Brian Wilson premieres new 'song cycle' in London!
The Beach Boys legend also covers The Beatles!
The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson premiered his brand new 'song cycle'
'That Lucky Old Sun' in London tonight (September 10).
The star, backed by his regular touring band and a string section,
returned to his regular stomping ground of the Royal Festival Hall to
showcase the nine-song suite, based on the classic 1949 song 'That
Lucky Old Sun'.
Similar in style to his legendary album 'Smile', which he performed at
the same venue in 2004, the songs, with lyrics by Scott Bennett and
interspersed with narratives provided by 'Smile' lyricist Van Dyke
Parks, were a sentimental ode to Los Angeles and Wilson's past.
While the music was being performed many images of southern California
appeared on the backdrops, as well as snaps of Wilson with his Beach
Boys bandmates and brothers Dennis and Carl, who died in 1983 and 1998
respectively.
Wilson's new music was received warmly by the capacity crowd, who gave
their hero a standing ovation at the end of the 45-minute set.
The set closer was a cover from The Beatles' 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band', 'She's Leaving Home', marking the 40th anniversary
of that album's release.
Elsewhere, the evening's entertainment also featured a cover of Chuck
Berry's 'Johnny B Goode' and the usual Beach Boys classics such as
'Good Vibrations', 'Help Me Rhonda', 'Do It Again' and 'Wouldn't It Be
Nice'.
But Wilson also took the time, as promised, to play a host of rarely
performed tunes such as set opener 'Girl Don't Tell Me', 'Salt Lake
City', 'I'd Love Just Once To See You' and 'She Knows Me Too Well'.
The set was:
'Girl Don't Tell Me'
'Dance Dance Dance'
'Salt Lake City'
'Catch A Wave'
'Then I Kissed Her'
'In My Room'
'The Lonely Sea'
'Do You Wanna Dance?'
'When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)'
'She Knows Me Too Well'
'I'd Love Just Once To See You'
'Do It Again'
'Please Let Me Wonder'
'California Girls'
'Sloop John B'
'Wouldn't It Be Nice'
'God Only Knows'
'Heroes And Villains'
'Good Vibrations'
That Lucky Old Sun: 'Morning Beat'/'Good Kind Of Love'/'Forever You'll
Be My Surfer Girl'/'Mexican Girl'/'California Role'/'Oxygen To The
Brain'/'Midnight's Another Day'/'Going Home'/'Southern California'
'Johnny B Goode'
'I Get Around'
'Help Me Rhonda'
'Barbara Ann'
'Boogie Woodie'
'Surfin' USA'
'Fun Fun Fun'
'She's Leaving Home'
The tour continues tomorrow (September 11) with the second of six
nights at the Festival Hall.
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