Brian / Al / Blondie Summer 2015 Tour Thread

[guitarfool2002]

How about a medley of "I Just Got My Pay/I'm Broke"? 

[filledeplage]

How about a medley of "I Just Got My Pay/I'm Broke"? 

Or mash up.

That's funny, GF! 

[Niko]

" Yes I get it, its BW, but at times he really struggled with names in the band and remembering stuff...like the name of his album NPP."

Bit concerning.

Brian started the show by rushing out before the band, sitting down at his piano, and starting to play. He was super high energy but also obviously a bit nervous, like he said himself at in point. I never saw any of it as struggling.

I'm going to go over the full setlist and post my thoughts on the bus home . It was an amazing show.

[Niko]

Here are my thoughts on last night's show...

This was my first time seeing Brian Wilson solo, and my second time seeing him at all after seeing the C50 Hong Kong show, which was so glorious it melted my brain. I saw M&B play a 1+ hour set shortly afterwards and in retrospect I don't really have much to say about it, other than it made me a little nervous that I wasn't going to enjoy hearing any of the hits being played again. I saw a C50 version of Shut Down, then I saw an inferior version played by Mike's band...why would I need to hear it one more time?

Well, because the band was on fire and made these songs (which I was almost expecting to sound a bit weathered with age and overplay) sound genuinely exciting. To me, it sounded like every hit was being played by the original band who had JUST released the record, because there was so much joy and excitement in the way they played each song. Every member of the band, including Brian, Al and Blondie, played and sang like there was no where else in the world they would rather be than on that stage performing for us in that hall. It was spectacular.

I got to Seattle a day before and bumped into Probyn and Bob Lizik, who were both as humble and nice as people say - they took the time to share stories with me about recording albums and playing tours, which meant a lot to me considering how many conversations they've probably had with fans over the years. Then the next morning I ran into Al Jardine and his wife, who both also took some time to talk to me and sign the two albums I had brought with me. Al was exactly as I expected, very friendly and chatty, not at all like a founding member of one of the worlds most famous rock bands. I liked him - he asked me where to find the venue ^^

I got into soundcheck while they were getting I'm Broke together, which happened pretty quick. It was FANTASTIC to see Brian Wilson so lucid - at one point he yelled to the sound guy "Is my piano on par with Scott and Darian's?" - he mentioned this again later in the actual show...seemed to be important to him that people heard him play piano, especially since he opened Honeycomb by playing the piano part himself. The meet n greet was nice...got my copy of Surf's Up signed - Al recognized me and asked me what I thought about their new song, and few other things as I shuffled along...he signed our copy of Surfin' USA a second time though, which somehow better exemplifies the man than any single signature can. Again, I liked him a lot. So genuine.

I've heard very mixed things about Rodriguez's live set on this tour, but his set last night was stellar, and I loved every moment of it. So did Seattle, apparently, because he got a standing ovation as soon as he came onstage. There was a lot of love for him, and when he played, the entire hall was silent. I'm glad I got to see him, because being near him, it's quite clear he won't be playing live for much longer.

Brian came out after - he went onstage first, and immediately sat down at his piano and started to play. It was clear he was excited, and the rest of the band joined him for the normal Our Prayer/H&V. H&V was phenomenal - I've never heard a better version. It was fast and the band was so tight - ever note was punched with perfect timing. The C50 version I saw had Foskett so loud in the mix, and Brian not very into it, whereas this version had so much to it. Like I said earlier, it sounded like the band had just released the record and were thrilled to be playing it for the an audience for the first time, which is how it stayed for the next few hits they played.

I'm Broke was cool. Al and Brian sang it together. The high note was a bit hard for them to sing, but they managed pretty well, and even though no one in the audience knew the song, it was clear they were playing the song just for the fun of it and that was what mattered. They had played Honeycomb before it, which was equally fun.

Highlights:
Every hit that was played was glorious
Don't Worry Baby - Matt nailed it and the response from the crowd was over the top
One Kind of Love
Blondie's set - he sang with a LOT of power
Darlin
Surf's Up - amazed I got to hear this one live
Wake the World/Busy Doing Nothing - My favorite part of the show. I can't believe they played these. After tackling Pet Sounds and Smile, I think the Brian Wilson band should do the entire Friends album. They just sound like they'd be able to do justice to the entire thing.

Brian got a standing ovation for singing God Only Knows, which he seemed very happy about.

