Brian Wilson, founding member and creative genius
of the Beach Boys, and his new 10-member Brian
Wilson Band performing live on stage for the 2002
Honolulu Marathon Luau at the Waikiki Shell.
Friday,
December 6, 2002
Drizzle
fails to short-circuit Wilson's electricity at Shell
Honolulu
- Members
of a sellout crowd were treated to a generous offering
by Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson on Friday night at
the Waikiki Shell.
Wilson,
60, thoroughly satisfied his audience, performing 33 numbers
with his 10-piece band as the featured performer at the
Honolulu Marathon Luau Concert.
Fans
braved a drizzle to see and hear the American musical
icon who has seldom visited Hawaii but whose music shares
a common theme with the islands.
They
demanded an encore when Wilson left the stage and were
rewarded with seven of his biggest hits: "Little
St. Nick," "Surfer Girl," "Barbara
Ann," "Help Me Rhonda," "Surfin' USA,
"Fun Fun Fun," and "Love& Mercy.
Wilson
opened with a seldom heard number he penned about 30 years
ago that he knew would play well in Honolulu: "Hawaii."
His
band, the Wondermints, so masterfully recreated the old
Beach Boys sound that some in the crowd were surprised.
Wilson
drew wild cheers of approval when he launched into "In
My Room" for his fifth number. He followed that in
quick succession with "I Get Around," "Don't
Worry, Baby," and "California Girls."
Along
the way to the end of his first live concert in Hawaii
in about two decades, Wilson pushed his audience's buttons
with hits that moved many from their seats.
He
cranked out "Sloop John B," "Wouldn't It
Be Nice," "Darlin'," and "God Only
Knows" en route to a rousing "Good Vibations"
finale for the main set.
Tickets
to the 2002 Honolulu Marathon Concert/Luau sold out in
advance. More than 5,000 fans, runners, and VIPs, enjoyed
an all-you-can-eat buffet of carbo-loading good food and
drinks.
Warm-up
bands included local entertainers Jake Shimabukuro and
Blane Kamalani Kia.
Next
year's concert headliner is yet to be announced, but promises
to be another musical star of international renown.
