Brian Wilson toured Europe a year ago with his Smile tour, performing for the first time, in its entirety, the concept album he scrapped 37 years previously. To general surprise he showed himself to be in fine fettle: focused, singing well and looking more relaxed than at any time since he escaped the grip of Eugene Landy, the control-freak psychiatrist who helped him to function again after his years in the wilderness. His current show may be no more than a greatest hits package, but what a package, offering another chance to marvel at the speed with which Wilson progressed from the simple surf pop of Surfin’ Safari (1962) to the symphonic Pet Sounds (1966) and, from the aborted Smile, Good Vibrations (1967). All of Wilson’s symphonies were bittersweet and they have aged scarcely a day. The chance to hear them performed by their genius creator is one to savour.
Live @ the Marquee, Cork, Thu 8pm, €60-€75 (0818 719300). Vicar Street, Wed, sold out