Saturday, October 30, 2004
I drove down near San Diego with my friends Kim and Andy to see Brian Wilson perform SMILE at the Pala Indian Casino. Why did we go to this show especially when he's playing two nights at the amazing looking, Frank Gehry designed Disney Concert Hall next week. I guess because it was a bit cheaper and it was on a Friday so we could sleep in today. I was expecting the show to be in a small theater, but it was actually in one of those big meeting rooms that hotels have. It was just a big room with a bunch of chairs set up, so it really felt like we were at a business conference rather than at a concert. One good thing was that drinks were cheap; two pints and a cocktail for $9.75. That was a nice change of pace since nowadays at bigger shows one beer runs about $6 or more. Anyway... it's all about the music in the end.
The band came out and did a little acoustic set like the Beach Boys' Party album. I enjoyed the song "Please Let Me Wonder" the most from this set. Brian looked pretty out of it at this point. He was just lifeless and staring at a screen to read the lyrics to the songs. I really don't know his state of mind nowadays. I'm sure he has his good days and sometimes he has some bad ones, so it is quite remarkable that he is out on the road performing truly classic music.
After this acoustic set it was time for some electricity. The next part was a mix of songs from his history and the songs that stood out for me were, "Sloop John B," "Sail On Sailor," and "God Only Knows." I told myself I wouldn't cry, but I just couldn't help having a tear or two run down my face during "God Only Knows." It is such a great song. The lyrics are good, but the music is just overwhelming. During this part of the show Brian seemed to liven up a bit and it really started to seem like he was having a good time. His voice sounded much better than I expected it to.
Next it was time for SMILE. I discussed this album in an earlier post so I'm not going to go in depth here. Ultimately I enjoyed the PET SOUNDS concert much more. First of all that show was at the Hollywood Bowl, which is a beautiful place to see a concert, and secondly, PET SOUNDS simply resonates within me much more. The lyrics really speak to me and the music leaves me in awe. SMILE was performed exceptionally last night, but it just doesn't have the same impact on me. SMILE is truly a "teenage symphony to God." The thing that stood out for me was the music involved in "Wonderful" and the "Child Is Father To The Man" part. Don't get me wrong, I was really glad to hear it live, but it doesn't move me in the same way as PET SOUNDS and even some other Beach Boys songs. I still have that impression of what could have been. To think of this music coming out in 1967 is somewhat mind boggling. What would people have made of it? It still surpasses much of the music being made today. Would the history of rock and roll have been written differently?
The night ended with some oldies like "Barbara Ann" and the last song was Brian's "Love and Mercy." The band left the stage to a well deserved standing ovation. All in all I'm glad I went and if I had the money I would go again to the downtown L.A. shows. They had some nice merchandise for sale, but on my budget I couldn't buy everything I wanted. There were some nice shirts and a program, but I ended up getting a cool circular poster with a young Brian in the center surrounded by the words "Smile," "Listen," etc. It was a nice combo of the present and the past.
The band came out and did a little acoustic set like the Beach Boys' Party album. I enjoyed the song "Please Let Me Wonder" the most from this set. Brian looked pretty out of it at this point. He was just lifeless and staring at a screen to read the lyrics to the songs. I really don't know his state of mind nowadays. I'm sure he has his good days and sometimes he has some bad ones, so it is quite remarkable that he is out on the road performing truly classic music.
After this acoustic set it was time for some electricity. The next part was a mix of songs from his history and the songs that stood out for me were, "Sloop John B," "Sail On Sailor," and "God Only Knows." I told myself I wouldn't cry, but I just couldn't help having a tear or two run down my face during "God Only Knows." It is such a great song. The lyrics are good, but the music is just overwhelming. During this part of the show Brian seemed to liven up a bit and it really started to seem like he was having a good time. His voice sounded much better than I expected it to.
Next it was time for SMILE. I discussed this album in an earlier post so I'm not going to go in depth here. Ultimately I enjoyed the PET SOUNDS concert much more. First of all that show was at the Hollywood Bowl, which is a beautiful place to see a concert, and secondly, PET SOUNDS simply resonates within me much more. The lyrics really speak to me and the music leaves me in awe. SMILE was performed exceptionally last night, but it just doesn't have the same impact on me. SMILE is truly a "teenage symphony to God." The thing that stood out for me was the music involved in "Wonderful" and the "Child Is Father To The Man" part. Don't get me wrong, I was really glad to hear it live, but it doesn't move me in the same way as PET SOUNDS and even some other Beach Boys songs. I still have that impression of what could have been. To think of this music coming out in 1967 is somewhat mind boggling. What would people have made of it? It still surpasses much of the music being made today. Would the history of rock and roll have been written differently?
The night ended with some oldies like "Barbara Ann" and the last song was Brian's "Love and Mercy." The band left the stage to a well deserved standing ovation. All in all I'm glad I went and if I had the money I would go again to the downtown L.A. shows. They had some nice merchandise for sale, but on my budget I couldn't buy everything I wanted. There were some nice shirts and a program, but I ended up getting a cool circular poster with a young Brian in the center surrounded by the words "Smile," "Listen," etc. It was a nice combo of the present and the past.
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