Live Review
by SashaS
29-1-2002
   
   
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Brian 'Beach Boy' Wilson
Live: Brian Wilson
Royal Festival Hall, London
Monday, January 28, 2002
Brian Wilson’s historic visit is a triumph beyond belief


Legends come hardly any more mythical than the chief Beach Boy, Brian Wilson. With a life that was more than a soap-opera, a Shakespearian tragedy, the genius behind the best the Californian band ever produced, went off the rails which made him as likely to be seen onstage as Anne Robinson being polite.

The once notable recluse has decided to grace the stage and it was – just amazing. Not a nostalgic person in he slightest, I’ve to confess expecting to see nothing near greatness. An artist making a comeback (although this is like starting over with an incredible catalogue) is usually a fairly sad affair. In particular when the man himself is going to hit 60 this summer.

The last of the Wilson brothers – Dennis drowned in the Pacific in 1983, Carl expired to a lung cancer in 1997 – backed by a ten-piece outfit was on top form. The songs flowed like the best moments in time – effortlessly, beautifully and engaging memory centres that are so seldomly activated. And the man, whom I’d interviewed toward the end of his psychotic period, was together, although on the reserved side.

But that don’t matter any to this auditorium filled with fanatics and each and every song’s beginning causing a collective sigh and, often, delirium. The versions of songs such as ‘’Till I Die’, ‘California Girls’, ‘Add Some Music To Your Day’, ‘God Only Knows’, ‘Sail On Sailor’, ‘Marcella’, ‘Pet Sounds’ suite and ‘Good Vibrations’ were renditions after the fact that lacked on the originally youthful buzz but we can only be thankful as no time-machine will ever be invented.

Wilson’s whole canon simply proves why he was the biggest challenge to The Beatles’ world domination and why so many artists find his opus to be so inspirational. Pop music at its most devastating… It almost made me think that there might be something to the elders’ claim – those were the days…

Not ever being a particular Beach Boys fan it certainly is an evening of POP MUSIC per excellence.

(Brian Wilson plays tonight and tomorrow at the same venue.)


SashaS
29-1-2002
Brian Wilson’s album, ‘Live At The Roxy Theater’ is released 21 January 2002 on Sanctuary