There’s not much you can say about “Pet Sounds” that hasn’t already been said in the past since its May 1966 release.
wrote, arranged and produced what many believe to be one the greatest, most innovative albums of the past century. Certainly, itap among the most written about.
“Pet Sounds” broadened rock’s musical and textural palette in ways few records have since.
Seated at his piano center stage, 74-year-old Brian Wilson led his excellent band through an hour-long appetizer course of Beach Boys girls, surfing and muscle car songs, some well known (“California Girls” and “I Get Around”) and some lesser (“Salt Lake City” and “Wake The World”).
The highlights were the impossibly gorgeous slower songs with their melancholy melodies (“In My Room” and “Surfer Girl”). The hymn-like “Don’t Worry Baby,” with its tender falsetto, was covered ably by Beach Boys co-founder and Al Jardine’s son, Matt, who covered most of Wilson’s harder-to-reach vocals throughout the show.
Blondie Chaplin came on and sang 3 songs, displaying great guitar chops. The first part of the show ended with Chaplin’s signature song, “Sail On Sailor,” which he delivered quite cheery and soulful. Nobody on stage was having more fun than Chaplin last night.
After a 20-minute intermission, Wilson and his band returned and launched into “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” More so than the show’s first section, brass, woodwinds, percussion and as many as eight or more voices gave your ears a lot to experience.
The album of the evening’s perfectly crafted songs were recreated astonishingly well. Itap odd that a band like The Beach Boys, noted for its featuring multi-voice harmonies, would feature not one, but two instrumentals on a statement record like “Pet Sounds,” but they, too, were near flawless.
Guitarist Nicky Wonder’s playing was inspired on the album’s title track. The French horn intro to “God Only Knows” led to three minutes of sheer bliss. Voices seemed to swirl over, under and through other voices singing other harmonies.
By the end of the album’s last song, the short, achingly exquisite “Caroline, No,” it was like waking up from a beautiful yet heartbreaking dream. The six-song encore was packed with fan favorites that had the sold out, mixed ages at the Paramount Theater jumping and singing along: “Good Vibrations”; “Help Me Rhonda”; “Surfin USA” and of course “Fun, Fun, Fun.” It concluded with Wilson singing (and wishing everyone) “Love And Mercy.” A truly wonderful show.
Setlist: Brian Wilson at the Paramount Theatre, Oct. 4, 2016
California Girls
Dance, Dance, Dance
I Get Around
Shut Down
Little Deuce Coupe
Little Honda
Surfer Girl
Don’t Worry Baby
Wake the World
Add Some Music to Your Day
California Saga: California Sail Away
Wild Honey
Sail On, Sailor Intermission
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
You Still Believe in Me
Thatap Not Me
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)
I’m Waiting for the Day
Letap 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:
Good Vibrations Help Me, Rhonda
Barbara Ann
Surfin’ U.S.A.
Fun, Fun, Fun
Love and Mercy
