Brian Wilson 2016 Tour Thread (Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Tour)

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I'll keep him in my thoughts

[marcella27]

COMMENT:

Attended the St. Pete, FL show. Billy in hospital in LA they said.  Bringing in a replacement.
Show was sold out. I had a great time. Brian in good spirits. Alan as cordial as ever. Matt, whom I have known since he was a kid, has really developed his talent. Wonderful support to the aging Brian vocal. This time I sat in the balcony with a view of the entire floor of the stage. I thought the lighting was the highlight (pun intended) of the show. Some of the best use of lighting and creative changes I have seen in a long time. Sound mix was also good. Vocals could all be understood. Everyone was in good form. The playlist seemed to grow and grow bringing the energy to an on-your-feet-dancing climax at the end. Brian exited after his solo performance of Love and Mercy at the piano. No, actually they all took a group bow (lead by Blondie) and then Brian went straight to his bus and to bed.
As Alan and I spoke in his dressing room . . . note to those of you who have not attended one of these concerts, you better get to the next one . . . he said he didn't know how much longer they can keep this tour thing up. The shows are sold-out and the money is good, but the body is aging and becoming more tired with each closing. Brian and I are the same age and Alan is a year older at 74. Alan did look beat, but keeps up a good front. I suppose it helps to travel with your wife and son, whereas Brian is alone with only the band as company. I saw them at the same venue last year and they have been on the road almost all the time between those visits. I use to think a two-month long tour was exhausting -- can't imagine something so long.
But then, you know I always say, it's the MUSIC BUSINESS. It's not about the music only. And no one knows that more then the Beach Boy and/or Brian Wilson brand. ~swd

PS -- that last minute addition of Salt Lake City was completely unrehearsed. Brian inserted it only minutes before the show started, so what you heard was on-the-fly. Quite good however. You would never know. ~

I'm sorry to hear that Billy is sick.  I hope he recovers soon. 

With respect to the question of getting tired, this is something I've thought about too.  I've been fortunate enough to see this tour several times, starting with an early June date in Vermont, and most recently in Syracuse.  It has occurred to me that to tour like this is gruelling.  I'm a few decades younger than Brian and Al and I don't think I could do it!  So as much as I want them to keep touring forever (I really do), I can't imagine that they will keep this tour going for that much longer.  Surely they must all be ready for a good break by now.  What I really hope is that they are able to take a bit of a break, and then come back (with Al and Blondie) next year and into the future. 

[Rich Panteluk]

I just bought tickets to the Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and Blondie Chaplin show in Vancouver on Saturday April 8, 2017! I got a bit carried away trying to get the best seats so I have two extra pair (both pair are great seats together row 14 and row 16 both in the center orchestra). If anyone is looking for 2 or 4 great tickets send them my way. No scalping, I'm just looking for face value ($300 per pair) plus shipping. Can't wait to see Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin and their fabulous band again. I saw the Hollywood bowl show in July and it was brilliant.

[joe_blow]

I just bought tickets to the Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, and Blondie Chaplin show in Vancouver on Saturday April 8, 2017! I got a bit carried away trying to get the best seats so I have two extra pair (both pair are great seats together row 14 and row 16 both in the center orchestra). If anyone is looking for 2 or 4 great tickets send them my way. No scalping, I'm just looking for face value ($300 per pair) plus shipping. Can't wait to see Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin and their fabulous band again. I saw the Hollywood bowl show in July and it was brilliant.

Hi Rich, I sent you an e-mail, I'm really interested!

[thorgil]

But really, what I want right now is Brian back in the studio recording as many songs as he can. (Without Joe Thomas!) I know that sounds selfish but I'd really love to get as much new material as possible while Brian's still up to it..

Me too!

Thirded! Nothing in the current world of music has the power to excite me like new music by Brian & C - better if actually new, but in absence of that covers will do! *

* As long as it's no more Disney songs.

[thorgil]

My best wishes for a fast and complete recovery to Billy Hinsche!

[Emdeeh]

Praying for Billy and wishing him a full recovery!

[HeyJude]

Looks like it was back to a shorter show last night, 31 songs. Perhaps some (not all) casino venues still get a shorter show?

I also wonder if they may be cutting a few songs due to being a band member short; I wasn't aware that Billy had continued to miss shows.

Was Darian originally scheduled to come back earlier? I recall Billy's original Facebook post mentioned months back that he was only filling in up until June 20th, but then obviously he continued into September. I wonder if they might be able to wrestle Darian away from his current commitment to maybe finish out the North American dates through mid-October. Probably not. I wonder if we'll see a familiar face as a fill-in for Billy. Sterling Smith from the old tour band has been filling for Billy in Billy's sideband "California Surf Inc." I wonder if he could fill in for Billy? Maybe Al can bring one of his old keyboard guys in like Tom Jacob?

