TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Thoroughly enjoyable. Although Brian Wilson’s voice was all over the shop, the band were great. Absolutely loved the energy of Wild Honey, Sail on Sailor, I get Around. Few people are true musical legends, but when you hear all those classic songs he definitely falls into that category. Al Jardine still has a strong voice, and pleased they are keeping it in the family with his son. A wonderful end to day one!

Great band, banging out Beach Boys. I was near the front.

But

All a bit sad. The hollow shell of Brian Wilson being wheel
on stage and obviously having no idea where he was. Tremendous band
with him, but he was on auto-pilot.

Brian did minimal singing and I wasn't convinced that he was playing the piano.

Sorry to be negative, but there were far better turns earlier in the day.

Absolutely loved it!
Having seen Brian Wilson on tv recently, I was actually surprised at just how much singing he did. OK it wasn’t pretty at times, but with that band and those songs it was a joyous experience.

Beach boys Tribute band?
Gets coat.!

With twice the number of original members than Fairport!

I wasn't there but this is exactly what I feared and expected. Brian's shows have been this way for a long time. I last saw him about 12 years ago and it was like this then. The band were excellent and his singing was ok then but the piano is a prop for him to hide behind. He doesn't play it and he looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights who didn't know if this was Brighton or a banana. But Brian's name sells the tickets. There would be less demand for The Wondermints sing The Beach Boys.

Good point! ::) ::)!

Apart the Beach Boys weren't playing - billed as Brian Wilson Plays Pet Sounds - so comments about tribute bands are pointless.

Just saying.

DW

Billed as Brian Wilson plays Pet Sounds. In reality was some  pet sounds within a lot of beachboys standards.

Tribute Band seems a fair description. At an early stage of the set my wife said this is like a wedding band. I'd just thought the same thing.

The band themselves were very good. But that just makes them a very good covers band.

His voice is frankly awful. If it was a bloke playing a pub gig he'd never get booked again. V. poor, v. disappointing.

I wasn’t too excited when he/they were announced, agree with all the comments about his voice etc. We had a great time though - Hawaiian shirts have clearly been replaced with heavy duty hoodies !  Cropredy not California temperatures

This is also true David. I withdraw my comment!
I think what I was trying to say that I have some slight wibbles when a bands music is played by a bunch of session musicians, however good they are. Some of the bands energy , original vibe. , however you express it is bound to be lost.
I know there is the classical music analogy where different orchestras play the classic composers and some body may be watching a band called Fairport Convention in 200 years time , keeping that genre alive, so it is probably just me.

Sad but 100% accurate.

Jules

(A possible pedant writes): Al wasn't an original member was he - didn't he replace David Marks?

No, Marks replaced Jardine when Jardine went to study dentistry.  Jardine returned about a year later and Marks was given the elbow.....until Love called him back decades later to bolster the cred of his increasingly phoney touring band.

Jules

Phew.  I'm not a pedant after all  ;) :) ;D

I found it utterly bizarre. Parts were as good as anything I have heard in the field, other bits - largely when Brian was singing - were excruciating. Like watching your child in a school concert, praying that they hit the notes. I saw the Smile concert at the Festival Hall 10 (?) years ago and while he was distant then, it seems far more serious now. He clearly has major problems and it is wrong for everyone to have to watch, not least him. Let him retire gracefully and leave everyone with positive memories of a true great.

You make it sound as though he is being forced into this.
Is there any evidence that he is performing against his will?

The legal cases about who "controls" Brian go back into the 80's (Eugene Landy et al).  There is no doubt this time...his wife, but it has always seemed a 'willing control'.  One forgets just how truly bizarre it was to see Brian live in '00 - it felt magical just to see his presence on a stage after everything he'd been through (a bit like seeing Arthur Lee live in '92).  Seeing both these artists then became common place in the next decade or two.  And what seemed magical, then becomes first ubiquitous and then embarrassing.  Thankfully (but sadly) that was never allowed to happen with Arthur (although remember, just before he died he sacked Baby Lemonade, formed another Love etc etc).  With Brian, 'he' has just become a money making machine.  He hasn't been 'all there' since the 60's.  He's a man-child.  And he's being used.  Is that ok?  I think we all know the answer to that, really...

Well I'm pleased I saw him but I found the overall experience rather sad. The early surfing numbers were great, I didn't warm to the mid set stuff and I am afraid Pet Sounds is not my favourite album (better than Smile though!). In reality a shadow of a great artist carried through by an excellent backing band.

