Brian's way of acting and singing on stage

[The Heartical Don]

This topic is really interesting to me, and it cropped up in various threads over the past weeks. Sometimes comments came across to yours truly as a bit grating, as if Brian was/is disinterested, not 'with it', too withdrawn, or even threatening to be dozing away - in other words, not much of a showman.

The last words of the above are the gist of what I am driving at.

a) Brian never was a showman in the traditional way. He always came across as shy on stage, withdrawn, even making the impression: I'd rather not be here. Now, onto someone aged 20+ one does not project the qualifications I jotted down in my first paragraph. But the 1964 breakdown and his decision to avoid stage appearances from then on are telling.

b) It is easy to worry about him for his way of behaving on stage; or to ascribe it to his age, and/or his medication nowadays. My thoughts: he hasn't changed much. He simply can't act in any way that contradicts his true feelings, his own inner reality. And since 99% of all performers can do that, Brian seems to be an odd person - only because his behaviour reflects his inner states. If anyone believes that the stage antics (being super-energetic, overjoyed, often seemingly on the verge of hysteria, so characteristic of the pop and rock world) of your average top star DO reflect their innermost feelings, well, than you are incredibly naive. Most rock icons are also very good actors in terms of faking emotions. You only have to watch a couple of classical performances - the seriousness of the looks, and the impression of being distracted, disinterested, complete with yawning, in players who aren't required to perform in some segment of a symphony - very revealing. But the audience simply does expect other things. And so many of them listen with eyes closed.

And Brian is no Mike.

[MBE]

Actually last night he was as on as anyone on stage.

[The Heartical Don]

Actually last night he was as on as anyone on stage.

Great to read this! You know, with Bri I know instinctively that this, then, came from his heart of hearts...

[MBE]

Actually last night he was as on as anyone on stage.

Great to read this! You know, with Bri I know instinctively that this, then, came from his heart of hearts...

I really feel it did. I never saw him so into a show unless your counting pre "Brian is back" footage. He managed to sound like an older Brian Wilson should sound. He sang with real feeling and heart.

[Ian]

He may never have been a great "showmen" but go back and look at their two Shindig apps and the TAMI show footage-it is Dennis and Brian who have the most energy and look the coolest-and Brian really rocks-when was the last time you heard the words "energy" "Cool" and "rocks" associated with him.  So I think as a performer he was more exciting in 1964

[Pretty Funky]

Glad this topic has been brought up. I've been watching some a lot of the youtube clips on the latest tour and Brian is just getting better IMO.
The reason? Think about it. Prior to the tour he would have had all the old concerns which I have no reason to bring up here, but almost a month into the C50 gigs, everyone is settling into a routine. Brian is being praised by 'his group', being protected and encouraged. I think he is actually in a good place for him.
Looking at some of those first C50 clips, he looked to me like he was wondering what he had signed up for. A month in he appears a lot more relaxed, knows his place. The audience know his past but still love the guy. Take a listen to 'Surfer Girl' from the May 19 gig. They love him and applaud his effort and he is feeding off it.

In a way I feel a bit sorry for those who went to the early reunion gigs. That was a feeling out, trial and error time. The shows now seem to have hit upon a winning formula and they can do no wrong. Lets hope it continues until the end of August. Brian may need the reboot of some additional songs to challenge him and keep him interested .....but would anyone here find that a problem?

[Waspinators]

In a way I feel a bit sorry for those who went to the early reunion gigs. That was a feeling out, trial and error time. The shows now seem to have hit upon a winning formula and they can do no wrong. Lets hope it continues until the end of August. Brian may need the reboot of some additional songs to challenge him and keep him interested .....but would anyone here find that a problem?

Tell me about it.  Just to know I would've seen a much better gig with a non-autotuned, charged up BW and a better setlist (besides dropping This Whole World, TLGIOK, and Wendy) if my date was just 2 weeks later makes me feel like a regular Charlie Brown. Wish I could travel to see one of these later shows, but oh well, ya can't win 'em all.

