Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Brian Wilson - Lowell, MA

All in all a very good show by Brian Thursday.

The venue holds I think around 1800, and I would be generous if I said there were half of that in attendance. But, we are talking Lowell, MA which is really in the middle of fucking nowhere, so kudos to Brian for drawing fans up Route 495, and Route 3 for that matter. I also wonder why a Boston venue wasn't available. Be that as it may, to quote a local song by John Lincoln Wright about trashy towns - "being stuck here in Braintree, with you in Methuen, it's almost like living in Lowell."

To set the scene, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium is like City Hall transfromed into a concert gig. Very austere; I had the feeling this joint would be better suited for pulling a building permit than watching a show.

So out comes Brian to a very dead crowd. I think I was the only one who stood up to greet him. The setlist below is from Wilkes Barre, but Thursday wasn't that much different. I also have to admit that the band was pretty flat during most of the 1st set, and Brian's vocals were a bit grating - not awful but typical difficulty with the high notes. Once he got it going vocally though, In My Room and Heroes & Villians were superb.

But then a real sea change came on with the crowd towards the end of the first set. The band cranked out an absolutely rocking I Get Around, which I think had 26 or 27 folks of their ass. By the time Heroes & Villians and California Girls were finished the crowd was pretty much all on their feet, and pretty damn raucous.

Now seeing how we're between sets, let's discuss Brian's demeanor. He did look good on stage, and he was nowhere near the mannequin I saw onstage at Hampton Beach last year. He certainly was very with it, even though most of his jokes and banter from my point of view were obviously signaled from the teleprompter. Be that as it may, I don't think any neophytes of a BW show left shaking their heads as I have seen before.

The second set absolutely rocked, and I was very happy to see how well received the Lucky Old Sun tunes were received. If I remember right, Roll Around Heaven was played after Southern California, and I certainly do remember a huge applause. As was the case with I'm Going Home. That whole LOS portion was just outstanding.

The encore brought the house down and local guitar wiz Johnny A joined the band during Fun, Surfin' & Barbara. He was just playing rythym, but he was having a ball.

I also looked up at Brian during this whole thing, and for the first time since '99 I saw an unforced, natural, "I'm having a good time" smile on his face, Hell, he had his bass on at that point. As strange as it may be, that made the night for me. A real good night with the maestro.

That's it. It is and always will be, a great time to be a Brian Wilson fan.



DO IT AGAIN
DANCE, DANCE, DANCE
GIRL DONʼT TELL ME
CATCH A WAVE
SURFER GIRL
IN MY ROOM
SALT LAKE CITY
CUSTOM MACHINE
DESERT DRIVE
PLEASE LET ME WONDER
DON'T WORRY BABY
I GET AROUND
HEROES AND VILLAINS
ROLL AROUND HEAVEN
CALIFORNIA GIRLS

Set 2
HEARTS
THE LITTLE GIRL I ONCE KNEW
ALL SUMMER LONG
DARLINʼ
ADD SOME MUSIC
SHUT DOWN
LITTLE DEUCE COUPE
DO YOU WANNA DANCE
SLOOP JOHN B
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE
GOD ONLY KNOWS
MIDNIGHTʼS ANOTHER DAY
I'M GOING HOME
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
GOOD VIBRATIONS
Encores Wilkes Barre Nov 11, 2009
LITTLE St. NICK
JOHNNY BE GOODE
HELP ME RHONDA
BARBARA ANN
SURFIN' U. S. A.
FUN, FUN, FUN
LOVE AND MERCY