BEACH BOY HITS MARRED BY BACK UP BAND
By DJ M on June 21st, 2011
In Brian Wilson/B. Boys
NOW TORONTO "Brian Wilson has more passion for his new George Gershwin project than he does his Beach Boys hits written some 40-plus years ago. Unfortunately for him, the crowd at his Massey Hall NXNE show were in an opposite mood. Wilson cycled through the biggest hits of his Beach Boys career in the first of two sets, with Add Some Music, Salt Lake City, and Sloop John B being a few standouts. And those were standouts mainly because Wilson handled the vocals all on his own – Don’t Worry Baby, Darlin’, and nearly every other hit was spread around between his band. As proficient a 13-piece band as they were – probably tighter live than the Boys ever were – they were mostly a distraction. Who wants to hear a cheesy L.A. session musician sing Surfin’ Safari while doing the Swim when the man who wrote the song sits centre stage doing nothing?"