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Brian Wilson Rocks The Orpheum with Smile
By Brian Ransom
Forget his estranged ex-bandmates, the lawsuits, the drug abuse, and the paranoid schizophrenia, Brian Wilson put his demons on the backburner Thursday night to kick off his highly anticipated tour to support his latest album Smile. As any Beach Boys fan or rock critic knows, Smile was the most famous, never released album of all time. With song fragments surfacing on bootlegs and alternative versions of songs appearing on various Beach Boys albums, Smile remained an uncompleted masterpiece -- until now. This week Brian Wilson finally got the Smile monkey off his back and provided savoring fans worldwide what they have been eagerly waiting to listen to for 37 years. And the icing on the cake for fans...a world tour to promote Smile.
Just past 7:30pm, the curtain rose followed by a five minute standing ovation before a single note was even played. An audience of over 2,000 fans, happy just to see their beloved Beach Boy, expressed their love and support for Brian with as much enthusiasm as could possibly exert. After a few “thank you's” from Brian, the crowd grew silent while the 11-piece band opened with the a cappella song "And Your Dreams Come True". The next few songs, including rarities like “Wendy”, “Good To My Baby”, “Please Let Me Wonder”, and “Drive-in” along with classics “Surfer Girl” and “Hawaii”, were performed "unplugged" while band members stood or sat on stools in a small circle on stage.
After the campfire atmosphere (as the band called it) wrapped up, Brian and his bandmates, one-by-one under deep blue lights, shuffled to their usual places on stage while chanting the song “You're Welcome”. More classic Beach Boys hits like “Sloop John B”, “Dance Dance Dance”, and “California Girls” followed, mixed with some Brian Wilson solo material from his newest solo project Gettin' In Over My Head. After “Darlin'” was played, Brian halted the band and asked that the house lights be turned on. Once the concert hall was lit, Brian said, "My wife is here tonight. Melinda, please stand up." The supporting musicians pointed to her standing in the sound booth to which Brian replied, "Just wanted to make sure you made it here safe." He dedicated the next song, “Gettin' In Over My Head” to her. A couple of Pet Sounds favorites, “God Only Knows” and “Wouldn't It Be Nice”, were also played. Then Brian dedicated the following songs “Forever” and “Soul Searchin’” to his late brothers Dennis and Carl, respectively. Wrapping up the 1st act, the band played the R&B, soul-filled rarities “Sail On Sailor” and “Marcella”.
With 20 songs performed in just over an hour, the band took a quick recess and came back to another standing ovation to which they immediately responded with the lush a cappella harmonies of “Our Prayer”. Following the opening, a big picture of Brian (circa 1967) appeared on the backscreen with "Smile" written under it. The crowd remained silent and settled in for a magical treat. Act 2, the Smile album, added a 10-piece orchestra (complete with firemen's hats, celery, and carrots) which successfully re-created Brian's complex musical genius. Wielding hammers, saws, mallets, drills, a bull-horn, and various other non-musical instruments, Brian's band played Smile in its entirety, from more familiar songs such as “Cabin Essence”, “Wonderful”, “Heroes & Villains”, and “Surf's Up” to previously unfinished songs like “Old Master Painter”, “Barnyard”, “Ms. O’Leary’s Cow”, “On a Holiday”, “In Blue Hawaii”, and “Roll Plymouth Rock”. All Smile songs were performed with the exact precision that their creator originally envisioned them. The entire album, consisting of three different “sections” was played as Brian had first imagined it -- one gigantic suite all tied together to form a seamless 17 song set list. Brian was smiling the entire time and seemed even more invigorated than during Act 1. Smile wrapped up with the classic “Good Vibrations” and left the crowd in a jaw-gapping, mind-blown state, screaming for more.
After another 5-minute standing ovation, musical director and former Beach Boys back-up falsetto singer, Jeff Foskett introduced the entire band along with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Brian Wilson. The crowd never sat back down in their seats during the 3rd act. Brian and his band proceeded to rock the house with more all-time classic hits including “Do It Again”, “I Get Around”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “Barbara Ann”, “Surfin’ USA” and topping it off with “Fun Fun Fun”. The band, again, left the stage.
Demanding still more of the 62-year-old rock legend, the crowd cheered and applauded until Brian returned a fourth time. He stated he was going to send us home with one last love song and then gave us his classic closing song “Love and Mercy”.
Backstage following the 3-hour, 44-song set list, Brian continued to exert himself by spending 20 minutes signing autographs and taking photos with adoring fans. Finally, after the urging of his road manager, Brian said goodnight and made his way back to the tour bus. En route, I thanked him for such a memorable night and mentioned that until we meet again, I'll simply have to enjoy my new Smile album. To which Brian replied, "Smile is a great album. It's a real piece of art." It is Brian, but it's you who makes it so special and the work of art that it is. Thank you for celebrating the joy of life through music.
For more about Brian Wilson and Smile visit www.brianwilson.com
Contributed by: Brian Ransom