Koussevitzky Music Shed is on the Tanglewood campus that is the summer home of The Boston Symphony Orchestra. Tanglewood is beautiful. Someone knew what they were doing or got very fortunate when lightning struck the brain to form this wonderful place. In addition to regularly scheduled Pops concerts, the venue also holds concerts by mainstream artists as well.
These photos were taken after a concert yesterday. I have been to a few amphitheaters that are referred to as the “big barn circuit”. This might have been the first. The others did not come along until decades later. The first performance here took place in 1938. The latest performance took place yesterday afternoon with a 2:30 PM performance by Brian Wilson. Yes, that Brian Wilson. My dear wife, Carrie, and I were there to take it all in. This is the 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys “Pet Sounds” album. The one that inspired The Beatles to go the concept route the next year with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”.
Brian Wilson played that album in its entirety along with 20 or so other Beach Boys classics. Joining Wilson onstage was original Beach Boy Al Jardine and his son Matt who sang the Mike Love high end notes on some of their greatest tunes. Additionally there were anywhere from 8 to 9 other performers on the platform playing a catalog of music that has help shape music as the world knows it today.
Surf City, California Girls, I Get Around, Fun, Fun, Fun, Help Me Rhonda, Wouldn’t it be Nice, God Only Knows, Barbara Ann, Surfin USA, Good Vibrations…and so many more. Brian Wilson, the brainchild behind The Beach Boys block harmony sound was there on the stage singing these songs on the eve of his 74th birthday. Sitting behind a piano he occasionally worked on, Brian Wilson is a champion to be on the stage at all. Health problems have left him in need of assistance on and off stage. Nonetheless, the music in his heart is alive and well. What it must feel like to know the music of the youth of generations came from sitting at a piano humming bits and pieces and parts that eventually took life and changed what and how we heard and will continue to hear music.
At times Brian Wilson’s voice was brilliant. At times he struggled to hit a note here and there and his voice faded in and out on occasion…but it never left. I doubt it ever will.
Brian Wilson is sharing the Pet Sounds album because he wants to. I am glad he has chosen to do just that. He doesn’t have to. His legend would be intact if he stayed at home and worked on new music. He released a new album last year. I have no doubt he is still trying to find the next sound that needs to be put down. I get that. Aside from that philosophical stuff, I can tell you it was more fun than I can explain to have the chance to sing along with Brian Wilson as he sang “Surfin’ USA. I am a blessed man.
It felt like we were in the Wrigley Field of music venues.
Happy Birthday, Brian…and thank you.
Speaking the Rights…
Danny Johnson