Brian Wilson Sage Gateshead July 12th 2009
Review by Laura
The “Beach Boys” were one of the bands I was raised on, I particularly remember listening to “Good Vibrations” and “Surfing USA” on a sixties compilation cd we had in the car and their Christmas album remains a family festive favourite. It wasn’t however until I was 13 when I began to learn a little more about the band’s history and after watching a documentary on television, I became particularly fascinated with Brian Wilson’s own story. I loved the fact that he’d been through so many hard times and yet was the last remaining Wilson brother to tell the tail. For a while I was slightly obsessed with the man, I bought his albums, DVD’s and watched any television programme he appeared on.
I saw Brian for the first time on the “Smile” tour at the City Hall a couple of years ago and was absolutely mesmerised by him. As well as him performing better than I’d expected I was also a little in awe of his very presence. To be honest, he could have just walked on stage and clapped his hands a couple of times, that would have been enough; just the fact that he was there, despite his troubled past was certainly something.
When dad told me he was to play the Sage, I jumped at the chance to see him again. So last Sunday David, dad, mam and I drove to Gateshead. There was just enough time for me to buy a t-shirt and for dad to purchase a programme (which included a signed single) before we took our seats up in the gods of the auditorium.
We didn’t have long to wait before Brian and his band took to the stage. They began with “Our Prayer”, an intricate accapello number which immediately demonstrated the band’s precision. The crowd began clapping and singing along when the band burst seamlessly into “California Girls” and after this the hits kept coming. Occasionally Brian invited one of the band to sing a number, most notably “Don’t Worry Baby” a personal favourite of mine which was sung very well by some chap called Jeff.
I think that Brian was singing and playing perhaps even better than last time I saw him, his backing band were wonderful as always and Brian also appeared more talkative than usual. He kept thanking the audience for coming and telling us stories about the songs he performed. He and his musicians seemed to be really enjoying themselves which rubbed off on the crowd.
After a performance of “DO it Again” there was a short interval in which we all got ice creams; (incidentally the Sage do very tasty ice-creams indeed, I’d recommend the double ginger flavour.) Once fed, we all retook our seats and the second set began. Once again Brian and the band played their way through a long list of old favourites, pausing between numbers to chat to the crowd. The highlights of this half included “When I grow up”, “Wouldn’t it be Nice” and “God Only Knows”. The set finished with a version of “Good Vibrations” and it was nice to hear Brian singing the lyrics from the single as aposed to the words sung on the “Smile” version which he has favoured in past performances.
The band returned for two sets of encores which included two more personal favourites “Fun Fun Fun” and “Help me Rhonda” which got a great reception. We all agreed it had been a great night.
I was rather disappointed when the following day I heard a caller to BBC 6 Music state that he’d seen Brian Wilson recently and he was little more than a bumbling incapable shell of his past self. I’d strongly disagree with this claim. Although it is evident that the impressive group of singers and musicians behind Brian somewhat carry him through the show, his own singing is still strong, he seems to really love the songs he performs and after all you are seeing a musical legend in the flesh. I couldn’t recommend this concert more highly.
Setlist:
First Half:
Our Prayer
California Girls
Girl Don’t Tell Me
Dance Dance Dance
Happy Birthday Sue (Levinson)
Surfer Girl
In My Room
Salt Lake City
Custom Machine
409
Shutdown
Soul Searchin’
Desert Drive
Don’t Worry Baby
Row Your Boat
I Get Around
Sail On Sailor
Do You Wanna Dance
Marcella
Do It Again
Second Half:
You Keep A Knockin’
Then I Kissed Her
Your Imagination
Add Some Music To Your Day
When I Grow Up
All Summer Long
Little Deuce Coupe
The Little Girl I Once Knew
Sloop John B
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
God Only Knows
Midnight’s Another Day
That Lucky Old Sun
Goin’ Home
Southern California
Good Vibrations
Encore:
You Keep A Knockin’ (again, because Brian likes it!)
Johnny B Goode
Help Me Rhonda
Barbara Ann
Surfin’ USA
Fun Fun Fun
Love and Mercy
ticket
programme
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Posted by Ovidiu Boar on August 5, 2013 at 11:46 am
Very nice write-up. I’ve become a huge Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan in the last two years and I must admit that, like in your case, it was their story that attracted me in the first place.
About BBC calling Brian “a bumbling incapable shell of his past self”, well, it will always be that way, regardless of his performances. Brian is simply no longer the same person and will never be. Glad to see read that he’s more comfortably on stage than usual, though.
Reading the setlist, I was surprised to see “You Keep A Knockin’ ” there. Are we talking about the Little Richard song here? If so, wow.
Also, what was the ‘Midnight’s Another Day’ performance like? That song is a huge favourite of mine and I can’t help but get emotional whenever I listen to it.
Posted by vintagerock on August 5, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Brian may not be the same guy as he was years ago, but then who is? He is still great to see live. Yes, if my memory is correct, “You Keep A Knockin’ ” was a cover of the old rock n roll classic. I must admit I’m not too familiar with Midnight’s Another Day, but if you are interested there are some videos of Brian playing that track live on Youtube. I found one here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ29Rm3POJ0
Thanks for your support for my blog
Best wishes Peter