One of the unwritten rules of Murphy’s Law is that every time a Beach Boy comes to town, there is a deluge of torrential rain. When Mike Love performed with Sydney Symphony recently, there was a storm of epic proportions. Tonight Love’s estranged cousin and former bandmate, Brian Wilson, has also attracted the wrath of Thor, the God of Thunder.
Of course, this is entirely appropriate when you consider the career trajectory of The Beach Boys. Wilson may be responsible for some of the happiest, sunniest party music in pop history, but his personal life has been ravaged by tragedy and heartbreak. Parental abuse, mental illness, drug addiction, divorce, brainwashing psychiatrists, financial meltdown, untimely family deaths, Wilson has seen it all.
It’s no surprise then that a live Brian Wilson performance is bittersweet. It’s wonderful to see a living legend in the flesh. It’s wonderful to watch him conquer decades of stage fright. It’s wonderful to hear him backed by an outrageously talented band who can do justice to his wonderful back catalogue of songs. But it’s also sad to see a once-great performer reduced to reading lyrics from an autocue. It’s sad to hear his once-great falsetto crumple into a breathless murmur. And it’s sad to see this once-great composer hit occasional bum notes and often forget to sing into his mic.
Fortunately, his band and his audience are happy to make allowances. Just like Wilson’s music, this show is proof that love, surf and song can conquer all. Maybe it’s the seven-part harmonies of ‘Surfer Girl’, maybe it’s the symphonic genius of ‘Heroes & Villains’, or maybe it’s the succession of three minute pop masterpieces but – by the time the time we leave the Enmore – something magical has happened. The rain clouds have been spirited away.
Article by
Andy McLean. Copyright held by author.
Andy McLean. Copyright held by author.
First published in The Brag, Sydney, November 2010.
Beautiful! Really wish I had been at this concert.
ReplyDeleteTop review! Can you imagine seeing him at his peak? although he was always really uncomfortable on stage.
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