A final reminder of the Billy Hinsche chat taking place tomorrow on this website. Details are here, but please remember that you need to register manually by e-mailing me, so don’t leave it to the last minute!
Archive for September, 2007
Chat Reminder
Saturday, September 29th, 2007Golden Interview
Thursday, September 27th, 2007
Brian will never be the greatest interviewee, but for some good insights into That Lucky Old Sun and Brian’s resurgence of creativity, download the Capital Gold interview with David Jensen. Thanks to my friend Sue for the link. And that rock and roll album is still on the cards…..
Brian’s Hidden Beauties XXXV: The First Time
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007
Brian’s Hidden Beauties has been on a bit of a hiatus since all the excitement of That Lucky Old Sun, but there are plenty of hidden treasures still to uncover, even although I’m going to hold off on any songs from the new work for at least a while longer.
So today, we’ll look at a song that was written in the mid-80s during the colloboration between Gary Usher and Brian. Unofficial versions, usually called In The Nighttime, have circulated amongst collectors. However, everything became legal when a live version was released as The First Time on the excellent live record of Brian’s touring revival, Live At The Roxy.
Apart from being symbolic of Brian’s return to touring, a joy that I have just re-experienced, the song is a powerful look at the deepness and intimacy of love, with one of Brian’s soaring melodies that builds up to a great crescendo. And there is that great line, that reflects human experience in a simple way
“Every one in the world has his first time
And his best time and his worst time”
Farewell To The Islands
Monday, September 24th, 2007
So tonight sees the end of Brian Wilson’s UK tour in his traditional “last date” venue of Birmingham. But based on the reception to the tour, That Lucky Old Sun as a tour and a album have a very long way to go still. There is already a January date in Australia for the new work (as well as for Pet Sounds, and a headline of the Sydney festival), and we must suspect that USA dates won’t be too far behind.
The shows in the “provinces” have been eliciting some fantastic reviews – two fantastic five star reviews in the Manchester Evening News and The Scotsman. The Birmingham show is on the go as I write -I am sure it will be a fantastic occassion for the band and my Brian Wilson/Beach Boys friend who are there.
Billy Hinsche Chat
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007
We have a wonderful opportunity on this website to chat to Beach Boys associate Billy Hinsche about some of his current projects in our chat room. The chat will be at 8PM GMT on September 30, you can go here to get details on how to register and the times in your own city. Please register as soon as possible to make sure you can access the chat.
Can’t Wait Too Long (For The Album)
Friday, September 21st, 2007
Yes, I’m safely back in Cape Town, but with a bit of my heart and soul still sitting wherever That Lucky Old Sun is playing. So the good news is that there remains very much an intention to release an album of the work, as can be seen in this message board thread.
One thing that has become clear is that it is still in some sense a work in progress, and there may well additional pieces and even whole songs by the time an album is released. There is also the suggestion that an album may contain some demoes. The current That Lucky Old Sun portion of the show lasts 34 minutes (as Brian specifically told us on the Sunday show, and from my own timings, was pretty accurate) -this would probably be seen as a bit light for a current album, although it would be considerably longer than all the early Beach Boys material, and in the same ball park as Pet Sounds (36 minutes).
And we certainly can’t wait too long for this album to come out….
I’m Going Home…
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007…in the words of one of the songs from That Lucky Old Sun. It’s been a very succesful trip, and Brian Wilson has certainly repaid many times over the faith that we had in him to produce something new and special.
Last night I saw The Sound Of Music for my last night in London. It’s a childhood favorite and it does somehow have the power to emotionally move me, even although I’ve seen the movie and other productions of it many times. The sets were magnificent, especially during the festival hall scene with the scary Nazi flags over. The leads were OK, but the children really stole the show. I guess one connection this show has with Brian is around the healing power of music, in this case, to bring a family back together.
One thought that I have had the shows (and I am sure I will be reflecting more when return) is that I have come across quite a few people (including someone I met today in a business meeting) who saw Brian for the first time and were really impressed. The fact that Brian has done such a credible show is a huge credit to his spirit, but of course also to the entire band who have been so brilliant and professional.
The British shows aren’t over…there are a few gigs around the country including Bristol tonight. Good luck for the rest of the shows, and to those privileged to be there, enjoy!
Saving The Best For Last
Monday, September 17th, 2007
Brian Wilson has completed his shows in London…and what shows they have been. Sunday was for me the best, and a fitting climax to an amazing series of shows – we had an enthusiastic crowd (one of the balconies had a sign hanging saying “lucky old us”, an engaged Brian who really seem to feel the appreciation of the audience and an extended setlist which included the traditional opener of the early Brian Wilson shows The Little Girl I Once Knew. Even better, we had the traditional closer Love And Mercy, and this seemed to fix the one slight weakness of these shows which was ending with She’s Leaving Home. Now, I do think it has been very appropriate to pay tribute to the Beatles, and Brian’s reading of the Sgt. Pepper song (and as I found out last night, it is very much Brian’s interpretation of it) is intersting and noteworthy, but it just seems better to end with one of Brian’s own songs, especially the very real and uplifting message of Love And Mercy.
