That Pet Sounds Concert

So...about that Brian Wilson concert...It was nice, not sure it was worth my eighty bucks though. He played two sets, the first being the surf music of the earlier Beach Boys albums, the second being Pet Sounds in its entirety plus the encore.

The first set wasn't too good. I don't like the Beach Boys' surf period. Surf music is shit, and if I'm going to listen to ripped-off Chuck Berry riffs, then I'd rather listen to the man himself. They did play some great songs, though, some early stuff where Brian's genius was starting to reveal itself, like in California Girls. Then they also played Good Vibrations, which everyone knows is great.

I loved the second set. Pet Sounds really means a lot to me, and hearing it after the first set really emphasized just how very far away Pet Sounds is from all that surf crap. I went out for a bathroom break during Sloop John B. I figured I'd go then just because it never fit in lyrically with the rest of the album even though musically it's just good as the rest.

The encore was fifty-fifty. Fittingly they first played an actual Chuck Berry song (Johnny B. Goode), then--I can't remember the order--but they played Help Me Rhonda (great), Surfing USA (kind of sucks), and another I can't remember.

Over all, I was happy just to hear Pet Sounds live. Brian had a great band, and, oh yeah, Al Jardine was there too. One thing though: they were too loud! This is music for pussies, and really doesn't need to be played that loud. I couldn't hear the keyboards and the vibes and xylophone. I don't know if it has anything to do with Brian's being deaf in one ear, but I still have a ring in mine!