Product: Brian Wilson: On Tour [VHS] (2003)
Rating: 5.0
Clearing Up Some Points
Some misconceptions about this DVD here. Let me clear them up.1.) Although it was released in 2003, this documentary was filmed in 1999 and 2000, on the very first leg of Brian Wilson's very first solo tour.2.) The editing has been done at least partly to cut out Joe Thomas and Steve Dahl, both of whom accompanied and (kind of) played with Brian on the first leg of the tour. They both left after BW's trip to Japan.3.) The best stuff was yet to come. Brian followed this up with the Pet Sounds tour, a summer series of shows with Paul Simon, more Pet Sounds shows in England, and now the SMiLE tour. This DVD is about him coming into his own as a concert performer.4.) The man isn't exactly magnetic on stage. Sometimes he's dull to watch, esp. in this first tour when he kept his hands on the keyboard. So some creative editing can be excused. Take a look at the Pet Sounds Live DVD to see much more straightforward footage.5.) This is obviously not the highest budget production. It's mainly filmed on digital video. It gives us a close look at Brian making his music. That's its charm.If folks stop wanting this DVD to be something it isn't, and accept it for what it is, they'll find a wonderful portrait of a frazzled, eccentric, but still very alive and musical man.