Thanks for that explanation David, it really does seem that he is being taken advantage of which is very sad indeed.

That sums it up very well. All very sad. If it had been Al Jardine and the band leading a tribute to Brian, it would have been a wonderful evening. Al J’s son has a great voice - Don’t Worry Baby was a real highlight. I have always admired the work of the musical director, how he recreates the sound and works round Brian. He did that beautifully back when Brian first reappeared but it is no longer possible.

We all have opinions on artists from the past continuing to tour and levels of success. This is not a question of can they still cut it though. More one of abuse of someone who can’t make their own decisions.

Not just a man-child either, but someone with severe mental health problems.  I applaud that he's encouraged to make music as therapy and to make a living, but the performance side of things appears to do him not good whatsoever.  So no, it's not OK.

Jules

If I were Brian Wilson’s lawyers I’d be watching this thread with interest.

It's no worse than the discussion over on the Smiley Smile Beach Boys forum :

smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,25544.725.html

Example quote : "The problem is that this has been going on for now almost literally 20 years. Yes, as has been said in the past, Brian has some bad nights and at times his shows over the years did veer into 'Weekend at Bernie's' territory.' "

I've seen Brian Wilson three times (2004, 2007, 2009), each time IMHO to diminishing returns, and have pretty much ticked him off my "must go and see again" list.
His band is phenomenal, but he hasn't got better since I last saw him 9 years ago.

For that reason, his presence on the bill was not enough of a draw for me to consider Cropredy essential this year.

Here's a photo:

I was told he has just had a back operation and can't really feel his feet. Can't help with the piano pedals.

I heard his interview with radio Oxford. The lights are on but nobody is home.

Loved it. Best set of the weekend. Wish it had been longer.

OK I get all the sadness about Brian’s condition and I understand why some people are comparing Brian today with Brian/Beach Boys of yesteryear....but, I thoroughly enjoyed the set. I’ve never seen either Brian Wilson or the Beach Boys before so I can”t compare but Al Jardine and his son’s singing and the quality of the band and the songs made it a great headliner IMHO. Thought the finale was extra special.

You mean finishing Good Vibes after the curfew and then just kicking on with all those classics? Has there been a better more enjoyable 20 minutes music at Cropredy I wonder? I don't think I've ever applauded anything so much in my life as I did at the end.

Exactly...that was a great finale and sent me away with a big smiley smile on my face  ;D

We all loved it . Sure he's knackered but what a fabulous band . As stand alone entertainment it was superb. Levellers take note.

A privilege and a treat to see the Great Brian Wilson on stage whilst his work was delivered to us by a magnificent set of musicians.

More remarkable than Brian's lack of a voice was Al Jardines possession of a fine one, two weeks ahead of his 76th birthday.

When I posted that they would play 34 numbers over two and a half hours I was rubbished by some, I am glad my source who was a technician on the tour proved correct.

Stop the negatives,

You saw Brian Wilson and Al Jardine play just about every hit they ever had on a cold night in a field in Oxfordshire.

Here's one person who's apre gig thought was ,"Isn't life wonderful".

I enjoyed it enormously. ( well the guitar solos of one ex member could have been a bit shorter... )

None of us knows what the world Brian Wilson is living in is like. None of us knows if It would be better for him to sit in his armchair in his home. Maybe he does at some moments realise he is travelling all over the world and everywhere he is people love his music. Maybe he likes that.

And I do remember a Pink Floyd cover band as headliner a couple of years ago. This was much better I think.

Also I really think it is better Brian Wilson gets the money for the gig than Mike Love ;)

Any chance his promoters could be as vigilant?  ;D

*snigger*  ;D

As far as I can see everybody has just expressed an option, which is allowed and held back on anything accusational, which isn't.

If you see anything that you think goes too far, there is the report to moderator button.

Interestingly I note that it was billed as “Brian Wilson Presents Pet sounds” rather than “Performs”.
To me that suggests that he could have just come on stage and announced it or indeed could have just appeared on the big screen by way of a pre recorded video and would still have fulfilled his commitment.
Personally I was very happy to have had the chance to see him and thought the set was absolutely glorious.
Judging by the grins on the faces around me, so did a lot of other people.

Coolio. Remind me to pop “Man-child with severe mental health problems” into my “It’s nice to be nice” locker for future usage.

The last twenty minutes were brilliant
Very very good ending to the set.
Wouldn’t want to see them again but was glad I was present for that twenty minutes,it will last long in the memory.

