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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 17, 2020 13:23:07 GMT
WTOP's Jason Frawley interviews Brian Wilson before the 1/17/20 Miami concert:
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 17, 2020 14:31:31 GMT
One minute into the interview, and it's a very, uh, Brianish interview.
And that's why they ought to let Al, or Blondie, or Darian, or Probyn, or Matt, or Mike, or whoever else might be in the band at the moment, handle interviews.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 17, 2020 14:34:49 GMT
About halfway through I actually just turned it off. I see no reason to spend another 3+ minutes listening to one- or two-word answers followed by a disappointed interviewer sighing and disappointedly saying, "all right..."
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Post by kds on Jan 17, 2020 14:36:52 GMT
I'll be at his DC show Wednesday night. I know the band will be good, but my expectations for Brian will be low.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 17, 2020 14:45:14 GMT
I'm with you, Kapitan. I said it before and I'll say it again...and again and again. Brian might be a nice and sensitive guy and everything, but I'm not going to rationalize this. Yes, Brian has some serious issues that he deals with on a daily basis, but his behavior with this interviewer and several others is simply rude. There's no other way to describe it. If Brian can't give these interviewers the time of day, like you said, Kapitan, then turn it over to somebody else in the band. If that's too much of a "step down", then don't do the interview. On one hand, I envy any interviewer who gets the opportunity to speak with Brian Wilson (if that's what you want to call it). On the other hand, I feel sorry for them for being disrespected, and that's what it is. This guy who just interviewed Brian did about as good of a job as is possible. As big of a BB/BW that I am, I don't know if I would've been as professional.
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Post by kds on Jan 17, 2020 14:55:30 GMT
I'm with you, Kapitan. I said it before and I'll say it again...and again and again. Brian might be a nice and sensitive guy and everything, but I'm not going to rationalize this. Yes, Brian has some serious issues that he deals with on a daily basis, but his behavior with interview and several others is simply rude. There's no othert way to describe it. If Brian can't give these interviewers the time of day, like you said, Kapitan, then turn it over to somebody else in the band. If that's too much of a "step down", then don't do the interview. On one hand, I envy any interviewer who gets the opportunity to speak with Brian Wilson (if that's what you want to call it). On the other hand, I feel sorry for them for being disrespected, and that's what it is. This guy who just interviewed Brian did about as good of a job as is possible. As big of a BB/BW that I am, I don't know if I would've been as professional. That's yet another thing that Brian gets a free pass on. I remember a year or two ago, Brian gave a very poor interview on some morning sports talk show. The hosts were rightfully pissed off, and took some shots at Brian after the interview. Of course, the two hosts were vilified because you can't point out when Brian does something wrong.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 18, 2020 2:25:44 GMT
About halfway through I actually just turned it off. I see no reason to spend another 3+ minutes listening to one- or two-word answers followed by a disappointed interviewer sighing and disappointedly saying, "all right..." i didn't even make it that far. Turned it off after 2 minutes. Brian obviously doesn't like doing these interviews, is tired of the same old questions year after year. It makes no sense to have him do this. And i'm wondering how he will be on stage this year. I don't see any reason to expect him to be any better. But at what point does someone wake up and see that this is no way to make a living? I know he's not working in a law office, or hauling trash...but I think entertainers should be allowed to retire, too.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 18, 2020 5:03:13 GMT
Brian obviously doesn't like doing these interviews, is tired of the same old questions year after year. I hear that excuse a lot, not just with Brian Wilson but with other artists as well, and I never understood it. I'm assuming when artists do interviews out of their home or studio, they're sitting in a comfortable chair, maybe they have a drink handy, and probably most of the time, they don't have anything else pressing to do. I mean, they knew the interview was coming and adjusted their schedule accordingly. All they have to do is pay attention, listen to the questions, think for a few seconds, and give a thoughtful answer. That's all the interviewer is expecting or hoping for. I would think that the "same old questions" would be easier. You've obviously been asked the questions before so don't have to think as much! What's the big deal? Is it just prima donna behavior, that you're too important to be responsible, accommodating...nice? It comes with the job, being a rock star. In some/most cases, you're benefiting as much or more than the interviewer. It's your album, it's your concert, it's yourself that's being promoted. If being "forced" to answer the same old questions is too much of a bother, then don't do the interviews.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 18, 2020 6:36:15 GMT
This is the setlist for Brian's concert on 1/17/20 at the Magic City Casino in Miami, Florida:
1. River Deep, Mountain High 2. California Girls
3. Dance, Dance, Dance 4. I Get Around 5. Shut Down 6. Little Deuce Coupe 7. Little Honda 8. Salt Lake City 9. Surfer Girl 10. Don't Worry Baby 11. Do It Again 12 Darlin' 13 Feel Flows 14. Wild Honey 15. Sail On, Sailor 16. I Can Hear Music 17. Wouldn't It Be Nice 18. Sloop John B 19. God Only Knows 20. Good Vibrations 21. Help Me, Rhonda 22. Barbara Ann 23. Surfin' U.S.A.