Brian definitely had on off night at the May 4th gig I saw. He kept his stone face on most of the night, said no more than six words, and was totally B-Pained out. I'm glad to see he's having a good time now, let's hope it lasts all summer long.

[Sheriff John Stone]

This topic is really interesting to me...

My thoughts: he hasn't changed much. He simply can't act in any way that contradicts his true feelings, his own inner reality.

It is an interesting topic; fascinating.

But, has Brian changed much? I guess it depends on what eras you're comparing. Compare Brian from 1964 to the "Brian's Back" from 1976. There is the "Landy Brian" from 1982 - 1992. There's the still youthful, engaged Brian from "The Solo Years" 1997-2011. And, now the fairly unengaged "Reunion Brian", although apparently, thankfully, that's changing, too. I see a lot of change there, even on stage.

Does Brian act in a way that contradicts his feelings? What are his feelings? That's the fascinating part of the story. YOU try to decipher that. With interviews? Good luck. From his wifeandmanagers? From the reunited Beach Boys? They won't and shouldn't say.

I'm constantly trying to figure the guy out. Probably never will. Yeah, I suppose it's some stage fright, but, why does he have nights when there is no stage fright? Boredom, disinterest. And, then there's some night when he's NOT bored - playing the identical music. Does Brian really care? Is Brian insensitive and non-caring? To the group and the fans? Who knows...

I don't know - and I admit it. Pure speculation. I posted that some of the things I observed the other night went beyond all of the above. It scared me. I hope his behavior IS a reflection of stage fright, boredom, etc.  It could be worse.

[joe_blow]

I always found Brian fairly engaged at the Largo 1977 show. He was shouting some voacals, but seems to be hitting his piano with some gusto, played bass, (ran to it actually as if he couldn't wait to start playing), then walked around holding his arms up at the end like a victory lap of some sort. He even grabbed the mike at some point and hushed the audience to give tribute to Mike Love!

[The Heartical Don]

This topic is really interesting to me...

My thoughts: he hasn't changed much. He simply can't act in any way that contradicts his true feelings, his own inner reality.

It is an interesting topic; fascinating.

But, has Brian changed much? I guess it depends on what eras you're comparing. Compare Brian from 1964 to the "Brian's Back" from 1976. There is the "Landy Brian" from 1982 - 1992. There's the still youthful, engaged Brian from "The Solo Years" 1997-2011. And, now the fairly unengaged "Reunion Brian", although apparently, thankfully, that's changing, too. I see a lot of change there, even on stage.

Does Brian act in a way that contradicts his feelings? What are his feelings? That's the fascinating part of the story. YOU try to decipher that. With interviews? Good luck. From his wifeandmanagers? From the reunited Beach Boys? They won't and shouldn't say.

I'm constantly trying to figure the guy out. Probably never will. Yeah, I suppose it's some stage fright, but, why does he have nights when there is no stage fright? Boredom, disinterest. And, then there's some night when he's NOT bored - playing the identical music. Does Brian really care? Is Brian insensitive and non-caring? To the group and the fans? Who knows...

I don't know - and I admit it. Pure speculation. I posted that some of the things I observed the other night went beyond all of the above. It scared me. I hope his behavior IS a reflection of stage fright, boredom, etc.  It could be worse.

Intriguing post. I recall a description in the Ames Carlin book, where Bri is going to some friendly and informal chat session about the 'Presents Smile' events. Accoring to the author, Brian lookes like 'a man heading for the gallows'.

It may be that due to his psychological make-up, no amount of recognition and acknowledgement is enough for him to make him feel at ease. His childhood could be causal here. It is possible that he's still enormously afraid of 'being found out', I mean: that the world outside will discover one day that he is not capable of anything, that he's a worthless human being, that he stole all his ideas, and so on and so forth - a form of inner torment that he tries to hide all of the time and which makes him feel afraid on a continuous basis. This profile is more common that most people think; it is a form of anxiety disorder that gets mostly hidden, out of shame.

[Sheriff John Stone]

It may be that due to his psychological make-up, no amount of recognition and acknowledgement is enough for him to make him feel at ease.

