Post by Pete70s on Aug 10, 2005 15:35:56 GMT -5
Me and four of my best friends met up at around 5:00 to drive into Boston. We took the subway once we got into Cambridge, to avoid traffic jams and parking issues. Once we got to the Pavilion we got wristbands so we could drink. We got beers and walked around, checking out the merch stands and so-forth. The Verizon booth held a trivia contest and offered ticket upgrades as a prize (trade your tickets up for closer seats). I didn't get picked to participate, though. The questions were easy ("Name a Brian Wilson song", "What is the name of Brian's first solo album?"), and our seats weren't that bad, anyway. We were right beside the sound booth, about 50 yards from the stage. Probably the closest distance I've seen him from.
The show was AMAZING! One of the most incredible things I've ever seen! The band was tighter than I'd ever seen them before, quite possibly the best musicians I've ever seen! (you HAVE to be great to play SMILE material, but more on that later..)
The first song was "I Get Around", then he went into "Dance Dance Dance" and a bunch of BB classics and obscurities. Ones that particularly caught my attention were "Please Let Me Wonder" (SHOCKED that he did this!), "Break Away", and "Little Saint Nick" (he has a new Christmas album coming out in October). Also did a few cuts from Pet Sounds, including the title track, where he turns his back to the audience to watch the band play. The first set ended with a SMOKING version of "Marcella".
After a short break, we made sure to get back to our seats so we wouldn't miss one second of SMILE. The stage was dark as the first accapella notes of "Our Prayer" filled the Pavilion. Then they performed SMILE, in its entirety, flawlessly. I've never heard any band sound so good, especially playing some of the most complex and difficult music ever written! I defy ANYONE to tell me that the Beach Boys were all about surf music and "fun in the sun". When Brian originally wrote SMILE, he was light years ahead of EVERYBODY in music, including Lennon and McCartney. This was unlike anything I've ever heard, An emotionally draining experience, right up to the finale, Good Vibrations, which received a standing ovation!
"Sgt. WHO?"........ There, I've said it!
Next came the encores, including a song nobody in the audience nobody seemed to recognize (possibly one from the upcoming Christmas album, as it sounded spiritual), followed by "Johnny B. Goode", "Fun Fun Fun", "Barbara Ann", "Surfin'' USA", typical encore stuff. All the string and horn players who had played on the SMILE set came back out to dance and party onstage. Then the band went off stage briefly and guitarist Jeff Foskett came out to introduce each member back on. Brian closed the show with his trademark closer, "Love and Mercy".
After the show, we had a fun ride home and stopped at Dennys where we were told the grill was down, so they were only serving soup and sandwiches. Well, we were so hungry it was like "If it's edible, we'll eat it!". So we ended the night with soup and sandwiches at Dennys.
There it is, my concert experience! Now to continue my countdown!
The show was AMAZING! One of the most incredible things I've ever seen! The band was tighter than I'd ever seen them before, quite possibly the best musicians I've ever seen! (you HAVE to be great to play SMILE material, but more on that later..)
The first song was "I Get Around", then he went into "Dance Dance Dance" and a bunch of BB classics and obscurities. Ones that particularly caught my attention were "Please Let Me Wonder" (SHOCKED that he did this!), "Break Away", and "Little Saint Nick" (he has a new Christmas album coming out in October). Also did a few cuts from Pet Sounds, including the title track, where he turns his back to the audience to watch the band play. The first set ended with a SMOKING version of "Marcella".
After a short break, we made sure to get back to our seats so we wouldn't miss one second of SMILE. The stage was dark as the first accapella notes of "Our Prayer" filled the Pavilion. Then they performed SMILE, in its entirety, flawlessly. I've never heard any band sound so good, especially playing some of the most complex and difficult music ever written! I defy ANYONE to tell me that the Beach Boys were all about surf music and "fun in the sun". When Brian originally wrote SMILE, he was light years ahead of EVERYBODY in music, including Lennon and McCartney. This was unlike anything I've ever heard, An emotionally draining experience, right up to the finale, Good Vibrations, which received a standing ovation!
"Sgt. WHO?"........ There, I've said it!
Next came the encores, including a song nobody in the audience nobody seemed to recognize (possibly one from the upcoming Christmas album, as it sounded spiritual), followed by "Johnny B. Goode", "Fun Fun Fun", "Barbara Ann", "Surfin'' USA", typical encore stuff. All the string and horn players who had played on the SMILE set came back out to dance and party onstage. Then the band went off stage briefly and guitarist Jeff Foskett came out to introduce each member back on. Brian closed the show with his trademark closer, "Love and Mercy".
After the show, we had a fun ride home and stopped at Dennys where we were told the grill was down, so they were only serving soup and sandwiches. Well, we were so hungry it was like "If it's edible, we'll eat it!". So we ended the night with soup and sandwiches at Dennys.
There it is, my concert experience! Now to continue my countdown!