The encore was ridiculous. The entire band was going nuts, moving around, playing each other instruments, singing together and dancing...crew members were dancing to the side of the stage...M. Ward appeared and played guitar and sang. And then right at the peak of the crazy energy, it all cooled down into L&M and the show was over.


The best way to describe this show, and from I've heard the rest of the tour, is to talk about the energy and joy that comes from the musicians, intro the music, and through the audience. It was a remarkable show, and to see Brian so happy, so relaxed and so full of life is what I want from his show more than anything else. After hearing a show split between hits and deeper cuts, I realized I don't actually care what he plays as long as he plays them like that. There were some issues with the mix, and a couple almost-flubs onstage, but none if it mattered. The band was fantastic, the crowd loved them, and I don't think anyone there could have asked for a better show.

It was amazing. I'll be in Britain for the next string of shows. If you get the chance to see a Brian Wilson show in the near future DO NOT MISS IT. What's happening right now is truly remarkable.

Thank you to everyone I got to meet. I'm a bit blown away by the kindness of everyone in and related to the band. They're kind, humble, wonderful people, exactly the kind who should surround Brian on stage.

[Music Lover]

I just got back from my Las Vegas trip and wanted to write about my experience. 
Brian was more animated and excited during his concert at The Chelsea than I have ever seen him. Daria Wilson was running from side to side in the audience and it was obvious she had a great time and maybe her father was extra motivated to make her happy. They seemed especially into it during "Runaway Dancer."
Rodriguez opened and he was very good. It was his 73rd birthday and he seemed to have enjoyed a few drinks or so before and during the show.
Highlights of the show:
After they opened with "Our Prayer" and segued into "Heroes and Villains," Brian stopped the procedures, because "the sound was not right." While people frantically changed mics etc.. Al Jardine quipped "So much for rehearsal, Brian." Scott and Darian Sahanjana seemed to get a kick out of all that. Then, the show continued.
Blondie Chaplin was a little late when the band was introduced before the encore, because he was "whetting his whistle" with Rodriguez for his birthday.
The band was amazing throughout. Brian was especially strong on "One Kind of Love", "Surf's Up," and "God Only Knows."
I loved the very soulful feel of the sequence "Sail Away", "Wild Honey," "Sail On Sailor," "Darlin'".
The more doo-woppy arrangement of "Surfer Girl" was beautiful and I enjoyed "Honeycomb." Brian was really into it!
I found it touching to see Matt Jardine's little kids on stage (at least I assume they were his kids, I admittedly don't know much about the band's personal lives); to think that grandfather Al, son Matt and Al's grandkids were singing together was so sweet.
The band seemed to have a lot of fun and great camaraderie, just awesome!
Around 8 A.M the next morning, I ran into Paul Mertens at the breakfast buffet in the Cosmopolitan. He was very polite and kind. Around mid day, I saw Al Jardine walking hand in hand with his wife through the casino, and about 45 seconds later Blondie Chaplin was strolling along. I assume they were walking to wherever they got picked up to travel onwards to their next show in Seattle the following day.
It was an unforgettable experience.  Thank you for the memories.

[undercover-m]

Then the next morning I ran into Al Jardine and his wife, who both also took some time to talk to me and sign the two albums I had brought with me. Al was exactly as I expected, very friendly and chatty, not at all like a founding member of one of the worlds most famous rock bands. I liked him - he asked me where to find the venue ^^

Well dayum, that's awesome! Al does seem like a nice guy. Also, I was so impressed by how good great incredible his voice was.

The first part of my review is sorta a bummer. I hate hate myself for saying this but I guess I need to get it off my chest. But for some reason I could tell the guy next to me was in an off mood. I don't think he was a fan of Rodriguez's liberal comments, and I think he only stood up for 2 or 3 songs. I shouldn't have let that bother me but I guess I was picking up bad vibrations. I mean, I understand that he was probably 3 times my age and all that, but he and his wife even left early, before Love and Mercy… what? So I wanted to dance around and all, but he kinda killed my mood, which sucks. I tried so hard to shake off this feeling, but I couldn’t .

BUT. There were highlights.
Before Brian came on my dad and I were chatting with another couple (not the cranky one). The wife and I were pretty much fangirling over the Beach Boys, talking about how much we loved Pet Sounds, the Love and Mercy movie, etc. She was blown away that I was so much younger and knew and loved the band so much—apparently her own kids aren’t so much into it.

