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Post by Kapitan on Jun 8, 2023 20:41:59 GMT
After his quiet disappearance from the road in the summer of 2022 and the near-year of silence on the subject since, it seems relatively safe to assume that the touring career of Brian Wilson is over. Sheriff John Stone said in another thread that he wasn't such a fan of Brian Wilson live, and lonelysummer asked him to expound on that. I thought that would actually make for a great part of a new thread, a thread dedicated to discussing the career of Brian Wilson, the live performer. While of course he performed live on and off with the Beach Boys and occasionally did solo performances beginning in the '80s, the touring career of Brian Wilson really began in 1998, after Imagination, using a band built around Wondermints plus "the Chicago contingent" (Paul Mertens, Jim Hines, Scott Bennett, Bob Lizik) and a few others. Probably contrary to everyone's expectations--likely including his own--Wilson went on to tour relatively heavily and steadily for almost 25 years! Reception was always mixed. From the beginning, almost no review failed to mention his increasingly poor voice or his awkward stage presence. Yet no review failed to mention the quality of his backing band and the immensity of the experience being presented with all of those masterpieces, one after the other, with their creator sitting in the center of it all. So let's hear it! Have you seen Brian Wilson live? When? How often? What are your takeaways of this touring career of his?
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 9, 2023 12:49:09 GMT
I'll try to sum up my feelings about it.
Objectively, Brian Wilson was not even a good, much less great, live performer. Even when people talked about how great he sounded on some song or other some night or other, how it was like "the old Brian," he didn't, and it wasn't. Often those were moments of being pretty good. Of seeming engaged. They stood out because of how often he didn't. He said he liked to tour, but he sure didn't look like it. Sometimes I felt very uncomfortable being in the audience, participating in what felt like some kind of exploitation.
But I saw him at least half a dozen times over 15 years, from 2001 through 2016. Some of those shows were magical, and a few times I was literally overcome with emotion to the point of tears. Would that have been true if it were just his band, without him? The music would have been better, there's no doubt whatsoever about that. But would it have meant as much? It seems highly unlikely.
I think that it would be very hard for someone new to this music and Wilson to enjoy one of his shows. It would seem to them that the weird guy in the center of the stage was butchering otherwise heavenly performances. But most people who see Brian Wilson know at least some of the back-story, and it matters. The knowing audience showered more love on Wilson than I've ever seen with any other performer. Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, U2--they weren't afforded similar affection, not by a long shot. The closest I can recall is Jeff Mangum, the reclusive frontman for Neutral Milk Hotel, when he did a solo show. That had a strange cult vibe to it, where I know I said at the time that he could've told everyone to go outside and kill someone and I think they would've. But Wilson's audience is loving, and it's toward him. That's different.
The shows mostly felt to me like they were performances for Wilson himself, with him participating as an inessential piece. As the years went on, that was even more true: they began to look like those late 70s or early 80s Beach Boys shows where he'd be trotted out to sing his few parts (the bridge of Surfer Girl, the intro to Sloop John B, etc.) and then participate or not as he felt like. Of course he remained on stage in these solo shows, but he did less and less, with Al, Blondie, Matt, and Darian taking bigger roles. By the end, those early 00s shows in which Wilson didn't seem very good at the time suddenly felt like the good ol' days, a golden era.
No, in the end, Wilson never was that great a live performer. The best you could hope for was that he was good "considering his circumstances," or "for someone his age," etc. But the music itself, and the brilliant bands performing it, coupled with just being there in the room with the man who created it, was very meaningful to me. I don't think I could have attended those final tours and felt good about it, but I'm still glad I saw the shows I did.
