Brian Wilson (Musician)

The Beach Boys (Kind Of) Are Coming to Flagstaff for Mother's Day

Until very recently, it was not necessary to point out that the Beach Boys who were on tour were not necessarily all of the surviving Beach Boys. Alas, we're spoiled: Last year's totally unexpected new album and tour brought the warring Beach Boys factions together for some extremely poignant (and o ... More >>

Phoenix New Times Needs a New Music Editor

Dear readers, let's get this out of the way: In nearly every possible way, being the music editor of the Phoenix New Times/Up on the Sun has been my dream job. No joke: I've chatted with Brian Wilson (it was a terrible conversation, and my chat with Al Jardine was much better, but still); I had the ... More >>

Top 20 Phoenix Concerts of 2012

2012 isn't even over yet, and we're already feeling sort of nostalgic for it. We saw a lot of great shows this year, so narrowing it down to the most mind-blowing 20 wasn't easy, but it was a lot of fun. Enjoy, our Top 20 Phoenix Concerts of 2012. See also: Top Five 2012 Heavy Releases In Pho ... More >>

10 Favorite Concerts of the Summer

We don't want to jinx it, but a string of cooler nights and balmy afternoons has us feeling comfortable saying "Summer's done." The festival season has come to a close, and it's time to unpack that neglected denim and put away your jorts and Coachella Crocs for the season. Of course, this summer r ... More >>

The Beach Boys, Mayhem Festival, Joan Jett, and Foster The People Over the Weekend

The Beach Boys @ Grand Canyon University Arena 50 songs for 50 years. It's hard to imagine any band getting away with it, right? It's even harder to imagine it being exceptional, but that's the best word I can use to describe what The Beach Boys (Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, ... More >>

Beach Boys, Grand Canyon University Arena, 7/7/12

Beach Boys Grand Canyon University Arena Saturday, July 7, 2012 See also: The Beach Boys' Al Jardine On The Band's Wild and Woolly Days, 50th Anniversary and New Album See also: Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Al Jardine Reflect on 50 Years of West Coast Pop See also: Our full Beach Boys (and Fans) @ G ... More >>

The Beach Boys on 50 Years of West Coast Mythology

The Beach Boys Are Coming to Phoenix (And Playing Tucson Tonight)

It hurt back in February, when we had to announce that The Beach Boys were visiting our lovely neighbors to the South (some weird town nobody had every heard of called Tucson. I suggested a road trip -- and if you were into the idea you're probably packing the car up now to head to the Anselmo Val ... More >>

Road Trip Anyone? The Beach Boys Are Playing Tuscon on April 24

​Road trip, anyone? The Beach Boys -- you know, those old dudes in funny hats who played with Foster the People and the certified cool guy and totally-not-the-worst Adam Levin-fronted Maroon 5 at the Grammy's -- are coming to Arizona, but they are skipping Phoenix in favor of launching their t ... More >>

10 Favorite Reissues and Compilations of 2011: Jason P. Woodbury

​Welcome to the first installment of Up on the Sun's 2011 Review. Over the next week, editor Jason P. Woodbury and the staff will countdown their favorite songs, shows, national and local releases of 2011. Earlier this year, someone called me "an old soul." A little earlier, someone joked t ... More >>

Beach Boys' Smile Finally Released; Looking Back to 1966

​It's been a long time since the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson first began orchestrating one of rock's most anticipated albums. Finally, after nearly four and a half decades of half-releases and bootlegs, Capitol Records is issuing the official release of the Beach Boys' long lost album Smile. ... More >>

Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life and Seven More Music Flicks That Don't Suck

A scene from A Heroic Life​I didn't make it out to the French pop spectacular at FilmBar on Saturday night, but the pics posted on Facebook got me super-pumped to catch Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life. Non-documentary or concert films are tough to pull off (those are, too) but when a movie ... More >>

This Week in Music History: June 20 through 26

Wikimedia CommonsHappy birthday, Brian Wilson​Music and musicians have been around for centuries, and every day, new music news breaks. Every Monday, we're going to take a look back at the notable music stories, births, and deaths that took place that week. This week was a doozy: Columbia Records ... More >>

Motor City Madmen

Gospel Claws: C-L-A-W-S

​Artist: Gospel Claws Title: C-L-A-W-S Release date: October 26 Label: Common Wall Media Gospel Claws are a local band (Tempe, I've been told) that is currently enjoying a little bit of national exposure, residing in a reasonably high position on some relatively obscure indie-rock-tallying ch ... More >>

