Brian Wilson – On Tour DVD / The Beach Boys
This musical documentary explores a behind-the-scenes look and listen into the first solo outing from pop music wunderkind Brian Wilson. Remarkably, prior to this the most recent "tour" that Wilson had embarked upon was nearly two decades earlier as a sporadic novelty during Beach Boys concerts in the 1980s. On Tour (2003) chronicles Wilson's first-ever excursion as a headliner in North America as well as Japan. Granted, time and substances have taken their obvious and well-documented toll on the Beach Boys co-founder and only surviving Wilson brother. However, one of the unmitigated joys is seeing Brian Wilson so lucid and in such good voice and spirits, as he has what appears to be the time of his life. He draws on the emotional support of his family as well as the phenomenal sonic sustenance of his ten-piece backing band, the Wondermints. Although the program is undeniably music-intensive, sadly there are no complete performances of the immortal Beach Boys hits and solo material that Wilson incorporated into his repertoire. Among the highlights are excerpts of "Fun, Fun, Fun," "This Isn't Love," "Don't Worry Baby," "God Only Knows," "Do It Again," "Kiss Me, Baby," and "Sail on Sailor," as well as an achingly poignant "Lay Down Burden," which he dedicates to his brother Carl Wilson. Intercut among the concert and rehearsal footage is Sir Paul McCartney's induction of Wilson into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. There are also highlights from Neil Young's annual Bridge School Benefit Concert with interviews and interaction between Wilson and Young, Pete Townshend, Patti Smith, and Ronnie Spector -- who serenades Wilson in his dressing room. Additional interview segments contain shots of Wilson talking about the Beatles' music and a video postcard with backstage scenes from throughout the tour, as well as a chance to "Meet the Band." The latter featurette focuses on the note-perfect pop orchestration of the Wondermints, who continually surprise Wilson with their attention to nuance and the most subtle of musical timbres.
Label: Sanctuary Visual Entertainment Midline – SVEM0045
Country: Europe
Media Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)
Sleeve Condition: Near Mint (NM or M-)