[BW]

Brian Wilson
presents Pet Sounds – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary with Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin
Beacon Theatre
September 24th

The Beach Boys are America’s Beatles, and while the line-up has changed, and separated, and divorced, and talked smack, and reunited, and broke apart again – the only thing that matters is the music – and man, there is so much of it, and it’s all great (minus ‘Kokomo’), however you hear it, and by whomever is playing it – and however it is, I’LL TAKE IT!

I saw the Beach Boys numerous times as a child in the 80s, when they played the Mall in DC 4th of July, after 4th of July, after 4th of July, then other times in the 90s, when Brian Wilson was on a mental sabbatical, and then again when he was back and solo in the 00s, and again in the 10s!  And I’ve seen the Mike Love Beach Boys in the 10s too, and then when the Mike Love Beach Boys reunited with guys who are ACTUALLY Beach Boys, and then again.  And I’ve loved it all!!!

And now Mike Love doesn’t love Brian and Al no more, and so Mike Love does his thing (which is important, but not as important to me), and Brian (and his amazing backing band) goes on and does his thing, and rightfully keeps Al with him, which is MOST important to me

Juss being in a room with Brian Wilson feels like an honor – in the same way as being with Paul McCartney, or Simon and Garfunkel. I say this same thing all the time, but we are so blessed to live in a time when all these people are alive, and we can still hear them do their thing – and that thing – is EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!

This tour tackled Pet Sounds and its 50 anniversary.  I’m more of a SMiLE guy, but who am I to complain.  Oh wait, THIS WHOLE WEBSLIGHT IS BUILT ON COMPLAINTS (and boobs!)! And so Brian and his awesome band, and Al Jardine rocked the sh!t out of it, and oh yeah, that Blondie Chaplin guy was there too!  Former Brian Wilson right-hand man Jeffrey Foskett recently re-joined the Mike Love Beach Boys, but the falsetto parts void was EASILY filled by Al’s awesome son Matt!!!!

Brian and Al and Mike Love won’t be with us forever, but the music truly will.  And so will their offspring, and you know what, I’d see them play their parents’ music, cause the music is all that matters (although if we can figure out a way to freeze Brian Wilson and keep him for future centuries, methinks that that would be the way to go!)

Set 1 – Our Prayer / Heroes and Villains / California Girls / Dance, Dance, Dance / I Get Around / Shut Down / Little Deuce Coupe / In My Room / Surfer Girl / Don’t Worry Baby / Salt Lake City / Wake the World / Add Some Music to Your Day / California Saga: California / Darlin’ / Sail Away / Wild Honey / Sail On, Sailor

Pet Sounds – Wouldn’t It Be Nice / You Still Believe in Me / That’s Not Me / Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) / I’m Waiting for the Day / Let’s Go Away for Awhile / Sloop John B / God Only Knows / I Know There’s an Answer / Here Today / I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times / Pet Sounds / Caroline, No

Encore – Good Vibrations / Help Me, Rhonda / Barbara Ann / Surfin’ U.S.A. / Fun, Fun, Fun / Love and Mercy

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKw3M6XjFhn/

Love & Mercy
Heroes and Villains
Official Website | Trailers & Mo
PG-13 | 120 min

Depending on how much you love the genius of Brian Wilson will determine how much you love Love & Mercy.  I LIVE for Brian Wilson, so I loved Love & Mercy.  It’s not perfect, and what is besides Popeyes fried chicken, but Brian Wilson wasn’t perfect either, but his music is, and his hair was too

The film zig zags between two periods of his life…

Period 1 focuses on the time when he made Pet Sounds, and then Smile, and then slowly descended into madness.  This Brian Wilson is emobodied heart and soul by Paul Dano

Paul Dano does Brian Wilson SO well, I wish he would spend the rest of his life being 60s Brian Wilson

Paul Dano as Brian Wilson, can we be friends and just hang out and sing about surfing, but not actually surf???  I LOVE YOU!!!

herspecially loved Loved LOVED the parts that showed Brian Dano in the studio making music magic.  It looked like this, but in Paul Dano’s body

and loved AND feared the bits where Brian started to lose it.  SH!T WAS TUFF, YO!!!

–

Period 2 captures Brian Wilson in his alive but kinda vegetated state from the 70s/80s on, when he was under the overly watchful eye AND grip of Dr Eugene Landy – who basically turned Brian into his slave.  Dude was horrible

and horrible dudes are always played by Paul Giamatti , and sometimes with a toupée!

and older, moldier Brian Wilson is now played by John Cusack

when I first saw the trailer for this movie, I was instantly psyched, but I was like, why is John Cusack in this, and why is he the older Brian Wilson?  Why don’t they juss let Paul Dano be both the youthful AND the worn versions of Brian Wilson???

well, those thoughts were thrown right away after watching Cusack do an EGGGGGGGGGGSALLLENT job of being the 2nd period Brian Wilson.  Although I wouldn’t want Cusack to live the rest of his life as 70s/80s Brian Wilson, as I do with Dano and the 60s one

Anywho, a woman comes into the picture and complicates things for all – mainly to the dismay of Dr Landy, but for betterment of Brian’s saneness-ness .  This woman (Melinda Ledbetter) saves his life, and eventually becomes his wife (spoiler!)

Gawd only knows what HE would be without HER!

And she’s played by Elizabeth Banks and Elizabeth Banks is great in this!

moral of the story – Brian Wilson had mighty mighty highs, and mighty mighty mighty lows, and Bill Pohlad‘s movie gives us it all – harmonies and warts, in living color, with much blues  

Surf’s up kids, catch a wave on this and have FUN, FUN, FUN (even though most of it isn’t fun) til the daddy takes the t-bird away!!!

Verdictgo: Breast In Show

Love & Mercy is surf’s up yours, currently in limited release

and until next thyme the balcony is clothed…

more at

Live!

via buzzkill