I'm sorry to keep responding with questions, but....how do we know Brian ISN'T at ease, at least most of the time? He appears to be, well, too at ease at times on stage, sitting behind the piano, not overexerting himself. We've all seen the yawns and checking the watch. But, then, he can go from sitting statuesque, no expression on his face, to being "into" the music and singing, and, eventually ending up (like the other night) in a state of panic. Who knows?

Brian's medication could be so powerful and effective that it is putting him in a state that is not conducive to the rock and roll world. Maybe, even though the medication is effective, Brian's reactions to it are not consistent.

Many people with Brian's condition live as in-patients or in assisted living group homes, or, if their parents are still living, with them. It's safe to say that none of them live the lifestyle of a Brian Wilson.

Brian is very lucky to have a supporting wife and family and bandmates. I work with people with disabilities - some with Brian's illness - and activity is essential in their everyday lives. I guess it's that happy medium with Brian, which has been discussed for decades. What is enough and how much is too much? I will continue to have confidence in Melinda and Brian's team of doctors.

[PhilSpectre]

I do think that it has to be noted that, with the best will in the world, Brian is an old man, an old man with significant mental health problems (and it seems chronic back pain these days too) and a lot of what he has to do on stage at concerts is just not what comes natural to him. It's a job of work for him imo. Some nights are better than others, but it's still cranking out the legacy material (great as it is), which he probably knows backwards and upside down. This may partly explain why he seemed more engaged when doing the Gershwin material in his solo shows of recent years.

I agree with others here who say that Brian can't really 'fake' a performance. Either he's into it that night or he's not. It's probably a mood thing. You can't predict it until it starts. I suppose he's a very 'honest' performer in that way :-). I mean, Elvis got sick to death of doing Hound Dog and Teddy Bear etc live in the '70s and often did them very perfunctorily and only really came alive doing more recent or gospel material. He had changed as an artist and a man. An artist being bored to death performing their hits night after night is a known syndrome in the pop rock world. They have to find ways to keep it fresh and interesting or else it shows.

Brian is probably most comfortable musically at home or in a studio behind his piano, writing and demoing songs for his band and producers. In a way, I'll bet he's glad to have ol Mike L up there again with him, doing most of the front-man stuff that he knows so well.

I also think tiredness on a long tour has to be a factor at times. I mean, these guys ain't as young as they were, however good they still are. Part of me really does think that Brian should soon start majorly cutting back on the concerts and tours and just do the odd one here and there and maybe devote more time to writing, recording and just relaxing . I still hope he has one more great album of new material in that head of his though, as he proved with TLOS. 

[filledeplage]

Actually last night he was as on as anyone on stage.

Great to read this! You know, with Bri I know instinctively that this, then, came from his heart of hearts...

This is an "armchair" call that is probably impossible for many reasons.  Some serious and focused people are so "intense" and not those who are grinning all the time.  Having had the immense fortune to have seen Brian solo, maybe a dozen times, and in this series, three times, so far, I've paid particular attention to Brian.  The onstage support is phenomenal for this tour.  Even in the past, at solo shows, Brian does not miss much with an audience.  One in particular, maybe 03, I was sandwiched in front with mostly 20 somethings in the front row, almost touching the stage.  

Of course, I know the words, and Brian would look down to see who was singing, and would grin seeing someone, singing every word with him from the stage. Performers do notice people who know the words. At the end of the show, to my shock, Brian, reached down to shake my hand.  I was so delighted not only that he was "connected" with audience participation, but, that he was kind enough to even bother to extend that gesture.

During this tour, there is so much "Wilson" recognition, particularly with the fantastic Dennis and Carl tributes, and carved out Pet Sounds stuff, especially The Heroes and Villains '04 sounding version, and I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, as well as the Little Girl I Once Knew, the latter, which, when sung at his solo shows and never criticized, but, when under the BB banner took heat, as well as heat he took when it was released for the "dead radio air space." (Split Man)

Including this stuff, expecially IJWMFTT, absolutely mesmerizes the audience as well as some of the other stuff such as Marcella, and Sail on Sailor.  The video alone, running with the LP album covers, visually reinforce the work of his (and their) lives.    

