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October 22, 2021

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Genius is a term that is used pretty loosely these days.  People like Oprah Winfrey to Mark Zuckerberg to Banksy, have all been called genius.

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Sure, all have made their mark in their respective fields and are smart business people.  But genius?

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Hearing the music, arrangements, and harmonies of The Beach Boys on Wednesday evening at Goodyear Theater by the man who wrote and arranged all of it, Brian Wilson, I couldn't help but think that everyone in attendance was in the presence of a true genius.

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Wilson, along with founding Beach Boy member Al Jardine and a great ten-piece backing band are still out playing this timeless music.

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Time, drugs and mental issues may have gotten the best of Brian Wilson, but his legacy is still intact. 

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Seated center stage behind a piano, Wilson opened the show with "California Girls" and proceeded to bang out hit after hit like, "I Get Around," "Little Duce Coupe" and "Help Me, Rhonda."

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Brian did not move from his seat from center stage and did not interact with the audience very much besides stating the song title after it was played.  If he was not singing a particular song, the seventy-nine year old sometimes seemed to lose interest.  However, when it was his turn to sing, he was back into it.

 

Early in the show Wilson told the audience, "This is the first song I ever wrote," as the band launched into "Surfer Girl."

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Long time friend and bandmate, Al Jardine commented after that song, "Brian's arrangement is beautiful.  It's really remarkable if you think about it.  Yeah, Brian!"

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It was then Jardine's turn to sing lead on "Wake The World" which segued into the Brian led "Add Some Music To Your Day."

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Jardine's son, Matt took over the difficult job of Carl Wilson by singing lead on "Don't Worry Baby."  The audience responded by giving him a standing ovation, to which he pointed to Wilson and said, "The master wrote it!"

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Half way through the set, former Beach Boy member, Blondie Chaplin came out to play guitar and sing songs from his era of the band.

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His three song set included: "Feel Flows," "Long Promised Road" and my personal favorite "Sail On, Sailor" which saw Blondie play a great, extended solo at the end.

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Jardine then stated it was time to do the Pet Sounds portion of the show as the band went into "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Sloop John B" and "God Only Knows."

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The twenty-nine song set came to a close with "Barbara Ann" "Surfin' USA," "Fun Fun Fun," and his own solo tune, "Love and Mercy."

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All of those songs and all of that great music came out of one individual over a ten year period.

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Not only is he a genius.  He is an American treasure.

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Thank you, Brian Wilson.

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Review and photos by Greg Drugan

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