really. It's unpretensiously genius and refreshing. I have to agree with someone who said that there was a lot of energy coming out of everyone, and it clearly shows on every song. It sounds very honest and full of life.

Special mention to Mike's lead on "Aren't You Glad". Even he sounded unabashedly cool.

"I'd Love Just Once To See You" epitomises a lot of the Brian Wilson we know and love. Indeed the cheap production works perfectly (though I wish more people payed attention to that beautiful ending-harmony), but the lyrics, on his voice, are so charming and endearing it's hard to resist. Brian Wilson alone with an acoustic guitar! And what a lovely melody, what a whimsical choice of words and theme.

I could utter a lot of peculiar traits about each song, but I think I should restrain myself. I'll just say that "Let The Wind Blow" is the kind of thing you'd expect to be playing as you're lifted into heaven at the end of your life - and Wild Honey is criminally underrated.

This album sounds something like Brian scraped off his head in a very lazy fashion, almost unwillingly so, as if he were pouring music just for passing by and living through the days - and that's why it sounds so honest. Those 29 minutes somewhat captured a much longer flow of music genius that their creator was emanating.

I just wanted to comment that I'm so so hooked on Time To Get Alone. Yeah, I'd known it for quite a while, but as it always happens, it just came forth to my special attention (which strays from song to song within the BB's catalog).

It's simply outstanding. I love how Carl pronounces "toboggan"

Rumour has Brian yielded to receiving a significantly decreased payment in order to play in Brazil, back in 2004. It was in a fashionably small revenue and apparently a bunch of famous brazilian musicians attended the concert.

Mike and Bruce have played here in 2009. Both stocks are due a comeback already!

Most certainly. I would then proceed to do horrible creative things to it while I videotape my actions, put it on youtube, go viral and get invited by Brian's band to one of their concerts.

I'd Love Just Once To See You and Busy Doin' Nothing are the two coolest lyrics in the Beach Boys catalog. Please, tell me the first comes from Brian! It screams him all the way.

I love Brian's lyrics, much more so than Mike's. Though I can concede the importance of the latter's work, Brian's lyrics are either cool, witty or downright trash (which is ridiculously fun). Most of all, they seem honest, if a little bit idiosyncratic

[6th]

Although I couldn't give a crap what Rolling Stone thinks, they did rank Good Vibrations as the 6th best song of all time. It ranked higher than any Beatles' song (with the exception of John Lennon's Imagine).

Still bewildering.

Anyway, this footage is a treasure. Brian looks so FREAKIN' COOL!! They all did, actually.

I didn't instantaneously get "I'd Love Just Once To See You"

When was the last time you baked me a pie?
You had a way of making it come alive
It's not too late for you to take a drive

Almost cute 

Geez, it's funny how Brian's voice had different phases. He is incredibly younger in this video (well, obviously, as it was 17 years ago, but it's still much more jovial than his voice in 00').

And he looks very conscious. Almost no sluriness at all.

Don't Worry Baby
In My Room
Surfer Girl

For me, those three symbolize the youth, innocence and the beautiful melancholy of Brian's early works. All of them sung by him in his soaring falsetto and with killer intros.

'Til I Die
Busy Doing Nothing
Time To Get Alone