It's interesting that three of the five guys from the "California Surf Inc" band are currently in Brian's band (counting Billy), so they've been backfilling their band with replacements as well. They currently have Randell Kirsche and Christian Love filling in for Probyn Gregory and Matt Jardine, and then Sterling Smith filling in for Billy.

[Waspinators]

Saw the show in Hollywood, FL last night. Good gig all-around but I did end up feeling a bit let down by the short set and lack of Funky Pretty, Honkin', and WTW/ASMTYD; Darian and Billy were missed as well. Having avoided looking at any setlists until now, I was geared up for a healthy portion of hits and deep cuts during the first set, and ready to dive into Pet Sounds after the intermission. So, I was pretty surprised and a bit confused when Blondie did his thing and Brian goes "Now we're gonna do Wouldn't it be Nice" after just 12 songs. This was my third time seeing Brian (saw him at C50 and with Jeff Beck), and this was definitely the most talkative/animated I've seen him between songs; he also sounded pretty good on the non-PS songs. He definitely seems a tad bored of playing Pet Sounds by now though, with Matt covering a good chunk of his lines (which I didn't mind, he is truly a gifted singer), and rushing through verses in that odd new "talking" Dylan/Nelson-esque style of his that made it a bit difficult to really get into the lyrics. The stage setup was gorgeous, as was the sound and the lighting, and hearing those wacky instrumental passages in HT, IWFTD, LGAFAW and PS fill the room was something else. Really nice hearing Wild Honey, California, and SLC too. Encore was the typical dealio, though Love & Mercy was a nice ending.

This will likely be my last time seeing the big guy unless he does a Smile tour at some point. Even though I've come to expect stuff like this from Brian, I could not believe how fast Brian vanished from the stage after his last line on Caroline, even as the band kept playing. I'm so glad the man is still playing out, not to mention eternally grateful that I got to see him more than once, but I really feel this needs to be his last tour of this scale. This kind of heavy tour schedule and constant traveling can't be too good for him. Either way, very happy I was able to see at least one live Pet Sounds performance.

[harrisonjon]

I was at Hollywood, FL, and was very impressed (again) by Paul Von Mertens and Matt Jardine; Mertens seems to run the show as arranger, whilst Matt is essentially the lead vocalist when the songs are beyond Brian's capabilities at age 74.

Gary Griffin was a new name and face to me. He started badly IMHO, an unwise choice for the falsetto on Dance, Dance, Dance (seemed way out of tune) but he then did a good support job throughout.

Some unscripted moments: Mertens unhappy that some jerk was texting throughout his set; a momentary panic when the stage monitors failed; Brian saying "shitty" in the intro to GV.

I believe Brian changed the lyrics at least twice ("I miss my house"* in That's Not Me; reference to shooting in L&M).

*However, I had always believed until just now that the correct line was "I miss my pet". That mishearing is also in an article in New York Magazine Aug 28, 1995.

Top 5:

Don't Talk Put Your Head On My Shoulder

Don't Worry Baby

Wild Honey

Surfer Girl (it just is the essential, primal moment for me)

You Still Believe In Me (Matt doesn't just sing this song gorgeously; his emotion makes me hear it anew)

[Wiggy]

Darian is back for the Ryman show in Nashville. I was on a tour of the auditorium just now, and he was working through some arrangements with Gary.

I was at the St Petersburg the other night - great show, by the way! - and Probyn was covering on keys & vibes (amongst everything else he plays!) when Gary was otherwise engaged.

[HeyJude]

Interesting. It'll be interesting to see if Darian stays on for the rest of the dates.

[Stephen W. Desper]

Interesting. It'll be interesting to see if Darian stays on for the rest of the dates.

COMMENT:  An update of information that I've been able to glean here and there . . .

Billy Hinsche doing good, but will stay in LA for needed rest after his hospital visit.

Gary Griffen (who was in Love & Mercy as one of the studio musicians) brought back to cover for Billy's absence.

Darian Sahanaja has re-joined the band. He had been involved with a prior Disney commitment.

DON'T HESITATE TO SEE THESE SHOWS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ON FOREVER. AND THEY ARE WELL WORTH THE PRICE OF A TICKET !!

~swd 

[Robbie Mac]

Interesting. It'll be interesting to see if Darian stays on for the rest of the dates.

COMMENT:  An update of information that I've been able to glean here and there . . .

Billy Hinsche doing good, but will stay in LA for needed rest after his hospital visit.

Gary Griffen (who was in Love & Mercy as one of the studio musicians) brought back to cover for Billy's absence.

Darian Sahanaja has re-joined the band. He had been involved with a prior Disney commitment.

DON'T HESITATE TO SEE THESE SHOWS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ON FOREVER. AND THEY ARE WELL WORTH THE PRICE OF A TICKET !!

~swd 

This. I was at the Ryman last night and am going back tonight and despite the fact that I missed the first half of the show, PET SOUNDS live in THAT venue was magic.  Music like Brian's and the BB's deserves to be performed in legendary halls like the Ryman.