The music was sublime and the author of most of the tunes was present, even though he is wracked by recent surgery, old age and perhaps some other issues. The band was fantastic and complemented him wonderfully well. Running well over the preset finish time, no-one minded, we enjoyed just about every minute, despite some faux pas and glitches with timing.

Al Jardine and son Matt provided great support, vocally and musically and earned my admiration.

The second most moving act of the weekend.

...  probably because by that time those that may have done had already gone to bed :-)

didds

Incidentally, I discovered that the festival is licensed to run until 12 on all three nights, so the usual 11pm finish on Thursdays is voluntary.

That was a really awkward interview, embarrassing. However I wonder how much was Brian being deliberately difficult, for example when asked what he liked about being in the studio he replied the chairs and the microphones which actually is quite a witty and aimed at winding the interviewer up more than anything else.

Having been brought up hearing the Beach Boys since early childhood but never seeing them I was delighted to be there to watch a real legend on stage and to hear the songs that I have always known.
Fair play to Brian Wilson for still touring when most of his age and capacity would have pulled up their armchairs many years ago.
Is there anyone in that audience that could have written such enduring music (a certain R. McTell excepted!

It was a real privilege to be a part of it.

Does anybody have a set-list, or know of a link to one, please?

official Fairport Facebook  page put these up:

and

and finally

Thank you very much  8)

You sir have just expressed my feeling about this set admirably.  

It was a joyous occasion and all those round me were quite willing to forgive the lapses in Brian's vocals; I have rarely seen the majority of the field so energised.  The man is a legend and yes he has suffered numerous mental breakdown some caused by substance abuse but his presence still caused chills down my spine.  No one I spoke to who witnessed the performance was in anyway negative, for most it was the highlight of the weekend.

The supporting band were magnificent and it is rare for any live performance to capture the record (which is very complex) so well.  

I was just glad to be there

My thoughts exactly

So as we have Marillion and then their former lead singer alternate years can we expect The Beach Boys next year lead by the not at all ironically named Mr Love?

DW

*like*

I enjoyed every minute of it a great gig providing dance and smiles!

His vocals were awful, but apart from that it was a wonderful set that could have gone on even longer!

Mr Wilson's health issues aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the set. The band reproduced the sounds of childhood summers and it was great to sing along with songs I've loved since I was a toddler! It was a perfect end to Thursday's offerings and as far as I could tell, everybody leaving the field was either still singing or at least smiling. The only thing that could have improved it would have been some glorious Californian sunshine.

Spot on  ;D

Loved every moment...  playing the Best of right now... will never forget that Thursday night.

The band was brilliant, Al Jardine was excellent, his son had a good voice, and the music was amazing.

It was good to see Brian Wilson there, but I did feel sorry for him. I also did wonder what planet Blondie Chaplin was on, but he can still play the guitar.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable end to the evening.

Paul

 I loved Blondies tambourine playing  ;D

Sometimes his voice was embarrassing (I am/was a speech therapist after all), but all in all, a truly memorable experience. Another legend seen. Perspective. Thanks chaps.

Saw him again last weekend. He seemed a lot more with it. Even remarked on the moon rising over the Solent. The down side of this was that he sang more, and his voice is not really up to it. I assume a member of the band is on continual standby to sing if he doesn't.

The rest of the band was very bit of good, including Al Jardine. Blondie Chaplin had at least returned to the solar system, if not this planet.  ;D

Paul

What were the issues with Blondie at Cropredy, then?

Debbie decided to stay at home and bleach her hair once more.

For a while there, I thought Pete was using some very clever euphemism.  And then I realised it was just a **** joke and so I went to fetch his coat.

 ;D

Jules

He was extremely animated, personally I thought he was just having a damn good time.
I’ve never seen someone rattling a tambourine with such flair!
I guess some feel his performance was possibly enhanced in some way!

He also seemed to think he was channeling Hendrix.

I’d already fetched it myself Jules.  

Then whose is this black floor-length PVC mac that I picked up?

Jules

To me he looked like a cross between Lou Reed, Leo Sayer and Otis Lee Crenshaw. Guitar wise, you're right, but I don't think he realised he was on the wrong channel.

I picked up a truly awesome copy of the excellent Beach Boys Live in Concert double today from the boot fair for only a fiver.  '73.... Carl, Dennis, Mike Hate, Al, Blondie and Ricky...it's literally as new...never seen a 45 year old album looking so fresh.  Pity about the import corner cut, but you can't have everything.

That's a great album.  In my opinion, that period was the best The BBs ever sounded live.

Jules

No doubt at all...they were brilliant live then.  They all look cool as **** too...even Mike.