Growing up in Califonia, I always loved the sounds of the Beach Boys. Their song “Surfin Safari” inspired my first efforts to surf at Redondo Beach in my teens…”Lets go sufin now, everybody’s learnin how, come on a safari with me…..”
Never able to purchase a 409 (“she’s real fine my 409”), I used to satisfy myself by singing outloud to Cathy “she’s real keen my 318 “(referring to our 1968 Plymouth Belvedere)…
One of the first concerts Cathy and I attended in our teens was a fantasitc, sunny, spirited Beach Boys concert in Berkely California. Man they made the place rock. And even back in 1978, they were appealing to multiple generations, as parents were dancing with their kids at the concert.
So needless to say we really enjoyed seeing them perform last night at the Puyallup fair. They sounded the same as ever, since two of the original lead singers Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are still with the band, and the Beach Boys have a history of people coming and going that dates back to 1964. Their band had incorporated some younger talent as well, and we saw some very hot guitar playing and drumming last night.
I had just been born when the Beach Boys recorded their first hit Song “Surfin” while the were young adults living in Hawthorne California.
In the 80’s their drummer Dennis Wilson drowned, and was given an honorable buriel at sea funeral arranged by Ronald Reagan himself, to appologize for a hurtful comment his Interior Secretary James Watt had made saying the Beach Boys were a bad influence. It turns out, Ronnie was a fan. In the 90s, Dennis’s brother Carl passed on. Through the years their brother Brian Wilson has struggled with anxiety attacks and resultant addictions, but never stopped turning out such prolific and inspired music writing that put him in the top echelon of all-time musical genius. Cathy and I were forntunate to see Brian perform with the band at the concert in our teens.
I attended this concert with my wife Cathy, kids Andy, Kenny, Danny, Susie, and Katie, son-in-law Brandon, our friends Debra, Jake, and Mike (from next door), and Susie’s friend Emma. We also stumbled upon our friend Vera, who joined us in watching the concert. The Beach Boys played nearly all their Endless Summer hits. The encore included Kokomo, Good Vibrations, and a sing along of Help Me Rhonda where the crowd provided the chorus. Fun times!
I lifted these recent pictures from an essay on the intenet at www.bransoncritic.com, along with this marvelous piece of writing about aging rock stars….enjoy!…
The word cool was carried to new heights during the concert. Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, the only original Beach Boys in the concert were definitely cool.AARP Magazine, a few months ago, published an article concerning elder hipsterdom, which elder citizens were giving a new meaning to cool. Such notables as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and others were mentioned, noting that cool has bridged generation gaps. Well, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston let everyone who sees them perform know that being over 50 can definitely be a cool thing and that age doesn?t matter nearly as much as attitude. They were solidly cool and both were past 60. People attending the concert were dancing in the aisles, at their seats and anywhere else they happened to be at the moment. The sounds emitting from the stage were the elixir of youth and vitality. The call of the evening was hang loose, a high sign originated on the beaches of southern California, which means I’m hip and I’m cool. The players, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston were the real deal, giving us the original ground down sound. That |
A fimage from the web….