[Margarita]

Went to the Ryman show last night (9/17).  This was my 26th time seeing Brian since 1999.  While I never saw a show that wasn't good, this was outstanding - extremely high energy from every person on stage.  Brian was having a great time and sounded fantastic. 

[c-man]

Gary Griffin was a new name and face to me.

I guess you're unaware that Gary toured with the Beach Boys in late '77/early '78 (and is prominently featured on the M.I.U. album), before going on to a long career with Jan & Dean. He also coproduced the Stamos version of "Forever" for Summer In Paradise), and has filled in for both the Mike & Bruce Beach Boys (in 2002) and BW band (2006, 2007, and now 2016). Also, many of the sessions for That's Why God Made The Radio were held at his studio with him engineering (although this was not acknowledged on the CD, I understand it was on the vinyl version).

[thorgil]

Interesting. It'll be interesting to see if Darian stays on for the rest of the dates.

COMMENT:  An update of information that I've been able to glean here and there . . .

Billy Hinsche doing good, but will stay in LA for needed rest after his hospital visit.

Gary Griffen (who was in Love & Mercy as one of the studio musicians) brought back to cover for Billy's absence.

Darian Sahanaja has re-joined the band. He had been involved with a prior Disney commitment.

DON'T HESITATE TO SEE THESE SHOWS. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO ON FOREVER. AND THEY ARE WELL WORTH THE PRICE OF A TICKET !!

~swd 

Thanks Stephen for the info and for reassuring us about Billy.

[zosobird]

Charlotte is tonight! Cant wait!

[HeyJude]

Looks like "Cotton Fields" made a return, and with Darian back they're doing "Darlin'" again. Not exactly the new additions or previous deep cuts ("Honkin'", "Funky") I'd prefer, but at least the setlist is expanding in size slowly.

I would think, especially with having to do PS *every single night*, they'd want to vary the opening set more; for their own amusement if nothing else. As a few reviews have opined, I would agree it wouldn't be surprising if they eventually didn't get a least a *little bit* sick of doing every single PS song every single night.

[RubberSoul13]

Looks like "Cotton Fields" made a return, and with Darian back they're doing "Darlin'" again. Not exactly the new additions or previous deep cuts ("Honkin'", "Funky") I'd prefer, but at least the setlist is expanding in size slowly.

I would think, especially with having to do PS *every single night*, they'd want to vary the opening set more; for their own amusement if nothing else. As a few reviews have opined, I would agree it wouldn't be surprising if they eventually got a least a *little bit* sick of doing every single PS song every single night.

Agreed. I'm hoping they keep Darlin' & Cotton Fields simply for the sake of having something different from the last time I saw them this Tuesday. Sail Away is different from last month too, but that one was a real mess at Montgomery College last year. I'd rather hear Funky Pretty again, since it's such an obscurity live.

[HeyJude]

Looks like "Cotton Fields" made a return, and with Darian back they're doing "Darlin'" again. Not exactly the new additions or previous deep cuts ("Honkin'", "Funky") I'd prefer, but at least the setlist is expanding in size slowly.

I would think, especially with having to do PS *every single night*, they'd want to vary the opening set more; for their own amusement if nothing else. As a few reviews have opined, I would agree it wouldn't be surprising if they eventually got a least a *little bit* sick of doing every single PS song every single night.

Agreed. I'm hoping they keep Darlin' & Cotton Fields simply for the sake of having something different from the last time I saw them this Tuesday. Sail Away is different from last month too, but that one was a real mess at Montgomery College last year. I'd rather hear Funky Pretty again, since it's such an obscurity live.

"Sail Away" has been organizationally the messiest song I've heard them do in the last few years. Not that they were hitting any bad notes or anything, but every 2015 version I saw or heard featured them *still* not being able to figure out which person was supposed to sing which part of the song. So it always ended up sounding messy, though when I saw them opening night last year they seemed to be laughing and having fun biffing the vocal tradeoffs. The only time it hasn't sounded at least a bit like this was for the 2014 PBS Soundstage taping.

[Rocker]

Only stumbled across this. Hollywood Bowl, July 10th. Matt Jardine bringing the house down:

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

[RubberSoul13]

Received an info-email for the Strathmore concert about food, parking, etc.  sounds like a very well-organized venue and I'm quite excited for my first visit.

Worth noting here: it clearly specifies that the performance will be 120 minutes with an intermission. Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't they been glossing over the intermission on this September leg?

[Wrightfan]

Received an info-email for the Strathmore concert about food, parking, etc.  sounds like a very well-organized venue and I'm quite excited for my first visit.

I went to see Video Games Live there (done by Tommy Tallarico who is Steven Tyler's cousin.) It's a nice, small intimate theatre. Really made for an artist like Brian.

[baseball95]

Boy do I hope Funky Pretty makes a comeback tonight! As epic as this tour has been I'm bummed that Honkin and Hushabye got cut so quickly and now FP