24. Fun, Fun, Fun 25. Love And Mercy
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 18, 2020 13:36:42 GMT
Brian obviously doesn't like doing these interviews, is tired of the same old questions year after year. I hear that excuse a lot, not just with Brian Wilson but with other artists as well, and I never understood it. I'm assuming when artists do interviews out of their home or studio, they're sitting in a comfortable chair, maybe they have a drink handy, and probably most of the time, they don't have anything else pressing to do. I mean, they knew the interview was coming and adjusted their schedule accordingly. All they have to do is pay attention, listen to the questions, think for a few seconds, and give a thoughtful answer. That's all the interviewer is expecting or hoping for. I would think that the "same old questions" would be easier. You've obviously been asked the questions before so don't have to think as much! What's the big deal? Is it just prima donna behavior, that you're too important to be responsible, accommodating...nice? It comes with the job, being a rock star. In some/most cases, you're benefiting as much or more than the interviewer. It's your album, it's your concert, it's yourself that's being promoted. If being "forced" to answer the same old questions is too much of a bother, then don't do the interviews. I don't know that it's so much an excuse as just the reality that some people clearly get sick of those same questions, as we hear artists (not Brian, to my knowledge) bluntly admit. Some people obviously just aren't capable of making themselves engage to the same old questions--presumably much in the same way that some artists over time say they don't want to sing the same songs night after night, year after year. And Brian is one of those who quite simply doesn't push through it and try. It's not an excuse justifying his poor interviews, it's just a factor in them.
Some people, like Prince or David Bowie, went so far at some time or other to say they would not be performing old, popular songs anymore (though I think both went back on that vow when they realized how their fans reacted). Others, like the Mike & Bruce Beach Boys or pop-jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, are vocally enthusiastic about performing their hits as often as asked. And maybe not coincidentally, it's people like Mike who seem more than willing to be asked the same questions over and over. The answers may be canned, but they are delivered with respect and even some enthusiasm.
(Don't get me wrong, I actually hate what Mike says in many of his interviews. Being knowledgeable about the band, it doesn't take a genius to note his bias and not-so-subtle digs on those no longer in his group. But I do respect his willingness to conduct interviews and his presence in them, his effort to be an entertainer in that less-glamorous part of the job.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 18, 2020 15:41:08 GMT
Yes, I get your points, but I don't agree with the analogy comparing an artist performing their old, popular songs with fielding "the same old" questions in an interview. I'm not an artist or a musician in any way, so I never experienced it. But, to me, performing (or not) certain songs in concert is an artistic decision, there are probably a few understandable reasons behind that decision (not that I have to agree with them), and I would think the effort behind performing a song - even if it's just three minutes - is significantly more than answering what your favorite Beach Boys' album is or what certain member "brought" to the band. Coming up with a response to the softballs that are being thrown up to you, to me anyway, requires very little effort, but it does require some respect and responsibility - responsibility for the business you have chosen.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 18, 2020 16:20:32 GMT
I admit it isn't a perfect analogy, but I actually still think it's a decent one. And to rebut one point, I'd hazard a guess that some musicians think answering the same ol' question is actually more work than performing that hit song night after night. My logic for that is that musicians like making music: that's their raison d'tre. (I have no idea if I spelled that correctly. I just wanted to look smart for using a French phrase, and probably look dumb for screwing it up!)
