The marvel of watching this damaged genius from another era performing is still overwhelmingly powerful to many of those raised on the Beach Boys songs that—thanks largely to Wilson's studio magnificence—captured something essential about California, youth, summer, life and so much more. Yet by 1967, Wilson had turned into a doomed, pathetic and tragic figure, plagued by drugs, mental illness and estrangement from the band that had served as his canvas.
Now this latest tour, including the appearance at Boulder Station, where Wilson would present "Smile" in its entirety, the legendary project that precipitated his initial breakdown back in the day. To fans, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity— sold out, with some folks hanging forlornly around the entrance in the hours before show time, trying to find a scalper. The concert opened with Wilson and a chunk of his 19-piece band gathered at the front of the stage, offering the world's best-rehearsed hootenanny, including Beach Boys classics like "Surfer Girl" and "Wendy." After a short intermission, came "Smile." If the original project was meant as a triumph of Wilson's production genius, the released version captures his muse in the arrangements, and the translation to the stage was effortless.
The real star of the show was the extraordinary band, capable of flawlessly reproducing intricate studio trickery and peerless harmonies. Even better, they always look like they are having fun doing it. Wilson, though, remains a frail figure on stage, with his vocals often fraying or dropping off and his range heartrendingly diminished.
But all that really mattered was that Wilson seemed happy performing and was still able to communicate that joy to the audience. The Beach Boys made some of the happiest music ever and Brian Wilson, after all, gets points just for showing up—I mean, when was the last time anyone saw a Syd Barrett concert?