Personally, I'd have preferred more new material and fewer tours (especially of Pet Sounds!), but I'm glad he kept active. That was by no means a foregone conclusion.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 9, 2023 12:51:01 GMT
The first Beach Boys' concert I attended was on June 20, 1978 (Brian Wilson's birthday - it was fate!) at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. Brian played Fender bass for almost the entire concert, though he barely sang. I saw the band - with Brian - a few more times up to late 1982 when Brian left the band and was treated by Dr. Landy for the second time. As we know, during that time (1979-1982), Brian eventually moved back to the baby grand piano and still barely sang, other than when Carl briefly left the band for his solo excursion. Brian usually sang "Sloop John B" (mostly just the opening verses), the bridge to "Surfer Girl", and occasionally he'd strap on the bass and sing "Back Home" (but that faded by the end of the 70s). They found these little ways to get Brian involved, maybe having him play the electric piano on "Help Me, Rhonda", or simply providing the 1-2-3-4 count-in to "School Days". When Carl briefly left, Brian attempted a lead vocal (with mixed results) to "Don't Worry Baby" and "God Only Knows", and a couple lines to "Good Vibrations". And that was about it. If I had to describe the live Brian Wilson from 1976-1982, it would simply be his sitting behind a white, baby grand piano, smoking cigarettes, maybe drinking from a paper cup, and barely singing, whether it be lead vocals or background vocals. He appeared to be disinterested, stoned, or both. As a passionate diehard, I was both perplexed and disappointed. How could this great music, these great ballads and rock & roll classics, be performed in front of these dedicated audiences in sold out venues, and Brian Wilson could not appear less interested...or moved. How could he not want to sing along, play his instrument, talk with his bandmates, bop his head, clap along, acknowledge the audience, or simply smile. Something was definitely wrong.
Why did I just go through that long dissertation? Because it formed my opinions, my thoughts, my predictions, and my outlook for Brian Wilson going forward - from 1983 and beyond. Frankly, honestly, I never would've predicted or expected Brian Wilson to be a solo performer. At all. No way. Not to sound insensitive, but I thought he was "too far gone". It wasn't just the lack of playing the piano or bass, it was moreso his voice. He could barely sing a complete song. He couldn't hit the notes. He couldn't keep up with the music. How could he last an entire show? And what about the lyrics? Obviously, his Beach Boys' days were pre-teleprompter, but even with a teleprompter, could he utilize it? You know, sing AND follow the words. There were other questions to be answered. Would he show up? Would he just walk off when the stress overcame him? Would the volume affect his ears/hearing? Would the show be a train wreck? And the biggest question of all - why in the world would Brian Wilson even want to be a live performer in the first place? He never - repeat NEVER - did before. I was never one of those fans who thought Brian needed the love and applause from the fans. Of course he would LIKE that, but need it? Would he go through all that hassle for affection? There were other "psychological" questions. Did he have something to prove - to the music world or himself? Was he making some statement to The Beach Boys? To Mike Love? Was he being...influenced...by his wifeandmanagers? Was it considered therapy - musical, occupational, and physical? Did he just want to get out of the house and be around people (i.e. other musicians, "the guys", just people to talk with)? Did he feel an obligation to promote his new albums? I never thought he was doing it for the money. I know the answer(s)...it's all of the above...to varying extents!
Yes, I was excited when Brian became a live performer. I was optimistic but skeptical. Very skeptical. I went to a few shows over the last quarter of a century. There were some great shows and some disappointing shows. There were some surprises and a lot of the same old thing. For the first show or two or three, yes, there was a definite thrill, but, honestly, the thrill became less and less through the years. Sure, the tension and curiosity was always in the air, and the band was always great. The band was the real star(s) of the show. Their expert musicianship, the way they presented the Beach Boys' classic songs, and the way they obviously loved and cared for Brian shined through. And I have to say that Brian did sing and hang in there better than I ever thought he could or would. Like I posted above, I remember a time when I never thought he would ever be able to pull it off. And, I can say that a Brian Wilson concert was usually a nice, fun evening of music. Great music actually. I had no real complaints about the setlists. Brian changed it up enough for me. There were a lot of positives, I can't deny that.
OK, I'll cut to the chase. Overall, ultimately, if I'm honest, there was always something about Brian's solo concerts that bothered me. I always believed that Brian's wifeandmanagers, maybe Melinda more than anybody, persuaded Brian to do live performances. I think they sat down, had a long talk, and it was all laid out for Brian. I think they presented it in a way that made the whole live performance thing appear to be...easy. We'll make it easy, Brian, as easy as possible. You don't have to play the bass, you don't even have to play the piano. You don't have to interact with band. You don't have to interact with the audience. You don't even have to stand, just sit behind a piano. You don't have to remember the lyrics, just read them off a teleprompter. You don't even have to know where you are, the city will appear on the teleprompter. You don't have to worry about losing your place or flubbing a line. Somebody will be there to "rescue" you. All you have to do, Brian, is sit there for an hour and a half and sing. Can anybody think of any other artist who performed under those conditions or parameters?
