The Final Gig: Wembley Arena - London, UK 9/28/12

[Shady]

Wow, without a doubt the greatest concert I've ever attended, I nearly lost it during the Carl and Dennis tributes.

The boys (especially Mike) looked very sharp sharp and seemed in awe at the reception from the huge crowd.

I hope this isn't the end

[Mark H]

Just echoing all the positive comments really.

Great gig and Al really shone vocally (the forgotten first line was a great moment!).  Loved seeing the history of the band represented and all members getting their chance to shine.

I was in A2 and, whilst the seats were great, was a bit peeved by the over zealous ushers trying to get people out of the aisle.  Also strange considering what people must have paid for tickets the amount of people frequently getting up to leave/talking during songs etc.  Always going to be a factor at a big gig though and not enough to ruin the show.

The sound was a bit murky in places with vocals not being caught here and there too.  Felt sorry for Bruce as his voice really strained a couple of times.

As a huge BB fan who has only been to BW shows it was really amazing seeing stuff like Disney Girls, Cottonfields, All This is That and California being performed by Bruce, Al or the group as a whole etc.

Hopefully some of this gig will make it to the eventual tour DVD, there was a bit of filming in the aisle of audience members dancing etc.

My girlfriend, who has got into the beach boys and BW more and more during our time together was fully converted after the gig like it was some kind of religious experience, well I suppose it was just that for me and plenty in attendance

[Theydon Bois]

*edit* oh, ps, cool user name by the way, TheydonBois - I was born in Epping, that's just up the road from me!

Oh, thanks!  We should totally form a band called the Theydon Boys.

[urbanite]

In my ideal world, people would recognize that Brian Wilson got into the tour at the end, was inspired, that other members of the group were truly into it at the end, their fans were excited and devoted as much as ever, and all of the group wanted to keep it going.  That they went back to working on another album, to make the next one a real keeper for history, and then hit the road again.  And then reality descended upon things.  It was a nice thought.

[Justin]

BTW. No teleprompter on Brians piano or is this a poor angle to see it?

Actually he is using a teleprompter.  It's the plexiglass that is in front of him.  It's different from the screen he usually has.  This one reflects the words from the bottom and reflects upwards at the screen for you to read.  Much more subtle.  It's the most common way to use a teleprompter; a lot of people (like politicians) use them when they give speeches.  You can see it clearly standing right in front of Brian to the right of this picture:

[halblaineisgood]

God, these reviews are so bittersweet. They make me wanna cry. I've never been to a Beach Boys show, and I missed my chance to see all the guys together!     It's really setting in now. Damn. Why, oh why couldn't they have played a date in Minneapolis?! I was not able to attend the Chicago show, due to circumstances beyond my control, travel costs etc. OH WELL... I'm still gonna go see B&M at Mystic Lake Casino, and as long as I can compartmentalize any wistful feelings regarding C50, it should be a good experience. And as consolation, I'll have a tastefully compiled and lavishly packaged anniversary tour DVD to look forward to. I hope?

[EgoHanger1966]

Feel a little bad for saying this, but I wish Brian looked/sang/acted this way for every stop on the tour. From the videos I've seen of these last two gigs, he looks so happy to be performing and really into the music. Gotta love it when he smiles.

[Pretty Funky]

As an aside, I wonder what Mike is thinking when the Pet Sounds tunes get more applause than Kokomo, which completely destroyed the momentum from where I was sitting. Wibn and sloop, gok and I just wasn't made for these times got the biggest cheers of the night!!!

Agreed, Kokomo definitely destroyed the momentum.

Yeah, no-one was going for it where I was sitting either.

On the other hand, Al singing the wrong opening line to "Then I Kissed Her" (and having a second go at the end of the song, apparently so he could get closure on it) was a beautiful moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG4ubXoi7ls

[halblaineisgood]

Feel a little bad for saying this, but I wish Brian looked/sang/acted this way for every stop on the tour. From the videos I've seen of these last two gigs, he looks so happy to be performing and really into the music. Gotta love it when he smiles.

You lucky SOB ...Brian was "on", in a good voice, and uncannily exuding youthful vibes intermittently. that's what I want from a concert.

[Pretty Funky]

The last 2 gigs look to have been great and all involved seem to have been going for it which makes me think it was for one of two reasons.