Former New Times Music Intern Cops to Never Having Heard Pet Sounds on NPR Blog

​Sarah Ventre seemed like a great intern.She was hard-working, talented and friendly. Many of us at Phoenix New Times grew quite fond of her. The team of bloggers that brings you Up On The Sun was all incredibly happy for Sarah when she was offered a coveted internship at NPR's All Songs Considere ... More >>

Barenaked Ladies at Dodge Theatre on 7/25/2010

Shawn Anderson​Barenaked Ladies Dodge Theatre July 25, 2010Ed Robertson is probably the more talented of the two founding members of Barenaked Ladies. Creative input aside, Robertson is a master chameleon, both able to mimic the boisterous nerdiness of ex-frontman Steven Page and do all the little ... More >>

Brian Wilson at Talking Stick Resort

Luke HolwerdaBrian Wilson in Scottsdale.​Brian Wilson's last few high-profile tours have tended to be been big, classy affairs. You know, Pet Sounds in its entirety with a symphony at the Hollywood Bowl -- that sort of thing. Those shows promote the image so many of us like to have of the semi-ret ... More >>

Brian Wilson: Sure, Pet Sounds Is Great, But Have You Heard Beach Boys Party!?

Beach Boys Party!, Punk Rock Parody, and More in This Week's Issue

Brian Wilson.​This week's music feature in on the awkwardly-spoken Beach Boy Brian Wilson. While he may not give great interviews, he certainly cranks out epic records that define generations. While you might know about the legendary Pet Sounds, you might not know about the should-be-legendary Bea ... More >>

Brian Wilson: Sure, Pet Sounds Is Great, But Have You Heard Beach Boys Party!?

The Most Painful Q&A Ever Published? Brian Wilson Chats with The East Valley Tribune

​A couple weeks ago, I talked to Brian Wilson. Though he's my all-time favorite musician, it was a ridiculously terrible interview. Like, it hurt my head to listen to it while transcribing my notes. The column I wrote advancing his show, therefore, is extremely light on quotes and long on discussi ... More >>

The Beach Boys: "I Get Around" (REMIX)

​Song: The Beach Boys, "I Get Around" (Remix)Context: Been thinking a lot about Brian Wilson since interviewing him.  The Beach Boys: I Get Around (djcruMbs On The Town Remix) by ⦿djcruMbs⦿

Barenaked Ladies: "Brian Wilson"

​ Song: The Barenaked Ladies, "Brian Wilson" Context: Working on my feature story about the Beach Boys genius. Barenaked Ladies - Brian Wilson (Live) by cizmar

Surfer Blood Is Not Coming Here, Brian Wilson Is. How About We Compromise with a Cover of "Don't Worry Baby?"

​Remember that Surfer Blood show at Trunk Space that got canceled? Yeah, well, that was the closest the band will come to playing here. Ever.Yup, that's a fact. How do we know? Umm, well, we just got a press release which says the band will never, ever play the Grand Canyon State again. No reason ... More >>

Incoming: Brian Wilson, Roger Waters, Smokey Robinson, George Benson

​What draws better these days than older, more beloved musicians from bands such as The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd? Not much, outside of an act like Lady Gaga or Justin Beiber -- that is why both Brian Wilson and Roger Waters lead the pack for an impressively fruitful week of show announcements.Let ... More >>

Beach House and Other Indie Bands Are Escaping to the Beach in 2010

Hope for Sun

Beach House and Other Indie Bands Are Escaping to the Beach in 2010

Good Vibrations

Brian Wilson to headline Fiesta Bowl Invitational

dios (malos)

R.J. should worry

Mr. Happy

Brian Wilson gets his SMiLE on

Rocking Maniac

Where there's a Willis, there's a schizophrenic cult icon who can whup all of rock's mad geniuses

Paul McCartney

Driving Rain (Capitol)

The Mockers, The B-Sides

Living in the Holland Tunnel (One Eye Open), Yes, Indeed, the B-Sides, Quite! (Rock)

Indoor Fireworks

In ABBA's old studio, Elvis Costello and Anne Sofie von Otter reinterpret pop music history

The Tyde

Once (Orange Sky/Dionysus)

SWAG

Catchall (Yep Roc)

Critical Mass 2000

Our panel of writers offer up their takes on the top discs of Y2K

Christy McWilson

The Lucky One (Hightone Records)

Dennis Wilson: The Real Beach Boy

By Jon Stebbins (ECW Press)

The Fly Boys of Summer

With Outta My Way, The Flys show what you can achieve with brains, brawn and Brian (Wilson, that is)

The Forever Frown

More than 30 years later, Smile remains the subject of so much mystery

Molten Wax

Recordings

Recordings

Critics' Choice

A year-end recap of the albums that made it worthwhile to own a stereo in 1997

The Wizard of Odd

Spun, Spun, Spun

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