As barsone noted, the sound was great but I felt like it could have been a touch louder? Maybe being on the bottom level meant the sound just went over our heads? At any rate, it was a beautiful venue but I didn’t feel completely… “surrounded” by the music. But I also tend to go to louder concerts with younger crowds so maybe I’m not used to this mellow setting .

As soon as they played HV I wanted to get up and rock out to the music (but everyone was sitting down). This Whole World was amazing. Darian is the greatest. And later they played Surf’s Up… and that was the most emotional moment of the concert for me. I was struck by the music and Matt’s singing, and Brian’s mission of making beautiful music that made people Smile. I thought about all of the good memories I’ve ever had from listening to them as a kid and getting into their history in the past few months and realized how his creativity and genius has made me smile over the years. So I got overwhelmed and starting tearing up, in a good way.

Speaking of the man himself, Brian is hilarious on stage. I think it was when he stumbled on NPP that he just said, “I’m nervous,” and laughed at himself. (I stutter and mess up words all the time with customers at work, so it's nice to know that even Brian does that). And he does all the little hand motions to some of the songs when he’s not playing piano.

Now, Wouldn’t It Be Nice is probably my favorite song in the whole world, but it didn’t blow me away as much as I anticipated… I feel like someone else has mentioned this before, but I guess the arrangements on PS don’t always translate 100% into live concerts? But it was still amazing live. One Kind of Love (Brian: “You don’t have to sing along, but try to.” Al: “Yeah, the album’s called No Pier Pressure, so there’s no peer pressure on this one.” or something like that) , GV, and Help Me Rhonda (again: Al’s voice is amazing!) were other highlights for me. Oh, and Darlin' is so much fun live. Another favorite song of mine. What a talented band. You could tell they were really going all out during the encore, running around on stage and smashing cymbals and jumping around.

Oh, and about Rodriguez… I liked his performance. He’s hilarious and super talented. My dad describes him as a mix between Bob Dylan and Jose Feliciano. I don’t know how much he’s done this at other shows, but he’ll talk about his songs and his background, saying things like, “The rich think they can buy the White House… and they’re right,” as well as poking fun at his ethnicity (something I do all the time, too ). I’m fine with the songs and comments he made, but something tells me that the old cranky guy next to me didn’t think so.

Anyway, I’m sorry my review got rather negative and political. But I’m happy to say that I saw such an inspirational man in concert. Brian looked happy and relaxed, and Al was looking classy as always. This was my first BB-related concert ever, and I really do hope to see him again.

edit: oh my, that got long. anyway, I forgot to mention how much fun Blondie was! When he wasn't singing he was running behind everyone else with a tambourine. Also, here's a pic of the venue.

[Shady]

Shouldn't have let that person put you off, it's a Brian Wilson show, live in the moment, you're so lucky to be there  

How strange that this is possibly Brian's last US tour but going by the reviews it's possibly his best ever...the man just get's better.

[undercover-m]

I know . That's why I feel terrible saying that.

I will also say, that flute bit during God Only Knows might have been the highlight of my life. Prettiest little sound ever.

Also, during Surf's Up, when it sorta pauses after "Brother John," Brian was like, "Wait, it's not over yet!"

God, part of me knows that at 73, it's hard to keep doing anything. But still... I don't want this to be the last we see of him (live, anyway)

[Shady]

I really hope it won't be. With Al and Blondie joining in a lot of the workload has been taken off him.

I know I'll be seeing him in 2016 and that's all that matters 

[undercover-m]

If I graduate in 2016, I kinda wanna travel somewhere. I might will have an reason to stop by the UK, then, right?

[barsone]

Ray Lawlor....were you at the Seattle show last nite ?

[RubberSoul13]

Unless (God forbid) something tragic happens, I will be incredibly shocked if this is his last US tour. No doubt it will slow down year after year, but to stop this machine? No way.

[Wirestone]

Unless (God forbid) something tragic happens, I will be incredibly shocked if this is his last US tour. No doubt it will slow down year after year, but to stop this machine? No way.

That's my take, too. Willie Nelson is into his 80s and still touring briskly, and Leonard Cohen was doing marathon sets into his late, late 70s. No reason Brian couldn't follow them, especially if he's expecting to have another 15 years.

