The MusiCares Foundation is a charitable arm of the Recording Academy that,
according its web site, “directly impacts the health and welfare of the
music community.” The foundation’s programs include emergency financial
assistance, addiction recovery, outreach and leadership activities, and senior
housing. In the process, the foundation honors famous musicians each year for
their success and activism (solemn acts of kindness) for issues outside the
music world. The ceremony for “Person of the Year” is a concert
event featuring a stable of guest stars performing the honored artist’s
music. In 2007, it was Don Henley; 2006, it was James Taylor. In 2005, for what
turned out to be an astoundingly unique show, MusiCares’ Person of the
Year was Beach Boy visionary Brian Wilson. And as with other concerts of this
magnitude, a DVD of the highlights is in the offering called MusiCare
Presents: A Tribute To Brian Wilson.
While it may be hard to imagine that Brian Wilson has done much outside of
making music aside from just surviving — he has, in fact, generously donated
his time and support to the Carl Wilson Foundation for Cancer Research, the
Adopt-A-Minefield Benefit, and Neil Young’s Bridge School Concerts. The
loopy cast on hand for the concert stretches the parameters of who you would
or wouldn’t expect to successfully pull off a Brian Wilson/Beach Boys’
song. The Red Hot Chili Peppers give a careful and restrained performance of
“I Get Around.” Bon Jovi guitarist Ritchie Sambora aspires towards
a modest job of recreating Eric Clapton’s guitar parts on “City
Blues” from Wilson’s 2004 Gettin’ In Over My Head album. The celebration
gets livelier for a rollicking version of the classic “Sail On Sailor,”
featuring British pianist/vocalist Jamie Cullum with Fred Martin and The Levite
Camp. Surprisingly, John Legend is equally on target with a stoic reading of
“I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times.”
It’s time to hit the sand and surf when Shelby Lynne intones her emotive,
angelic voice on an otherwise uneventful “Surfer Girl.” Michael
McDonald and Billy Preston, in one his latest performances, inject a much needed
shot of raw soul as they effortlessly breeze through “Don’t Worry
Baby.” In a bold move, Jeff Beck appears for two numbers. As he did with
the Beatles’ “A Day In The Life,” the fluid, reckless Beckonian
guitar lines straddle the melody on “Surf’s Up” like shards
of glass piercing holes in a pneumatic bunion. Then the mop-topped guitarist
reverts to rockabilly/surf mode for “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
The Brian Wilson Band, who backs every guest star, runs through a nifty little
instrumental segment from Pet Sounds. Boasting an expanded roster of what could
number into the hundreds, the Brian Wilson Band functions as an undercurrent
that carries and executes Wilson on a wave of musical refinement. Why on earth
would he want to reunite with Mike Love when the singers in his band can hit
every note without the flurries of narcissistic fibrosis?
The grand finale finds Wilson stiffly cue-card reading through a quick and
rehearsed speech, then scooting off to the comfort zone and refuge of his keyboard.
He and his band drop anchor and jump into the deep end, The Boy Genius of Hawthorne
snaps away wildly for a picture-perfect “Heroes And Villains.” “Good
Vibrations” and “Fun Fun Fun” join the party in all their
splendiferous frivolity. In grand style, The Person of the Year and various
guests finish up the proceedings with a light and lilting “Love And Mercy.”
Bonus materials include a Behind The Scenes documentary — mostly
interviews with random guest stars of the concert, praising the virtues of MusicCares
and Brian Wilson songs. It’s all pretty self-serving stuff, but proceeds
from the sales of the DVD go to a worthy cause. The music on the DVD more than
squares the deal.
~ Shawn Perry
