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Post by kds on Jan 23, 2020 13:43:47 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? Yeah, it's funny you no longer hear the Brianistas getting on Mike for playing casinos anymore, or playing sets of only hits. Anyway. The audience response was mostly good, it was a fairly timid crowd to be honest. I'd say the seats were 80% full. They were offering tickets half off last week, so I suppose they sold some more that way. Brian really didn't say much outside of some short song intros "This is the first song I ever wrote..Surfer Girl," "Here's a song from the early 60s," "Love and Mercy."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 23, 2020 14:14:24 GMT
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 23, 2020 18:08:31 GMT
KDS, any unexpected lead vocalists for various songs or the expected/typical ones? Is Brian hanging on to them or doling more out?
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Post by kds on Jan 23, 2020 18:38:10 GMT
KDS, any unexpected lead vocalists for various songs or the expected/typical ones? Is Brian hanging on to them or doling more out? Al took over some of the leads for the encore, like Fun Fun Fun, and I think Al took a couple lines on Surfin USA too. And I think they started doing this a couple years ago, but Al now sings Brian's lead on Sloop while Brian handles Mike's second verse. Oddly enough, if you factor in the songs early in the set like CA Girls, Dance Dance Dance, and I Get Around, Brian probably sang more of Mike's old leads than his. Other than that, nothing really different.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2020 15:08:43 GMT
Surprised two Japan dates were announced today...especially at this moment when coronavirus epidemic is going on in Japan, and the government has just asked schools in Japan to close until April, as well as asking for not doing big events in the next few weeks.
Nevertheless, I'm definitely going to buy the ticket - hey, I'll be seeing him on stage for the first time (and probably the last time, sadly considering his health) - and I'm excited for it.
Also, it's notable that the shows are advertised as "Brian Wilson Celebrates Pet Sounds and Greatest Hits". No more "final performances", and it could be that Brian wouldn't play Pet Sounds as a whole this time.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 28, 2020 15:43:44 GMT
While you're right about the oddity of the timing (and presumably negotiations had been going on well before coronavirus was spreading, or maybe even identified), I really hope you get the opportunity. Despite Brian's shortcomings as a performer--and you're well aware of those, seeing the videos and reading fans' posts on these boards for years now--there really is something magical about seeing him live with those great musicians around him performing that fabulous music.
And honestly, I think most of us who weren't around back in the early days went to see him knowing we wouldn't get a good performance out of him. I know in 2001, when I first saw him, the hope was that he'd get through the show and not embarrass himself. He didn't really need to do much on the positive side of the ledger to thrill me, he just had to be there and appear pleased with the music his band made.
The progress he made, the occasionally good performances, and the exciting times of new material or old rarities being played raised the bar, and I think a lot of us forgot how exciting it was earlier on, when just seeing him at all was a thrill.
Have a great time!
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Post by kds on Feb 28, 2020 15:49:42 GMT
While you're right about the oddity of the timing (and presumably negotiations had been going on well before coronavirus was spreading, or maybe even identified), I really hope you get the opportunity. Despite Brian's shortcomings as a performer--and you're well aware of those, seeing the videos and reading fans' posts on these boards for years now--there really is something magical about seeing him live with those great musicians around him performing that fabulous music.
That's pretty accurate, especially if one has never seen him before. It's easy to lose perspective on the BB online world when 90% of the posts of BW shows seem to be either "It was the most magical concert in the history of music" or "Awful, sad, and pathetic." The truth is in the middle somewhere.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 28, 2020 16:37:37 GMT
I think some of us of a certain temperament--and note that I said us, which includes me: I'm not excusing myself--have quite frankly become spoiled and overly cynical. We went through the honeymoon phase when just seeing the man was enough. Then we saw him more and more, doing new material, and assumed things would continue on that trajectory. And realistically, the opposite would be the more reasonable assumption as Brian left his 60s and continued to have the predictable sorts of health issues and corresponding decrease in productivity.
(There are other reasons for different people's cynicism or disappointment, but I'm not speaking for those.)
As for the supreme optimists, I don't know what that's about. Some kind of nostalgia when it comes to older fans ("I'm just glad he's out there"), and the kind of excitement I had in 2001 for the newer ones, probably. Rose-colored glasses, because obviously, musically, he is OK-to-bad these days.
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Post by kds on Feb 28, 2020 17:36:28 GMT
I think some of us of a certain temperament--and note that I said us, which includes me: I'm not excusing myself--have quite frankly become spoiled and overly cynical. We went through the honeymoon phase when just seeing the man was enough. Then we saw him more and more, doing new material, and assumed things would continue on that trajectory. And realistically, the opposite would be the more reasonable assumption as Brian left his 60s and continued to have the predictable sorts of health issues and corresponding decrease in productivity.