It was a WTF, its over, lets just go out and party with 60 plus songs and have a blast. There....beat that!

or

Ok promoters. We're up for it with a setlist that delivers more than most newer acts. You want more in the future? You claim you can sell more gigs in the UK? Prove it and make us an offer!

[EgoHanger1966]

Feel a little bad for saying this, but I wish Brian looked/sang/acted this way for every stop on the tour. From the videos I've seen of these last two gigs, he looks so happy to be performing and really into the music. Gotta love it when he smiles.

You lucky SOB ...Brian was "on", in a good voice, and uncannily exuding youthful vibes intermittently. that's what I want from a concert.

I don't get it. You'd rather have him looking happy intermittently rather than most or all of the time? I'm saying that footage of these UK gigs have him looking so unbelievably joyous, I want for him to feel that all of the time and for it to be visible to his fans. I don't particullarly like to see Brian not looking into it onstage. I saw this tour twice. Didn't see him looking like that. Understandably, it might have been because of his back pain....

[AndrewHickey]

It was wonderful in so many ways. So many highlights:
Mike *not* doing the long intro to Be True To Your School
The harmonies coming in on Disney Girls
Al pointing to Mike on the line "a nice old man, he had a hat on"
Brian growling "Damn the thunder"
Brian's big goofy grin on Add Some Music -- and hearing the way that when the mic passed from Bruce to Al it went from a whisper to an enormous stadium-filling sound
Al's a capella singing of the first line of Then I Kissed her at the end
Jeff on the tag of All This Is That
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, with Al singing "he just wasn't made for these times" at the end.
Al, basically. Also Brian.
California Dreaming, where Brian decided he was going to sing the answering backing vocals for the first verse, even though that wasn't part of the arrangement.
Kiss Me Baby...

Oh, the whole thing was a highlight.

[halblaineisgood]

Feel a little bad for saying this, but I wish Brian looked/sang/acted this way for every stop on the tour. From the videos I've seen of these last two gigs, he looks so happy to be performing and really into the music. Gotta love it when he smiles.

You lucky SOB ...Brian was "on", in a good voice, and uncannily exuding youthful vibes intermittently. that's what I want from a concert.

I don't get it. You'd rather have him looking happy intermittently rather than most or all of the time?

No.
I assume he's happy. I just don't expect anyone that age to be oozing youth and outward happiness for long stretches of time. That's
my problem. And as to what uncannily exuding youthful vibes intermittently means, aside from nothing, is that it's just my own definition of what an authentic "It is just like 1965 again"  experience is, for me the observer. It's all Mike's fault. Now everything I say or do, or see, "It's just like
1965 again"...

footage of these UK gigs have him looking so unbelievably joyous, I want for him to feel that all of the time and for it to be visible to his fans. I don't particullarly like to see Brian not looking into it onstage.

I agree.

[Justin]

Someone on YouTube is apparently posting the entire concert.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O07lHcKV_24

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h51M_wciMA&feature=channel&list=UL

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSlBJHcEkqg&feature=channel&list=UL

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tix-HDz1Ao&feature=channel&list=UL

Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJTfsS6Jkkc&feature=plcp

Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOzkXEjoZX0&feature=plcp

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Thank you Justin!

[SgtTimBob]

This was my first time ever seeing the BB's live, and I felt somewhat emotional at various stages throughout the show, particularly as it set in that this was possibly the final time the real BB's will play a concert. I loved the energy and was blown away by how good they all sounded. The harmonies really were very tight (except for seeming a bit off during That's Why God Made The Radio). It was amazing how many songs they packed into those few hours, and they seemed to just keep pumping out more and more songs without any gaps, which was awesome.

As others have said, Al starting off Then I Kissed Here with the second line was quite funny, and I loved how he made up for it at the end of the song. Other high points for me were coming back to my seat after the intermission and then freaking out as I heard the cool rhythm of Pet Sounds break out, with David Marks just nailing the lead. I felt like the second part of the show had the most energy. The first half seemed to lean heavily on the hits, with the second part delving into stuff like Heroes and Villains which felt like an amazing departure from what had been played up to that point (I loved that they played it, as I am a huge SMiLE fan). Good Vibrations was fantastic, too!

