Live Review: Brian Wilson - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 2/9/09 (From Bury Times)

Live Review: Brian Wilson - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 2/9/09

1:30pm Thursday 3rd September 2009

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COMBINING tracks from his solo career with the hits collection of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and his band brought a touch of summer to a decidedly grey and wet Liverpool.

Staring with ‘Roll Around Heaven as a warm-up, Brian and his 11-strong band launched into The Beach Boys’ catalogue from the second song onwards.

‘California Girls’ was the first, and by the time the show ended the sold-out Philharmonic Hall had been treated to almost every hit made famous by the Californian band.

During the two and a quarter hours they were on stage, the excellent musicians performed no less than 41 songs, including a handful from Brian’s superb recent album ‘That Lucky Old Sun’.

It wasn’t long before the crowd were on their feet, paying homage to the man that had created this wonderful music.

Brian himself was slightly aloof, sitting at a keyboard that he barely touched and seeming to read his lyrics and ad libs from a computer screen, but still, when you remember what he has been through, it’s a wonder he was able to walk out on stage at all.

Despite everything, he sang in tune and at times gave signs that he was enjoying himself as he sang the songs that have made him a legend in musical history.

‘In My Room’, a plaintive cry of loneliness, was received respectfully and the uptempo hits had everyone clapping and joining in.

Name any Beach Boys hit that Brian had a hand in and the chances are that it was played, exceptions being ‘Heroes And Villians’ and ‘Darlin’’.

Finishing the main concert with the iconic ‘Good Vibrations’, the man left the stage to yet another standing ovation, before returning to perform The Beatles’ song ‘Eight Days A Week’, that is to say, the band played it. Brian just sat at the keyboard for that one.

But then he sand another batch of Beach Boys hits and ended up with the emotive ‘Love And Mercy’.

His backing band were excellent throughout, with spot on vocal harmonies (no mean feat when there are almost a dozen singing). The music was as full as you hear on records, especially the drumming which was Phil Spector-ish in sound.

All in all, a superb concert given by one of the biggest names in musical history.

Those of us privileged to be there will not forget this concert in a hurry.

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