(There are other reasons for different people's cynicism or disappointment, but I'm not speaking for those.)
As for the supreme optimists, I don't know what that's about. Some kind of nostalgia when it comes to older fans ("I'm just glad he's out there"), and the kind of excitement I had in 2001 for the newer ones, probably. Rose-colored glasses, because obviously, musically, he is OK-to-bad these days.
It hasn't helped matter than he got stuck in that Pet Sounds Live rut for the last several years. Even some of Brian's biggest fans seemed a little miffed at the sheer number of PS shows.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 28, 2020 20:51:19 GMT
I just wanted to echo some of Kapitan's and kds's thoughts. For any serious Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan, if you have to, you really should go the extra mile (literally) and spend whatever it takes to see Brian, or Mike & Bruce, at least once. It would be well worth it. At this stage in their careers, you/we already know the shortcomings in their performances, but for that "first concert", that's not the most important thing. It sounds like a cliche' or an exaggeration, but there is something magical about seeing Brian or Mike & Bruce for the first time. It's more than a rock and roll concert with great music played by brilliant musicians. It's an experience, and that's what you'll take away. It's an experience of seeing, witnessing, and most importantly, feeling the presence of your musical idols (I know that's not the right term but you know what I mean). You will never forget it.
I remember the first Beach Boys' concert I attended on June 20, 1978, in Philadelphia, with all five original Beach Boys present. It was probably the most ragged concert I have experienced in the ensuing 42 years, but it was also one of the most exciting experiences of my life. Brian Wilson was standing right in front of me playing the Fender bass. Dennis Wilson was pounding away on the drums. Mike Love was cracking jokes and prancing all over the stage. You get the picture. Like I said, they sounded poor vocally which was disappointing, but the excitement, the feeling I had standing there taking it all in, the fulfilling of a dream (I know that sounds corny but it's true), well, there truly is nothing quite like it.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 28, 2020 20:56:28 GMT
Just taking it a bit further, you're more or less guaranteed now to hear a REALLY great show with the exception of the originals/long-time guys. Mike, Bruce, and especially Brian obviously are significantly diminished; Al isn't what he once was; and even Blondie has lost a little vocally. (The latter two, it's not really a problem for most people, I wouldn't think. As much as the "Al still sounds IDENTICAL to 1965!" nonsense, he and Blondie still do deliver the goods, more or less.)
But everything else about those bands is so good, it's remarkable to hear live. The instrumental and vocal talent those groups have is just amazing. Hearing it all live, and especially in the presence of some of the original guys, is special. Being there is special.
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Post by kds on Feb 28, 2020 22:40:26 GMT
This reminds me of the Deep Purple show I attened back in 2017. DP is a top ten band for me, and I'd never seen them. Sure, Ritchie Blackmore is off with his Dilly Dilly band, Jon Lord is pkaying in Heaven's band, and Ian Gillan's vocals on the first two songs were rough, but I'm glad I got to see them.
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Post by lonelysummer on Feb 29, 2020 4:51:14 GMT
I felt the same way about seeing Chuck Berry and Little Richard. Especially Richard. If I could just touch the hem of his garment...
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 29, 2020 13:32:24 GMT
I haven't been following Brian's band closely. Was Nicky Wonder ever replaced in the band? If no, wouldn't it be a natural step for Blondie to become a full-time touring guitarist?
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by bellbottoms on Feb 29, 2020 17:43:13 GMT
Surprised two Japan dates were announced today...especially at this moment when coronavirus epidemic is going on in Japan, and the government has just asked schools in Japan to close until April, as well as asking for not doing big events in the next few weeks. Nevertheless, I'm definitely going to buy the ticket - hey, I'll be seeing him on stage for the first time (and probably the last time, sadly considering his health) - and I'm excited for it. Also, it's notable that the shows are advertised as "Brian Wilson Celebrates Pet Sounds and Greatest Hits". No more "final performances", and it could be that Brian wouldn't play Pet Sounds as a whole this time. I hope you get great seats, Wata, and that the show goes off without any issues. I can attest to the thrills of seeing Brian for the first time - my first Brian concert in 2016 was magical - and I had terrible, obstructed seats and couldn't even see him! But the music was phenomenal. To hear those harmonies live was surreal, and gave me a buzz that I have been chasing ever since that evening. That show is what pushed me into serious fan territory.
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