Brian Wilson and Rodriguez played PNC Bank Arts Center
July 8th, 2015 by chocko
Brian Wilson at PNC Bank Arts Center
Rodriguez
Rodriguez played an excellent set opening up for Brian Wilson at PNC Bank Arts Center at Holmdel, New Jersey last week. If you don’t know who Rodriguez is, stop what you’re doing right now and go see the documentary Searching For Sugar Man. You can thank me later. The seventy-something singer from Detroit found some new found appreciation for his music recently thanks to the documentary and Sixto Rodriguez did not disappoint at the NJ show. I’ve seen him over the last couple of years in different venues, from City Winery to Radio City Music Hall and it has always been a thrill to check him out. He always seems to sound better than the last time I saw him perform. Rodriguez started off the night with “Inner City Blues” and “Crucify Your Mind” both off his debut album Cold Fact. Rodriguez stayed humbled and interacted with the audience, often times shrugging off declarations of love with, “I know it’s the alcohol.” I heard some covers sprinkled in the set including “Fever” which I’ve heard him do before but also one I’ve never heard him perform, “Learnin’ The Blues” a 1955 song made famous by Frank Sinatra…I prefer the Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald version any day. I also heard some songs that I didn’t recognize. Hopefully they were new songs and yes, I would love to hear Rodriguez record more albums.
Brian Wilson (left) and Al Jardine (right)
Fresh off the release of both the amazing biopic Love And Mercy and his new album, No Pier Pressure, comes the brilliant mind behind some of The Beach Boys’ most loved songs…Brian Wilson was in the house and brought a killer band with him that included another founding member of the Beach Boys, Al Jardine. Al sang lead on a few songs including “Shut Down” and tag-teamed on the vocals of “Little Deuce Coupe” and “Sloop John B” with Brian. Al Jardine also sang a Crystals cover and a Leadbelly tune, “Cotton fields” accompanied by Lina D’Amico, the daughter of a percussionist in Brian’s band. Other members of the band took on lead vocals on a few songs such as “This Whole World” and “Darlin” which had long time band member Darian Sahanaja stepping up to the microphone. The impressive Matt Jardine took on songs that needed that higher octave such as “Don’t Worry Baby” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Blondie Chaplin, best known for being in the Beach Boys in the early 1970’s and playing with The Rolling Stones in the late 90’s, also made an outstanding appearance for a bunch of songs including “Wild Honey” and “Sail On, Sailor.” My favorite moment in the show was Brian Wilson’s performance of what is arguably his best song ever, “God Only Knows” off the album Pet Sounds, which was beautiful and amazing to hear performed live by the person who wrote it. Pet Sounds celebrates its 50th Anniversary next year and it is probably one of most important and influential albums to ever come out. Definitely get it and give that record a spin if you don’t have it in your collection. Another highlight was when Brian started off a song and encouraged the audience to sing a long. That song was “Row Row Row Your Boat” and you haven’t lived until you’ve participated in an epic concert sing a long like that. I’m pretty sure every person in the house was smiling. The encore featured a special guest, Bruce Springsteen who came out of nowhere and joined the band for some “Barbara Ann” and stuck around for “Surfin’ U.S.A.” armed with his guitar. The Boss stood by Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin for a triple threat of guitar chords mixed with some Jersey bred vocals. The night ended with “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “Love And Mercy.” The U.K. Fall Tour is postponed until next year but there are 5 more performances of the Brian Wilson show here in the United States…be there! Check out some videos below.
Bruce Springsteen on stage at PNC Bank Arts Center
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Tags: Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, Brian Wilson, new jersey, nj, PNC Bank Arts Center, review, Rodriguez, show, Sixto Rodriguez, The Beach Boys
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