Northside Festival, Day 4: Brian Wilson, ROSTAM, Hinds, 6/12/16

Brian Wilson

Pet Sounds

My first-ever Sunday at Northside Festival. Even though I have tickets to his September show at Red Bank's Count Basie Theatre, I wasn't going to miss my opportunity to see Brian Wilson and his band perform The Beach Boys' 1966 masterpiece, Pet Sounds, in full. It was a beautiful day. It would be an outdoor show. Madrid's Hinds and ROSTAM (formerly of Vampire Weekend) were on the bill. How could I pass?

I was a little nervous about the fact that a badge didn't guarantee entry to the show since this one wasn't free. Instead, it was a benefit for the Open Space Alliance; so ticket holders got priority. After a couple of beers with Justin of Dentist before his band's show at Muchmore's, I headed over to the park and waltzed right through the gate. Hinds were due at 6:30, and about as many photographers as I've ever seen (up to that moment) for a single show massed along the railing as the young women from Spain posed and mugged for photos before their set.

Hinds

They played a short set featuring songs from their excellent debut, Leave Me Alone. Just like at South By Southwest, the band were all smiles throughout their set and charmed the crowd. Their songs are simple and full of garage rock twang, reverb, and group vocals. Theirs is one of my favorite records of 2016. Afterwards, the members of Hinds milled through the crowd or worked their merch table talking with people and posing for more pictures.

Hinds

Following Hinds, ROSTAM (former Vampire Weekend composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, Rostam Batmanglij) took the stage backed by a string quartet. Several of the songs bore the hallmarks of the more chamber poppy selections in the Vampire Weekend catalog. At various points throughout the set, ROSTAM brought out guests including Wes Miles of Ra Ra Riot, Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen, and Angel Deradoorian. He performed a song with the latter pair from a secret, upcoming project.

ROSTAM

As the time got closer for Brian Wilson and his band to take the stage, the crush of photographers waiting along the rail for access reached epic proportions. I planned poorly and got a spot towards the back of the line, ending up with a lot of Wilson's piano in my shots. At 8:30, the band took the stage; and we filed into the pit. Before getting into the main event, Wilson warmed everyone up with a few non-Pet Sounds classics. Wilson introduced each song -- "California Girls," "I Get Around," "Surfer Girl," "Don't Worry Baby," "Wild Honey" (w/ Blondie Chaplin), "Sail On, Sailor" (w/ Blondie Chaplin) -- with an anecdote like, "I wrote this one when I was 19" or "I wrote this in my car." He kept up the witty between-song banter all night.

Brian Wilson

"Okay, now we're gonna play Pet Sounds." And, with that, the band kicked into that album's opening track, "Wouldn't It Be Nice." Wilson introduced "You Still Believe in Me" with, "This next song isn't really a rock and roll song, but it's about a guy who messes up all the time and his girl still loves him anyway!"

Al Jardine had a spot right next to Wilson's piano, and acted as Wilson's partner in crime throughout the set, thanking the audience throughout for singing along. Jardine's son Matt handled most of the falsetto work, and the harmonies sounded great on several of the songs. Brian Wilson's voice obviously isn't what it was 50 years ago, but hearing him sing these songs and seeing him appear to enjoy doing it so much has a charm all its own. The band, which included two drummers, was on point all night.

I almost always well up during "God Only Knows," and I felt it starting to come on as "Sloop John B" drew to a close. I managed to hold it together, though.

Following "Caroline, No," Wilson shouted "Good vibrations!" and the band launched into that one (which comes pretty close to "God Only Knows" as greatest Beach Boys' song of all time), closing the evening out with more classics -- "Good Vibrations," "Barbara Ann," "Surfin' USA," and "Fun, Fun, Fun."

Brian Wilson and Al Jardine

I made my way back to the car on a real high from the day. I don't think it's really possible for me to overstate the influence of Brian Wilson -- and, specifically, Pet Sounds -- on almost all of the music I personally listen to every day. Hearing the songs outside as the breeze (Okay. The WIND.) blew through the crowd was amazing and made for a beautiful Northside Sunday. The only thing that would have made it better would've been if CoolMom were there to dance with me. She's coming with me in September.

Pictures from all three McCarren Park sets are up in the Flickr galleries.