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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2019 11:37:59 GMT -5
I dont mean to sound disrespectful, but to me thats like saying "I like a milkshake except the milk." Not really. You can like the camaraderie of traveling in a group setting. You can like traveling by plane or by bus. You can like sightseeing the great cities of the world. There are lots of things to like when touring, except for performing. Look at it like you or I are traveling the U.S. to sight-see the great national parks, but at every stop we have to stop and perform on a corner or work for day or two to make money to eat and sleep along the way. Yes, but that's my whole point. Touring is going to different places to perform in front of new audiences. If you don't like performing in front of audiences, you don't like touring. If anything, you like traveling. Not that it really matters, but I feel like it's disingenuous to say you like doing something when you don't like the core, defining component of it. "I like biking, I just don't like pedaling." "I like jogging, I just don't like exercising" "I like swimming, I just don't like water" ^To me, that's what it sounds like. |
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 12, 2019 11:39:36 GMT -5
Well, most who go to see Brian, they know that the band is one of the best in the business. They know that Al & Blondie like to perform. We all know for some unknown reason, we always give Brian a pass, well, because he is Brian Wilson. I hear folks say he was good, when in fact he was maybe just a little less awful than the previous show. Me, I have learned my lesson and will no longer pay those high prices to watch less than mediocrity on stage by the main star.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jan 12, 2019 11:44:11 GMT -5
Not really. You can like the camaraderie of traveling in a group setting. You can like traveling by plane or by bus. You can like sightseeing the great cities of the world. There are lots of things to like when touring, except for performing. Look at it like you or I are traveling the U.S. to sight-see the great national parks, but at every stop we have to stop and perform on a corner or work for day or two to make money to eat and sleep along the way. Yes, but that's my whole point. Touring is going to different places to perform in front of new audiences. If you don't like performing in front of audiences, you don't like touring. If anything, you like traveling. Not that it really matters, but I feel like it's disingenuous to say you like doing something when you don't like the core, defining component of it. "I like biking, I just don't like pedaling." "I like jogging, I just don't like exercising" "I like swimming, I just don't like water" ^To me, that's what it sounds like. You are saying that Touring = Performing, but that is probably not how Brian sees it. He likes the travel, but not the work. For a guy who never liked performing, having trouble singing now has to make it that much worse to go out there. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2019 11:45:17 GMT -5
You are saying that Touring = Performing, but that is probably not how Brian sees it. He likes the travel, but not the work. For a guy who never liked performing, having trouble singing now has to make it that much worse to go out there. Fair enough. Let's just agree to disagree on this particular point  |
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Post by AGD on Jan 12, 2019 12:20:55 GMT -5
Bottom line: you take people's money, you're obliged to deliver the goods. Giving Brian a free pass just because he's Brian is hugely disrespectful to all involved, including Brian. In fact, especially Brian. He deserves better than "fans" telling him he's great when he's anything but. He deserves the truth.
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Post by kds on Jan 12, 2019 12:49:44 GMT -5
Bottom line: you take people's money, you're obliged to deliver the goods. Giving Brian a free pass just because he's Brian is hugely disrespectful to all involved, including Brian. In fact, especially Brian. He deserves better than "fans" telling him he's great when he's anything but. He deserves the truth. That's not real fandom. It's blind hero worship. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2019 14:49:14 GMT -5
I have a pretty good feeling that Brian knows exactly what he is - and isn't - doing.
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Post by ian on Jan 12, 2019 17:16:09 GMT -5
This is of course is subjective-I saw Brian at royal Festival Hall premiere of smile in 2004 and I thought he and the band were great. Even then he basically sat there-no attempt at putting on a show and exhibited no emotion, etc-but he sang very well that night and was really making an effort-I thought it was a great show and money well spent. Then I saw him in New York in 2008 doing lucky old sun and it was the same only he sounded even stronger! Same lack of stage presence but singing great and trying hard! Money well spent. Then I saw a greatest hits tour and it was fine-but I’m not as into that kind of show (which is why I haven’t seen the BBs that often-though when I saw the Scott totten band they played them very well). Then I saw them on the 2012 tour and I thought al sang the strongest but Brian was very good and sang a lot of leads. Also seemed to actually be playing piano sometimes. Then I saw Brian and Jeff Beck-I thought Brian seemed older but he still sang well. I had no regrets about paying money to see him. However I don’t feel a great urge to see him or the BBs live again. I know that they have passed their prime and I’m content with my memories.