So sure, it might not be the song they want to play, but at least it is playing a song. Fielding interview questions is probably for many musicians not particularly pleasant in that it's not what they signed up for when they learned to play guitar. (They learned to play guitar to get girls. Obviously!) It's the unfortunate side effect.
Disclaimer: obviously there are those trend-hoppers--like the caricature in my above parenthetical, the person who isn't a "real" musician so much as somebody who literally is just trying to get laid--for whom fame is the important part. For them, the interview may well be as much a goal as playing the songs. But I'd say people who are truly musically focused would find an interview more work than a song.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 19, 2020 1:27:29 GMT
Some videos from Brian's 1/17/20 concert in Miami:
There's several more on YouTube.
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Post by kds on Jan 23, 2020 13:23:26 GMT
I attended Brian's show at the MGM Grand near DC last night. I swore 2016 would be my last BW show, but a free ticket and the chance to hear Feel Flows in person persuaded me to venture out on a cold Wednesday night
River Deep, Mountain High (Intro) California Girls Dance, Dance, Dance I Get Around Shut Down Little Deuce Coupe Little Honda Salt Lake City Surfer Girl Don't Worry Baby California Saga: California Do It Again Let Him Run Wild Darlin' Heroes and Villains Feel Flows Wild Honey Sail On, Sailor I Can Hear Music Wouldn't It Be Nice Sloop John B God Only Knows Good Vibrations Help Me, Rhonda Barbara Ann Surfin' U.S.A. Fun, Fun, Fun Love and Mercy
It was a continuous just under 90 minute set, no intermission or encores. Very little onstage banter from anyone, and no band intros. I'm thinking since it was at a casino, they were told to keep the set tight so people could go gamble or get some food. But, I'm not going to complain about a show that ends at 9:30pm.
Brian was alright at the beginning, but seemed to lose interest as the show progressed. He missed his cues quite a few times, and often didn't join in the group harmonies. The band did a great job, as always, picking up the slack. Matt's vocals on Let Him Run Wild in particular were quite good. I loved finally hearing Feel Flows live, but honestly, I think Darian would be a better fit than Blondie on that one.
All in all, good show. Brian was expectedly not good. Great music though. I wish I'd have seen a Great from '68 set, but it is what it is.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 23, 2020 13:38:22 GMT
I attended Brian's show at the MGM Grand near DC last night. I swore 2016 would be my last BW show, but a free ticket and the chance to hear Feel Flows in person persuaded me to venture out on a cold Wednesday night River Deep, Mountain High (Intro) California Girls Dance, Dance, Dance I Get Around Shut Down Little Deuce Coupe Little Honda Salt Lake City Surfer Girl Don't Worry Baby California Saga: California Do It Again Let Him Run Wild Darlin' Heroes and Villains Feel Flows Wild Honey Sail On, Sailor I Can Hear Music Wouldn't It Be Nice Sloop John B God Only Knows Good Vibrations Help Me, Rhonda Barbara Ann Surfin' U.S.A. Fun, Fun, Fun Love and Mercy It was a continuous just under 90 minute set, no intermission or encores. Very little onstage banter from anyone, and no band intros. I'm thinking since it was at a casino, they were told to keep the set tight so people could go gamble or get some food. But, I'm not going to complain about a show that ends at 9:30pm. Brian was alright at the beginning, but seemed to lose interest as the show progressed. He missed his cues quite a few times, and often didn't join in the group harmonies. The band did a great job, as always, picking up the slack. Matt's vocals on Let Him Run Wild in particular were quite good. I loved finally hearing Feel Flows live, but honestly, I think Darian would be a better fit than Blondie on that one. All in all, good show. Brian was expectedly not good. Great music though. I wish I'd have seen a Great from '68 set, but it is what it is. Thanks for the review, kds. I was disappointed to read that they didn't do the band intros. I always thought that was fun and added a much needed personal touch to the show. You're probably right that they wanted to streamline the casino show. Remember when BW fans used to hammer Mike & Bruce for playing casinos? Anyway, three questions. How was the audience response, was the place full, and did Brian say...anything?
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