The seeds for this collaboration were initially planted when Jeff Beck was asked to perform at Brian Wilson’s MusiCares person of the year tribute in 2006. Evidently Wilson was so taken by Beck’s versions of “Surf’s Up” and “Surfin USA” that he asked Beck to contribute his talents on his new soon to be released album and current tour.

Opening the show was Brian Wilson and his musically precise band that included original Beach Boy alums Al Jardine and David Marks. With this many Beach Boys on stage this show was basically an abbreviated version of the Beach Boys fifty year reunion tour held last year that included Mike Love and Bruce Johnson as well.

Wilson and company started off the evening with “California Girls” and didn’t stop for another twenty songs with each number sounding better than the last. Hits like “Do it Again”, “Little Deuce Coupe” and, “Sloop John B”, to name a few kept the modestly sized crowd energized and wondering what Wilson would pull from his bag of hits next.

For me “Sail on Sailor” hit the mark as this song is a personal favorite. But it’s hard to pick the best number of the show as each song was a hit for Wilson and the Beach Boys back in the day.

Wilson introduced “God only Knows” as the best song he ever wrote but then added “With exception of “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations”.

Other memorable moments included classics like “Surfer Girl”, “Wouldn’t be Nice”, “Help me Ronda”, “I Get Around” and a killer version of “Good Vibrations”.

Jeff Beck was up after a short intermission and shifted the show into a higher gear with his alt rock jazz blues fusion guitar work.

The first number was a tough version of Billy Cobham’s “Stratus” a rhythmic and pulsating jazz fusion number from the early 70’s. Sticking to that era of music Beck resurrected another obscure but great number by the Mahavishnu Orchestra called “You Know, You Know”. This song among others throughout Beck’s set was almost stolen by violinist Lizzie Bell who went toe to toe with Beck swapping some incredible licks on violin with Beck on guitar.

Another nod to a guitar icon was Beck’s amazing version of the Jimi Henrix classic “Little Wing”.
Other numbers from the set included “Big Block”, “Rollin’ and Tumblin” and the Les Paul standard “How High the Moon” that featured Lizzie Bell on vocals.

Beck’s final song of his set was the John Lennon penned “A Day in the Life”.

Midway through Beck’s finale the crowd erupted in cheer when Billy Gibbons unexpectedly strolled on stage and bowed to Jeff Beck, shook his hand and walked off behind the curtain. Beck’s comment was “Nice timing Billy” after the number was over.

As always Jeff Beck delivered an incredible performance.

The final encores of the evening featured both Brian Wilson and company and Jeff Beck jamming on Beach Boys classics “409”, “Fun Fun Fun”, “Surfin USA”, and “Surfs Up”.

Jeff Beck finished off the evening with “Danny Boy” accompanied with background harmonies from Wilson, Jardine and Marks.

Look out for a new release from Brian Wilson coming out soon featuring Jeff Beck. It should be interesting if this show was any indication of what we can expect.