All in all it was an amazing night and you could just feel the audience going crazy with appreciation for the group. The audible rumble that came from the clapping and stamping of feet before the encore was fantastic.

I'm just glad I finally got a chance to see them. It seems like it might actually have been the final chance to see the whole line up.

[Justin]

Thank you Justin!

No problem!  The video is pretty good.  Really puts you in the moment.  Kinda bummed that it's all over (for now).

[EgoHanger1966]

Someone on YouTube is apparently posting the entire concert.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O07lHcKV_24

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h51M_wciMA&feature=channel&list=UL

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSlBJHcEkqg&feature=channel&list=UL

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tix-HDz1Ao&feature=channel&list=UL

So awesome. Thanks for finding it and posting here.

[halblaineisgood]

Someone on YouTube is apparently posting the entire concert.

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O07lHcKV_24

Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h51M_wciMA&feature=channel&list=UL

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSlBJHcEkqg&feature=channel&list=UL

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Tix-HDz1Ao&feature=channel&list=UL

So awesome. Thanks for finding it and posting here.

This is some good sh*t.


EDIT really, really, really good sh*t. Thanks to you I'm not feeling so left out. And why doesn't everybody just point it at the video screens like this? It's  much better than most videos!

[Justin]

Yeah it's mostly screen shot but it does the job very nicely.  Considering it was filmed on stage wonderfully--surely helps the viewing experience!

I'm watching the whole thing and it's a great way to remember the shows you've been to. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Part 7
http://youtu.be/dArvfJlwzhY

Part 8
http://youtu.be/AebQGf3XB4U

Part 9
http://youtu.be/lVhsTiA13Hw

[SamMcK]

You know, I was going to write a big fancy review, but now I can't be arsed! All i'm going to say is that this was the best concert i've ever been to, even if I am only 18. I feel privileged to have attended what may well be the last proper Beach Boys show (I somewhat hope not though) I have to admit as my favourite Beach Boy most of my attention was focused on Brian. Brian was at the top of his game beaming smiles across the arena and singing wonderfully. Two of the highlights for me were Heroes and Villains and I Wasn't Made For These Times. On the latter I was looking at him and the great photos of him from that era on the big screen and trying to fathom how I was watching the guy that wrote and sang on the greatest album ever made! (IMO) He was much less shaky and seemed more confident than when I saw him last year at the Royal Festival Hall. If this was one of Brian's "on" nights then he was really on! Also Sail On Sailor was excellent considering his somewhat shaky history with performing that tune.

Mike was even better than expected and didn't seem to show any of his nasal tone that brings him down somewhat, he is really an excellent showman, he killed yesterday! David Marks played some really nice guitar licks during the show and he is truly an essential asset to this tour, i'm very happy that he's got his dues in this tour! Bruce was quite cool tonight even and although Wendy wasn't all that strong in my opinion Disney Girls was fantastic and I don't know if it was my imagination but he sounded just like he did on the Surfs Up album! Lastly Al, I went in with VERY high expectations for Al having heard how strong his voice still is (and they all have pretty strong voices still don't get me wrong!) and I must say he delivered, particular highlights were Cotton Fields and Help Me Rhonda. (which tore the house down) Then I Kissed Her was quite funny too with Al missing the first line! (and mentioning it after!)

Also the team players, they were of course brilliant and working with the Boys there was this full sound that really rocked! Paul Von Mertens was just fantastic on the sax, Darian did justice to Darlin', Scott climbing on top of Brian's piano was pretty funny as well! Say what you will about Jeffrey Foskett's somewhat whiny falsetto but he was terrific here and did justice to all the songs he sang lead on. On another note All This Is That was phenomenal and after hearing it live it is now one of my Mum's favourite BB songs!  

All I can say is if this is the last proper Beach Boys show I see I can go away with happy memories! 54 songs! Fu*king unbelievable!

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Part 10
http://youtu.be/bQK804FUq0Y

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Part 11
http://youtu.be/e_sMw4_R8YE

Part 12
http://youtu.be/8Xhp_FhwpCc

Part 13
http://youtu.be/Vt2RpiuuBpo

Part 14
http://youtu.be/Vt2RpiuuBpo

[Justin]

Mike's shirt/jacket combo reminds me a lot of what he wore at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in '88.