Do you think I'm being too insensitive or am I telling the truth? Or both? I am fully aware of Brian's mental and physical health issues. I know (or read) what he had to overcome. I don't think I'm being insensitive. Brian CHOSE to be a live performer. Knowing the history of Brian Wilson very well, I guess I should've been happy for Brian or pleased for myself that Brian was just out there doing it. Why complain? It's all good. It a bonus, really. Just shut up and enjoy it. OK, I am being honest. Brian's live performances always gave me a feeling of "karaoke night". Yes, I know Brian eventually memorized/remembered the words, but the show as a whole - at least Brian's part specifically - was walking out on stage, sitting in a chair, singing some songs, and getting up and leaving. I know, I know. There was the occasional corny joke, the flailing of the arms, the occasional ad-libbed comment, and, yes, the acknowledgement of the audience's applause. But, as a whole, those things were a small part of the shows. What I took away from Brian's concerts - the thrill and enjoyment - lessened with each show. Yes, I (and our Beach Boys' gang) would still get tickets when Brian came around, but as I have mentioned, it became just as much a night out, or an enjoyable evening of live music, than being "knocked out" by Brian's performance. We saw some very good shows as recently as a couple of years ago, and if Brian was still touring, we'd probably still go. But, when you ask me my thoughts on Brian Wilson, the live solo performer, while I was very surprised (shocked?) that he actually pulled it off and for so long, there was always some lingering disappointment and some skepticism, too, mostly as time went by.
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Post by kds on Jun 9, 2023 13:28:51 GMT
I've seen Brian Wilson live six times over the last decade or so. I was kind of late to the BB/BW party, so I missed out on Brian's grand return to touring at the beginning of the 21st century. I've read on BB/BW forums over the years that he was at his best in the early to mid 00s.
Now, purely as a performer, I never saw anything that I'd call "great," but I also did not expect that. Even when Brian was in his prime, he was never a performer. The show I saw in Philly in 2015 was probably my favorite. It was early in the NPP Tour. Brian seemed really into the show, and he engaged in a lot of banter with the audience. Plus, Surf's Up was in the setlist and hearing Brian and his band do that song is a personal highlight.
Of course the Beach Boys C50 show I attended was amazing, but Brian didn't really have to do a lot of heavy lifting that night.
I attended two Pet Sounds shows in 2016. They were pretty good.
By the time I saw him do a greatest hits show in 2020, there was a notable drop. Al acted as the emcee, not Brian. I hate to say it, but even the band seemed to be going through the motions a bit. I do think they lost some spark after Nelson Bragg left and Nicky passed away. At that show, I decided I'd seen Brian Wilson six times (once with the BB and five times solo), so I'm pretty satisfied with that.
It's a pity that it appears likely that his career will end with a whimper, but that's life. Not everybody gets the benefit of doing a grand victory lap.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 9, 2023 13:44:40 GMT
I think Wilson himself was at his best right around TLOS. He seemed more confident, he seemed a little more active, and his enunciation was even better. To me, that was probably the high point. He still always seemed really nervous right through parts of those Smile shows, and then later, by the NPP era, he seemed more bored and just couldn't sing very well.
You could be on to something regarding the band itself. They did undergo quite a few changes, including the death of Nick Walusko and the defection of Jeff Foskett. I know some people didn't like Jeff's voice, but regardless, he had been an absolutely key part of those shows for over a decade by that point. But they'd lost Taylor, Jeff, Scott, Nelson, and Nick. Jim Hines, Bob Lizik, and Mike D'Amico had been in and out. Sometimes Darian misses shows or tours. Things just changed. As good as the band was in the 2016 show I saw (and as nice as the Jardine/Chaplin inclusions were), the band didn't have the chemistry I thought it had in earlier years.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 9, 2023 13:53:00 GMT
Regarding the end of Brian's performing career, I'm almost glad that it did end the way it did, as kds states, with a whimper. It should've ended a year or two previously. Brian was being put in situations that he should not have been subjected to, and it was becoming increasingly closer to abuse. It was very troubling seeing those YouTube videos where Brian was obviously struggling, struggling beyond what a person should have to go through, especially somebody with serious mental and physical health issues.
Yes, it would've been nice if Brian could've had the proverbial "victory lap" - and with more forethought it could've happened - but it just didn't work out that way. Frankly, with the back surgeries, the walker/wheelchair situations, the mental health issues, and advanced age, I'm just glad it didn't end in a sadder way, on stage. It very easily could've, and I'm grateful we don't have THOSE images in our heads forever.
