Brian Wilson
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
Jonathan Geddes
Four stars
There were times when this gig genuinely seemed to be a struggle between the beauty of pop music and the awkward sadness of reality. While this jaunt was marketed around Brian Wilson celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds, the overall evening served up a first half of surf-friendly numbers, then Pet Sounds and finally a few more hits for dessert.
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The main attraction succeeded the most. Pet Sounds is a transformative album, and the 10-piece band assisting Wilson delivered a hefty wall of sound and those sublime harmonies. Yet for all that, it was a section that thrived in a poignant way, given that Wilson, seated behind a piano, is obviously in a frail state. The likes of I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times and a standing ovation-provoking God Only Knows carried huge emotional weight behind them, while there was a star turn by Matt Jardine, son of guitarist Al and possessor of a gorgeous falsetto.
READ MORE: Music review: Espen Eriksen Trio, Jazz Bar, Edinburgh
It hadn’t been smooth sailing to get there, though. The first portion opened with a spring in its step, running through California Girls and I Get Around, but as it progressed Wilson became on the periphery of his own show, simply sitting there while the band wheeled through numbers. It was uncomfortable viewing, capped off when former Stones guitarist Blondie Chaplin swaggered around on Sail On, Sailor while Wilson shuffled offstage mid song.
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However the sheer class and emotional goodwill of Pet Sounds tugged at the heartstrings in the right way, clearing room for a hit-packed finale led by Good Vibrations, a storming Fun Fun Fun and a tender Love and Mercy, songs that ensured genius and joy had the last word.
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