So, as I write this the London weather has suddenly taken a bit of an autumn chill, but that Lucky Old Sun has certainly shone on London during Brian’s residency. And although it may not quite be as historic as the completion of SMiLE, the seties of shows does mark something quite historic – a clear creative resurgency of one of America’s leading songwriters. According to Scott Bennett, Brian has written three news songs during the time in London. Lucky old us indeed!
Setlist for the last London show
Little Girl I Once Knew
Girl Don’t Tell Me
Dance Dance Dance
Salt Lake City
Then I Kissed Her
Surfer Girl
Lucky Old Sun (teaser)
Do You Wanna Dance
When I Grow Up To Be A Man
She Knows Me Too Well (Jeff again singing)
I’d Love Just Once To See You
In My Room
Do It Again
Sail On Sailor
California Girls
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
Heroes And Villiains
Good Vibrations
INTERVAL
That Lucky Old Sun
Morning Beat
Narration
Good Kind Of Love
Forever You’ll Be My Surfer Girl
Narration
Live Let Live
Mexican Girl
Narration
California Roll
Narration
Oxygen To The Brain
Can’t Wait Too LongÂ
Midnight’s Another Day
Lucky Old Sun (fragment)
Going Home
Southern California
(immediate standing ovation)
ENCORE
Johnny B Goode
I Get Around
Help Me Rhonda
Barbara Ann (Brian on bass)
Surfin’ USA (Brian on bass)
Fun Fun Fun
SECOND ENCORE
She’s Leaving Home
Love And MercyÂ
Another Party Night
Sunday, September 16th, 2007With a full house, and another appreciative crowd who were on their feet from the start, Saturday night was destined to be another great show. Probably the most touching moment was the huge ovation after God Only Knows, which was almost perfect and evoked a huge response from the crowd.
Setlist is as follows- fairly standard but with some variations at the start
Girl Don’t Tell Me
Dance Dance Dance
Salt Lake City
Then I Kissed Her
Surfer Girl
Lucky Old Sun (teaser)
Do You Wanna Dance
When I Grow Up To Be A Man
She Knows Me Too Well (Jeff again singing)
I’d Love Just Once To See You
In My Room
Do It Again
Sail On Sailor
California Girls
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
Heroes And Villiains
Good Vibrations
INTERVAL
That Lucky Old Sun
Morning Beat
Narration
Good Kind Of Love
Forever You’ll Be My Surfer Girl
Narration
Live Let Live
Mexican Girl
Narration
California Roll
Narration
Oxygen To The Brain
Can’t Wait Too LongÂ
Midnight’s Another Day
Lucky Old Sun (fragment)
Going Home
Southern California
(immediate standing ovation)
ENCORE
Johnny B Goode
I Get Around
Help Me Rhonda
Barbara Ann (Brian on bass)
Surfin’ USA (Brian on bass)
Fun Fun Fun
SECOND ENCORE
She’s Leaving Home
Friday Night Is Party Night!
Saturday, September 15th, 2007
Friday night was the fourth Lucky Old Sun show, and my third, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Everyone I have spoked to is convinced that the shows are getting better, but the most marked thing on Friday was the audience, who really supportive. Normally the crowd may get on their feet at the end of the first set, and for the “party” songs at the end of the second set, but this time they were up and dancing by Do It Again, midway in the first set. God Only Knows got a huge cheer as well. The venue was pretty full, and it does seem like word of mouth on the quality of the shows is bring the public to the shows and Brian fans from around the world. I was with a friend attending her first Brian Wilson show and she was really impressed as well!
The Lucky Old Sun songs are getting more familiar and bits are getting stuck in my head -always a good sign. Going Home is a pretty standard rocker, but the acapella break sections are astonishing and show that Brian and his band are still creating some cutting edge sounds.
Setlist was very similar to the first night and is set out below
Girl Don’t Tell Me
Dance Dance Dance
Salt Lake City
Then I Kissed Her
In My Room
Lucky Old Sun (teaser)
Drive In
Do You Wanna Dance
When I Grow Up To Be A Man
She Knows Me Too Well (Jeff is now singing this)
I’d Love Just Once To See You
Do It Again
Sail On Sailor
California Girls
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
Heroes And Villiains
Good Vibrations
INTERVAL
That Lucky Old Sun
Morning Beat
Narration
Good Kind Of Love
Forever You’ll Be My Surfer Girl
Narration
Live Let Live
Mexican Girl
Narration
California Roll
Narration
Oxygen To The Brain
Can’t Wait Too LongÂ
Midnight’s Another Day
Lucky Old Sun (fragment)
Going Home
Southern California
(immediate standing ovation)
ENCORE
Johnny B Goode
I Get Around
Help Me Rhonda
Barbara Ann (Brian on bass)
Surfin’ USA (Brian on bass)
Fun Fun Fun
SECOND ENCORE
She’s Leaving Home