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Post by kds on Jun 9, 2023 14:28:31 GMT
That's true, and for all the talk about a Beach Boys reunion leading up to 2022, after the shows Brian did opening for Chicago, I can't imagine that those Beach Boys concerts (probably with a pretty hefty price tag) would've been any better.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jun 10, 2023 2:43:14 GMT
Nice to see ya'll lay it on the line here. The general vibe I got through the years was of "it was just great to be in the same room as the man". Going to the concerts was a way of "paying our respects" - the man didn't have to do anything, just let him sit there while we worship. It helped that he had a great band. The one time I saw Brian and his band - 2000 - I enjoyed parts of the show. Some songs sounded great; others had to be dropped into lower keys, which really messed them up. And then the closing run of party time songs - Barbara Ann, Fun, Fun, Fun - felt really hallow to me, like, this feels like a Beach Boys concert now, the guys with the Hawaiian shirts and shorts and baseball caps; this is supposed to be a Brian Wilson show - moody, introspective, experimental. People kept telling me "Brian needs this, he needs to soak up the love from the audience". Really? That was what he needed? That tells me he wasn't getting enough love at home.
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Post by carllove on Jun 10, 2023 3:46:29 GMT
That's true, and for all the talk about a Beach Boys reunion leading up to 2022, after the shows Brian did opening for Chicago, I can't imagine that those Beach Boys concerts (probably with a pretty hefty price tag) would've been any better. The price tag wasn’t that hefty, and I had good seats for Brian’s Birthday concert last year, but I was just left feeling sad by the fact that he was wheeled out, sat at the piano without playing a note, and faced the audience directly while blurting out a few vocals here and there. “God Only Knows” was his best performance, but the reviews of that song, on the video I recorded and uploaded to YouTube, were mostly negative. I was still glad I got to see him, as Brian wasn’t with the band in 1986 when I first saw the The Beach Boys, and Love and Mercy was the reason I “discovered” The Beach Boys. The band and especially Blondie and Darian were great, so it was money well spent. I got to see “Heroes and Villains” performed live, and I was so transfixed I didn’t record it, because I just wanted to enjoy the moment. But yeah, the whole thing did feel uncomfortable and exploitive. I didn’t purchase any memorabilia that night because I was a bit upset watching Brian look so uncomfortable. I did eventually purchase the concert poster online, and it’s on the wall of my office. Bittersweet for sure.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jun 10, 2023 5:12:11 GMT
That's true, and for all the talk about a Beach Boys reunion leading up to 2022, after the shows Brian did opening for Chicago, I can't imagine that those Beach Boys concerts (probably with a pretty hefty price tag) would've been any better. The price tag wasn’t that hefty, and I had good seats for Brian’s Birthday concert last year, but I was just left feeling sad by the fact that he was wheeled out, sat at the piano without playing a note, and faced the audience directly while blurting out a few vocals here and there. “God Only Knows” was his best performance, but the reviews of that song, on the video I recorded and uploaded to YouTube, were mostly negative. I was still glad I got to see him, as Brian wasn’t with the band in 1986 when I first saw the The Beach Boys, and Love and Mercy was the reason I “discovered” The Beach Boys. The band and especially Blondie and Darian were great, so it was money well spent. I got to see “Heroes and Villains” performed live, and I was so transfixed I didn’t record it, because I just wanted to enjoy the moment. But yeah, the whole thing did feel uncomfortable and exploitive. I didn’t purchase any memorabilia that night because I was a bit upset watching Brian look so uncomfortable. I did eventually purchase the concert poster online, and it’s on the wall of my office. Bittersweet for sure. A 2022 reunion tour should have been a lot easier for Brian than a "solo" show; he could literally just sit at his grand piano like he did in the early 80's while the others did the work. It was easier to overlook Brian's non-participation in those early 80's BB's shows; he wasn't the sole focus of the show. Last year, it was downright depressing. Actually, I think he does pretty well on the Knebworth 1980 show. Actively sings and plays at various times during the show. He looked pretty involved when they did Keepin' the Summer Alive. Seems like he was into it with Help Me Rhonda, too.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 10, 2023 11:33:40 GMT
Nice to see ya'll lay it on the line here. The general vibe I got through the years was of "it was just great to be in the same room as the man". Going to the concerts was a way of "paying our respects" - the man didn't have to do anything, just let him sit there while we worship. It helped that he had a great band. There's no doubt, for me anyway, that "the thrill factor" was a big part of seeing Brian in concert. Seeing Brian and the rest of the band (and a few times very close to the stage) from 1978-1982 were some of the greatest thrills of my life. I don't know what that says about my life but you know what I mean. And meeting him in 1991, getting his autograph and shaking his hand was the same. This might sound corny, but when you were in Brian's presence, especially if you were in close proximity, you got the feeling that he was not like the rest of us, and I say that in a good way. He does put out a different vibe, that's for sure.
