In 2007, Brian Wilson and his band came to do a special show at the then newly-reopened Southbank Centre. I was fortunate enough to go along to review it, I danced in the aisles then pondered how it could be that I can be reviewing a legend. Over-used a term as it is, it definitely applies here. Well, it seems I got that lucky twice. So here I go again, writing the review of the fan-girl.
This is show of two halves, a proper grown up concert with programmes, and an interval replete with delicious honey and ginger ice cream. The first part of the show is a set comprised of his Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin album, where the spirit of old broadway meets the sunbeams of the west coast. The harmony soaked renditions of ‘Summertime’ and ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ bring some old-time magic to the Southbank today and the audience is hushed throughout.
The Gershwin is set is rather beautiful, but for me it’s all about the hits. For the most part, Brian Wilson sits at his electric piano singing and playing – occasionally passing the lead vocal baton onto his cohort Jeff Foskett. People are up and out of their seats and the audience, comprised of old-school Beach Boys fans, flop-haired indie kids and incongruous groupie types yelling “We love yoooooou Bri-aaaaaaaaan” are all dancing and flailing in a wedding reception style. Wilson introduces ‘God Only Knows’ by saying he wrote it in 45 minutes, and it’s pure pop perfection. I hate to use a cliché like ‘they don’t make them like that anymore’ but they rarely do. It’s magical.
The close harmonies and musical dexterity of Wilson’s band of the past 14 years comes into there own during ‘Heroes and Villains’ as melodies soar bounce around this grand hall. When he isn’t taking the lead, there are times when Wilson stares off into the middle distance and at one point he spins his chair around to watch his band at work. But the overall mood is a celebratory one, the band are clearly getting kicks from hearing people singing along to ‘Do You Wanna Dance’, ‘Help Me Rhonda’ and ‘Surfin USA’. The band are also joined by the Stockholm Strings and during the encore the female contingent who are fantastically-attired in 60s girl group style outfits set down their violins and cellos and join in with the dancing. It’s a joyful sight to behold, people (including me and my pal Sarah) are beaming on both sides of the stage. Once again, Brian Wilson brought the summer magic back to an autumnal evening.