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Post by AGD on Jan 12, 2019 17:56:09 GMT -5
This is of course is subjective- I saw Brian at royal Festival Hall premiere of smile in 2004 and I thought he and the band were great. Even then he basically sat there-no attempt at putting on a show and exhibited no emotion, etc-but he sang very well that night and was really making an effort-I thought it was a great show and money well spent. Then I saw him in New York in 2008 doing lucky old sun and it was the same only he sounded even stronger! Same lack of stage presence but singing great and trying hard! Money well spent. Then I saw a greatest hits tour and it was fine-but I’m not as into that kind of show (which is why I haven’t seen the BBs that often-though when I saw the Scott totten band they played them very well). Then I saw them on the 2012 tour and I thought al sang the strongest but Brian was very good and sang a lot of leads. Also seemed to actually be playing piano sometimes. Then I saw Brian and Jeff Beck-I thought Brian seemed older but he still sang well. I had no regrets about paying money to see him. However I don’t feel a great urge to see him or the BBs live again. I know that they have passed their prime and I’m content with my memories. ... and you never said as much as "hello".  I've seen Brian maybe 30 times 2002-2016, and my strong impression is that when he's working with new(ish) material - Pet Sounds (2002 & 2006), BWPS, TLOS, BWRG - he's really engaged and gives it his best shot. Probably the best of all those was TLOS in 2007. I thought it was amazing on the night and the, **koff**, audio reminder I have tells me I'm right. The whole band, Brian included, were on fire. But since 2011, the returns have been diminishing (the 2012 reunion shows stand apart, as it wasn't Brian Wilson, it was The Beach Boys - and that made all the difference) and the May 2016 Pet Sounds "final" performances were, frankly, a disappointment (although way better than the 2017 & 2018 iterations). On recent evidence, I'll not be seeing him again unless it's a final BB reunion or a cast iron, guaranteed final BW tour. |
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Post by AGD on Jan 12, 2019 17:57:52 GMT -5
If that's true, and I'm not saying it is, it's also a pretty disrespectful attitude to have regarding your fans and audience who pay their hard earned money to see you perform. It's like saying, "Hey, I don't really wanna be here, I don't even like what I'm doing, but I'll be happy to take your money anyway, thank you!" You might not, but I am. He said that, in a published interview. |
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Post by ian on Jan 12, 2019 18:00:57 GMT -5
Yeah when the video came out of beautiful dreamer I was looking for my friend and I because van Dyke Parks was not that far away but we are not visible
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Post by monolithic on Jan 12, 2019 18:56:51 GMT -5
It's interesting to me that for years it would have been almost unthinkable for Al to be involved with Brian's touring. Now it would be unthinkable for Al to not be there.
I could understand when Brian relinquished lead vocals on some songs (Darlin, Don't Worry Baby, Sail on Sailor etc.), but we are at the stage now where it feels like it is almost false advertising for it to be billed a Brian Wilson show. I would still attend if one headed my way, but now it would be mostly to see Al and to some extent the very fine band.
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rumbo
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Post by rumbo on Jan 13, 2019 13:14:15 GMT -5
I actually met Melinda on January 29th 2002 on Brian's first tour of the UK at the Royal Festival Hall London. (btw I don't remember the exact date so I googled it!). Melinda was sat with David Leaf in the two seats directly behind my then wife and I. It was the first time I'd ever set eyes on Brian Wilson and I remember thinking "wow" how tall he was, when he first came on stage. Brian also seemed to be so nervous and was constantly seeking reassurance from Melinda and David and kept looking up at them as he performed (he needn't have worried though as he went down a storm with the audience). We were roughly in rows 6 and 7 from the front of stage and right in the centre. During the interval and briefly at the end of the concert I was able to have a short conversation with Melinda and David and I remember rambling on and thanking them for bringing Brian on tour to the U.K. I can only give my personal opinion, not knowing then what a lot of people know now, but I found her to be very pleasant and likeable. I wanted to ask if she could get Brian to sign my Pet Sounds sessions box set, which was by my feet, but I didn't pluck up the courage.
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Post by AGD on Jan 13, 2019 14:05:31 GMT -5
I've met Melinda several times 2002-2007, and she was never less than cordial and charming. Of course, that was before September 2012.
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Post by John Manning on Jan 13, 2019 14:23:27 GMT -5
I actually met Melinda on January 29th 2002 on Brian's first tour of the UK at the Royal Festival Hall London. (btw I don't remember the exact date so I googled it!). Melinda was sat with David Leaf in the two seats directly behind my then wife and I. It was the first time I'd ever set eyes on Brian Wilson and I remember thinking "wow" how tall he was, when he first came on stage. Brian also seemed to be so nervous and was constantly seeking reassurance from Melinda and David and kept looking up at them as he performed (he needn't have worried though as he went down a storm with the audience). We were roughly in rows 6 and 7 from the front of stage and right in the centre. During the interval and briefly at the end of the concert I was able to have a short conversation with Melinda and David and I remember rambling on and thanking them for bringing Brian on tour to the U.K. I can only give my personal opinion, not knowing then what a lot of people know now, but I found her to be very pleasant and likeable. I wanted to ask if she could get Brian to sign my Pet Sounds sessions box set, which was by my feet, but I didn't pluck up the courage. Sounds a very similar experience to my own - we were probably sat very close to each other. |
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Post by The Cap'n on Jan 13, 2019 16:37:22 GMT -5
I just think this is mostly an unknowable one. Most of us--the vast majority of us who don't actually know Brian and Melinda personally (and having met them for a few moments here or there doesn't count as knowing them personally)--don't know the intimate details, and speculate. There's usually a lot of wishful thinking and projection that goes into that speculation, imo.
So it's with that said that I will say my thoughts on Melinda are that she seems to have brought Brian a certain amount of stability and peace, and encouraged him to keep working. For better and for worse. I doubt she's a New Landy, and I doubt she's a liberating angel.
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