Friday, September 26, 2008
Cream Calendar Brian Wilson at The Ryman: Tickets on Sale Today
Posted by D Patrick Rodgers on Fri, Sep 26, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Tickets for Brian Wilson's Nov. 10 show at the Ryman Auditorium went on sale today at 10 a.m. In the clip above, a tranquil Wilson tells the Associated Press about writing his latest album:
"Writing for me these days takes quite a lot longer than it used to. But I still can finish a song sometimes every two weeks. Or a month even...It's something I have to do because I need to keep myself financially secure. And I want to make people happy, and I want to bring joy to people."
All things considered, Wilson isn't doing too badly. But in performance footage (see also his Black Cab Session) he seems nothing if not a bit distant. He remains a legend and one of America's most iconic musicians, but is it worth $50 to see a performer because of the impact he's had? My wallet obviously says no. But were I a man of means—as I'm certain so many Cream readers are—would I get my money's worth? Or is it slightly more likely I'd see a stageful of cheesy old studio types playing Wilson's tunes as he sings along and claps awkwardly here and there? Given, not every aging rock star can retain the mutant stamina of The Boss, but it looks like they just sort of prop Wilson up behind a keyboard and plow through the songs whether he keeps up or not. Anyone seen him in recent years? Is it worth checking out?
Comments (8)
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I saw him on the Pet Sounds tour in Atlanta's Chastain Park. I had scalped tickets which were way over list price for the sold out show and it was totally worth it. Granted, he had his band, The Wondermints and the Atlanta Symphony playing Pet Sounds from front to back. His new record, while it is good, is not Pet Sounds, or Smile for that matter... then again, you would be seeing him at the Ryman. Definitely worth the $50. Lastly, is it just me, or should he actually fire his band and hire the Explorer's Club to back him? Currently, they're more authentic than the real thing.
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It was worth braving the 4th o' July crowd years back for Mr. Wilson and Rev. Green. I'd probably prefer a wondermints show but for the cash, I'm not so crazy about it. I think B.W. is still creatively viable so to speak but, I'd prefer to hear him in a recorded format. What I'd like to know is what the inside scoop is on why noone has managed to champion a colab with Sean O'Hagen. I read an old Mix interview with the High Llamas years ago where O'Hagen mentioned being flown to Nashville where he was basically turned off at the climate of mulleted session players and a very dissipated Wilson. Perhaps this first meeting went so wrong it's lead to no chance of the two working together. I am a huge High Llamas fan and felt like the remake of Smile took cues from their updated Pet Sounds sound. In other news, The Explorer's Club are almost a little TOO good. Great performers. Tight harmonies. It'd be cool if they expanded on the genre, though. Perhaps some new lyrical territory. God, I'm an opinionated mo'trucker.
Ha! Explorer's Club would be a good backing band for him... though they'd probably all faint when they got the call.
I'd say it's def. worth the money for me at least, since I've never seen him and this could be the only chance I will have.
I'll just pickup a Hatch print and call it a night. Don't dig Mr. Wilson that much.
Hopefully Bob Dylan comes back to Nashville this fall, a second leg will be announced in the coming days.
PS: Who is going to see TREY this weekend?
The Explorer's Club/High Llamas petition begins here. That would be phenomenal.
With those big-ticket Ryman shows, you never know whether you're getting Van Morrison sleepwalking through adult-contemporary snoozers from his past five records, or Levon Helm condensing an entire century of music into one hellacious medicine show. But the place has magic in it. If Wilson has anything left to offer as a live performer, it'll be there.
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