But with his solo performances, there was a certain sameness, maybe not with the setlists (though there was some repetition there), but with his actual performance. I won't get into the whole thing again, but I'm referring to his just walking out and sitting behind the piano and singing with that same voice, well, for the entire show. After a while, over years and repeated shows, it's only normal that the thrill aspect will start to fade. As we know, near the end, there were reports of half-filled venues at some of Brian's shows.
Hey, I'm not trying to knock the guy. I mentioned above that I give him a lot of credit just for going out there and doing it for a quarter of a century, against incredible odds. I give him an "A " for that. I am still stunned that he pulled it off. Other than near the end, I don't remember reading about Brian missing a single show. That's unbelievable, especially when you look at the past...life...of Brian Wilson. And, I'll give him credit for something else. After seeing Brian perform in the 1970s and 1980s, yes, as a solo performer I expected him to lose his place, forget the words, and miss his cues all over the place. But he rarely did! I didn't sit there and take notes, but I realized at the end of shows that he might've missed maybe one or two words or one or two cues - and that was darn good. Even performers without Brian's problems would do that.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 10, 2023 12:18:57 GMT
Nice to see ya'll lay it on the line here. The general vibe I got through the years was of "it was just great to be in the same room as the man". Going to the concerts was a way of "paying our respects" - the man didn't have to do anything, just let him sit there while we worship. It helped that he had a great band. I've been singing the same tune I wrote about above for 20+ years now! The worst part of a Brian Wilson show, musically, has always been far and away Brian Wilson. The bands have been fabulous, he sometimes is pretty good and often isn't. But that other part, there is something to that, too. I'm usually the least sentimental person here, it seems. I tend to be a "cut to the point, and tell the truth" sort of person. But "Don't Worry Baby" in 2001--hell, not even really sung by Brian--did bring a tear to this grumpy old man's eye. As Sheriff John Stone said, it did feel special, different, to be in person with Brian Wilson. His touring career is therefore very complicated for me.
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Post by kds on Jun 10, 2023 13:17:24 GMT
That's true, and for all the talk about a Beach Boys reunion leading up to 2022, after the shows Brian did opening for Chicago, I can't imagine that those Beach Boys concerts (probably with a pretty hefty price tag) would've been any better. The price tag wasn’t that hefty, and I had good seats for Brian’s Birthday concert last year, but I was just left feeling sad by the fact that he was wheeled out, sat at the piano without playing a note, and faced the audience directly while blurting out a few vocals here and there. “God Only Knows” was his best performance, but the reviews of that song, on the video I recorded and uploaded to YouTube, were mostly negative. I was still glad I got to see him, as Brian wasn’t with the band in 1986 when I first saw the The Beach Boys, and Love and Mercy was the reason I “discovered” The Beach Boys. The band and especially Blondie and Darian were great, so it was money well spent. I got to see “Heroes and Villains” performed live, and I was so transfixed I didn’t record it, because I just wanted to enjoy the moment. But yeah, the whole thing did feel uncomfortable and exploitive. I didn’t purchase any memorabilia that night because I was a bit upset watching Brian look so uncomfortable. I did eventually purchase the concert poster online, and it’s on the wall of my office. Bittersweet for sure. I meant that a BB reunion ticket for 2022 would've likely been pretty expensive.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jun 10, 2023 19:55:20 GMT
I still think back to when BW88 was released, and the talk that Brian might do a few live shows. The question at the time was, what songs would he do, what kind of band would he have, was it possible to pull of some of this material live? Being the Landy years, I wonder if Dr. Quack would have had Brian in leather pants, dancing on stage (as he did on several tv shows?). Scary! I think the only realistic scenario back then for a Brian solo show would have been to play clubs like Carl did, focused mostly on his new songs, with a few standards thrown in. Keep the backing band to a minimum. Kind of an unplugged format. Another thing I wonder now, without Brian and his band out there as competition for Mike and Bruce, are the BB set lists going to become more predictable again? Are they going back to the days of Sherry, Under the Boardwalk, and Little Old Lady from Pasadena? In recent years, Mike has featured several of the songs from his solo albums, and they did a few Feel Flows songs in the shows back in 2021. It doesn't appear any of the Sail On Sailor stuff has made it into the shows. It seemed like the success of Brian's band forced Mike and Bruce to up their game. Of course, if I ever suggested this to Mike in person, he'd say "up yours!"
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