I expect he will do what he's done since the late aughts -- a dozen dates one year, a couple of dozen dates the next. Maybe a year off here and there. He seems to be on an incredible roll.

(That being said, it looks like he really needs to lose some weight. That would help with his back, if nothing else.)

[STE]

"Honeycomb" and "I'm Broke", Seattle July 12

https://youtu.be/fQWi6jzK220

Very rough but love them!
I could listen to Brian trying out songs all day.

[pixletwin]

There was a strange moment in the SLC show where Al wanted to do Cotton Fields and Brian nixed it.

[HeyJude]

There was a strange moment in the SLC show where Al wanted to do Cotton Fields and Brian nixed it.

"Cottonfields" was in the setlist earlier in the tour; I'm guessing Al just wanted to switch it up a bit (or forgot it wasn't in the setlist), and was shot down. As I've mentioned before, perhaps for both better and worse, Al gets little in the way of any input into the setlist. While that totally makes sense (it's Brian's tour), my sense is it might be cool if they took one or two suggestions.

[HeyJude]

"Honeycomb" and "I'm Broke", Seattle July 12

https://youtu.be/fQWi6jzK220

Very rough but love them!
I could listen to Brian trying out songs all day.

Exactly. I love this; it’s a spontaneity that has rarely been found at Beach Boys or Beach Boys-related shows. No, I wouldn’t want a full set of nothing but half-rehearsed songs. Ideally, they’d do what the Stones did however many tours back and just rehearse like 100 songs and have that many ready to go to rotate in and out, and then they could be both spontaneous and still have the songs rehearsed. But when you’re just doing a short 20-date tour, that’s not enough time to build up that many freshly-rehearsed songs.

But after years of touring Beach Boys shows in the past where it was considered a mind-blowing treat to see them add something like “This Whole World” to the setlist for a few months in 1988 for instance, to see Brian and Al try out a “new” song that nobody but the most hardcore fans would have any knowledge of, is pretty cool.

When was the last time Brian did a totally unreleased, non-cover version song in concert (not counting previewing “new album” tracks just prior to an album’s release)? I guess the two “new” tracks on “Live at the Roxy” would technically fit. He did “Desert Drive” in 2001, which wasn’t released until 2004. I suppose “Walking Down the Path of Life” was another one. Any others I’m not remembering at the moment?

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

"Honeycomb" and "I'm Broke", Seattle July 12

https://youtu.be/fQWi6jzK220

Very rough but love them!
I could listen to Brian trying out songs all day.

Exactly. I love this; it’s a spontaneity that has rarely been found at Beach Boys or Beach Boys-related shows.

Agreed, these are a lot of fun!   

[Matt H]

"Honeycomb" and "I'm Broke", Seattle July 12

https://youtu.be/fQWi6jzK220

Very rough but love them!
I could listen to Brian trying out songs all day.

Exactly. I love this; it’s a spontaneity that has rarely been found at Beach Boys or Beach Boys-related shows.

Agreed, these are a lot of fun!   

That was cool!

[puni puni]

I like how the new arrangements are actually interesting and sound nothing like Imagination or NPP. Makes me optimistic about the covers album.

[Wirestone]

When was the last time Brian did a totally unreleased, non-cover version song in concert (not counting previewing “new album” tracks just prior to an album’s release)? I guess the two “new” tracks on “Live at the Roxy” would technically fit. He did “Desert Drive” in 2001, which wasn’t released until 2004. I suppose “Walking Down the Path of Life” was another one. Any others I’m not remembering at the moment?

I think that's about it.

Although in terms of rockin' covers, he did do "Keep a Knockin'" with the band in '09 ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D81R-EQ_EoI

[Azmo]

I like how the new arrangements are actually interesting and sound nothing like Imagination or NPP. Makes me optimistic about the covers album.

Who originally did "I'm Broke"?  It is not ringing any bells.  Thanks

[coco1997]

Who originally did "I'm Broke"?  It is not ringing any bells.  Thanks

Brian.

[puni puni]

Yeah, 'I'm Broke' is a Wilson/Paley song, but the arrangement is slightly different from the original recording

[Wirestone]

Yeah, 'I'm Broke' is a Wilson/Paley song, but the arrangement is slightly different from the original recording

I doubt the Wilson-Paley version is the original recording. It's the only booted version, but Brian spent four sessions tracking it with Gary Usher back in 1986.

http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/gigs86.html