If anyone doubts  Brian is engaged, check out Youtubes of IJWMFTT and Add Some Music to Your Day, which is the first song, appearing in Part  Two of the set,  where the Band sings with him at the piano.  Brian really shines.  When he sings, he is really "present" and misses nothing.  

Brian does appear more serious, but does a serious expression indicate unhappiness?  People can be deep in thought, with their "wheels turning" and might be content but not outwardly expressive and grin-free.  People only know what they read, second-hand.  

It seems that Brian is being physically accommodated with seating, and, moving, but at the encore section, Brian has been on his feet, on the guitar, and seems delighted to see such enthusiasm coming from the audience.  And from where I sit, Brian seems responsive to his band mates, and the unconditional love from the audience.  And it is probably challenging for him, physically, but  Brian gets an "A" from this teacher.  

[Ron]

This topic is really interesting to me, and it cropped up in various threads over the past weeks. Sometimes comments came across to yours truly as a bit grating, as if Brian was/is disinterested, not 'with it', too withdrawn, or even threatening to be dozing away - in other words, not much of a showman.

The last words of the above are the gist of what I am driving at.

a) Brian never was a showman in the traditional way. He always came across as shy on stage, withdrawn, even making the impression: I'd rather not be here. Now, onto someone aged 20+ one does not project the qualifications I jotted down in my first paragraph. But the 1964 breakdown and his decision to avoid stage appearances from then on are telling.

b) It is easy to worry about him for his way of behaving on stage; or to ascribe it to his age, and/or his medication nowadays. My thoughts: he hasn't changed much. He simply can't act in any way that contradicts his true feelings, his own inner reality. And since 99% of all performers can do that, Brian seems to be an odd person - only because his behaviour reflects his inner states. If anyone believes that the stage antics (being super-energetic, overjoyed, often seemingly on the verge of hysteria, so characteristic of the pop and rock world) of your average top star DO reflect their innermost feelings, well, than you are incredibly naive. Most rock icons are also very good actors in terms of faking emotions. You only have to watch a couple of classical performances - the seriousness of the looks, and the impression of being distracted, disinterested, complete with yawning, in players who aren't required to perform in some segment of a symphony - very revealing. But the audience simply does expect other things. And so many of them listen with eyes closed.

And Brian is no Mike.

This is an interesting discussion.  I agree with most of what you said, especially your assertion that Brian hasn't changed much.  I think he's very, very much like he was in the band's early history.


Anways, with that said, the part where you mentioned that most 'frontmen' are faking it... that is true.  However, in my opinion, there's a purpose and a point to that. 

I mention wrestling analogies all the time because I grew up loving professional wrestling.  I saw an interview with Hulk Hogan one time when he talked about his particular brand of 'performing'.  He wore Yellow and Red... because the contrast was so vivid that it could be seen from the nosebleed sections.  He thought that if he could entertain the people who were poor (sitting in the cheap seats) that it would mean more to them, since they scraped together their hard earned money to come see the show.  So he played for the rafters.  They couldn't see his facial expressions, so he over exagerated them.  He waved his arms over his head when he came through the curtain; he grew his hair long so it would shake when he shook his head.  He wore bandanas with streamers and crap on them so that would move when he did.  He ripped his shirt off when he got into the ring, and threw it into the crowd.

And he was the greatest showman the wrestling world ever saw.

So I think with Rock music, it's certainly not as over the top as professional wrestling, but it's not TOO far off.  All the silly hand gestures, and the jumping up and down euphorically, and the silly dancing that somebody like Mike Love, or to a greater extent someone like Mick Jagger does, are certainly fake.... but they're also putting on one hell of a show for the cheap seats. 

[The Heartical Don]

It may be that due to his psychological make-up, no amount of recognition and acknowledgement is enough for him to make him feel at ease.

I'm sorry to keep responding with questions, but....how do we know Brian ISN'T at ease, at least most of the time? He appears to be, well, too at ease at times on stage, sitting behind the piano, not overexerting himself. We've all seen the yawns and checking the watch. But, then, he can go from sitting statuesque, no expression on his face, to being "into" the music and singing, and, eventually ending up (like the other night) in a state of panic. Who knows?

