Concert #423 - Brian Wilson at UCLA's Royce Hall (November 1, 2006)

Four years after the exceptionally good show put on by Brian Wilson & Friends at UCLA's Royce Hall, I returned to the same venue expecting to relive the great moments of the 2002 event. Long story short, I went home somewhat disappointed. The show had its moments, but as a whole, it wasn't special. Then there was this young lady sitting right in front of me. It seemed that buying a ticket for her son was cheaper than getting a baby-sitter, so she brought him along. I put up for a while with their endless interaction, but at one point I couldn't hold back any longer and asked her to cut it off. By then, though, my evening had been ruined.

This was the first outing of a short Pet Sounds tour. Fittingly, Brian played many songs from his legendary album, along with a healthy dose of Beach Boys hits. His voice sounded shaky at times, in spite of his band's efforts to beef up the overall sound. Brian remained seated at his keyboard for almost the entire duration of the show.

SET LIST

Surfer Girl

Drive-In

Please Let Me Wonder

Add Some Music To Your Day

You're Welcome

Then I Kissed Her (lead vocals: Al Jardine)

Breakaway

Dance, Dance, Dance

Do It Again

In My Room

California (lead vocals: Al Jardine)

Do You Wanna Dance

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Come Go With Me (lead vocals: Al Jardine)

When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)

I Get Around

California Girls

Sail On Sailor

Marcella

Good Vibrations

Intermission

Wouldn't It Be Nice

You Still Believe In Me

That's Not Me

Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)

I'm Waiting For The Day

Let's Go Away For Awhile

Sloop John B.

God Only Knows

I Know There's An Answer

Here Today

I Just Wasn't Made For these Times

Pet Sounds

Caroline No

Encore 1

Johnny B Goode

Help Me Rhonda (lead vocals: Al Jardine)

Barbara Ann

Surfin' USA

Fun, Fun, Fun

Encore 2

 Love And Mercy

Al Jardine's unannounced appearance was definitely one of the highlights of the show. He took the stage while Brian was playing "You're Welcome" and the crowd went absolutely wild. Al took the lead vocals on a few songs and sounded great. Looked great, too. Sometime late in the show, he approached Brian and put his arm around him in a loving way. Very touching.

Brian was accompanied by the same able band that I saw in 2002. They did a good job recreating the intricate sounds of "Pet Sounds", the album.

Brian's band

Jeff Foskett

Bob Lizik

Paul Mertens

Darian Sahanaja

Nicki "Wonder" Walusko

Probyn Gregory

Taylor Mills

Scott Bennett

Jim Hines

Nelson Bragg

Gary Griffin

The show opened with an unconvincing set delivered by UK's newly revived Scritti Politti and its leader, Green Gartside. Also in the band: Alyssa McDonald, Dicky Moore, Rhondri Ferrett and Ralph Phillips.

Scritti Politti's Green Gartside

UCLA's Royce Hall