Brian's medication could be so powerful and effective that it is putting him in a state that is not conducive to the rock and roll world. Maybe, even though the medication is effective, Brian's reactions to it are not consistent.

Many people with Brian's condition live as in-patients or in assisted living group homes, or, if their parents are still living, with them. It's safe to say that none of them live the lifestyle of a Brian Wilson.

Brian is very lucky to have a supporting wife and family and bandmates. I work with people with disabilities - some with Brian's illness - and activity is essential in their everyday lives. I guess it's that happy medium with Brian, which has been discussed for decades. What is enough and how much is too much? I will continue to have confidence in Melinda and Brian's team of doctors.

Oh, allow me to clarify - my remark was hinting specifically at the 'moments of dread' he can show from time to time, like in the Ames Carlin anecdote. I agree that he does not give this impression all of the time, certainly not. And keep on asking, I like the discussion.

[filledeplage]

It may be that due to his psychological make-up, no amount of recognition and acknowledgement is enough for him to make him feel at ease.

I'm sorry to keep responding with questions, but....how do we know Brian ISN'T at ease, at least most of the time? He appears to be, well, too at ease at times on stage, sitting behind the piano, not overexerting himself. We've all seen the yawns and checking the watch. But, then, he can go from sitting statuesque, no expression on his face, to being "into" the music and singing, and, eventually ending up (like the other night) in a state of panic. Who knows?

Brian's medication could be so powerful and effective that it is putting him in a state that is not conducive to the rock and roll world. Maybe, even though the medication is effective, Brian's reactions to it are not consistent.

Many people with Brian's condition live as in-patients or in assisted living group homes, or, if their parents are still living, with them. It's safe to say that none of them live the lifestyle of a Brian Wilson.

Brian is very lucky to have a supporting wife and family and bandmates. I work with people with disabilities - some with Brian's illness - and activity is essential in their everyday lives. I guess it's that happy medium with Brian, which has been discussed for decades. What is enough and how much is too much? I will continue to have confidence in Melinda and Brian's team of doctors.

Oh, allow me to clarify - my remark was hinting specifically at the 'moments of dread' he can show from time to time, like in the Ames Carlin anecdote. I agree that he does not give this impression all of the time, certainly not. And keep on asking, I like the discussion.

Have you seen the Charlie Rose program? 

If so, what are your impressions?

(I am no longer relying on another's opinion, with all these books floating around. There is just too much editorializing.) 

Information told in a straight-forward fashion is fine, with historical events, photos, and surrounding circumstances, is great, but, the musical artform is what should be reigning supreme, not armchair analysis, from Youtube observation.  Brian is a composer, not an actor for the camera.  Politicians become actors (or not) to sell their positions.  They need facial gesture control which comes from rigorous public relations training. 

My sense is that Brian's biggest challenge is his back, and that he is in discomfort, but is absolutely shining onstage.  When his vocal cords (and chords) are "on" he is singing from his toes, notwithstanding his facial expression.  I don't question "how" he is managing; only that he is, and profoundly thank those who are supporting him.  From the bottom of my heart. 

[Pet Sounder]

I was in 2nd row at the 5/22 Chicago concert (VIP ticket).  Probably 70% of the show I was looking only at Brian.  I noticed that he tapped his foot quite often, even when he wasn't singing or playing on anything.  His sitting posture was definitely relaxed.  Sometimes when he would sing and not play his hands would hang down at his sides with his long fingers extending past the edges of the piano bench.  At times he would sit with an almost blank expression but out of nowhere he would give a big smile to the crowd and wave off and on.  When he played bass at the end he seemed more engaged then when I saw him play his bass last summer in Grand Rapids.  At one point during the encore he looked down to someone near me and I'm pretty sure he asked "Where's Melinda?" but then went right back to playing and smiling.  I did see Melinda a few rows behind me during the intermission but I'm not sure if she was sitting there during the show.