There really were three different bands of musicians known as "The Beach Boys." The first band was the self-contained, five-piece garage band consisting of three brothers (Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson), their cousin (Mike Love), and Brian's high school friend Al Jardine. The second band was the studio entity: the core five plus assorted studio musicians to flesh out the sounds heard in chief composer Brian Wilson's musical vision. The third band was the expanded stage group; brother Brian often absent from the proceedings, but featuring Carl and Dennis Wilson, along with Mike Love, Al Jardine, and a host of mega-talented sidemen who brought the multi-layered sounds of the Beach Boys recordings to life and infused them with a Real Rock Band attitude. It was this third "Beach Boys" that became a major concert attraction in the 1970s and on into the 1980s, before falling victim to Love-led band member changes, the deaths of Carl and Dennis Wilson, and the acrimonious split of Mike Love and Al Jardine. The current Mike Love-led band, while putting on an entertaining evening of "fun, fun, fun," usually comes across as nothing more than a Beach Boys cover band which just happens to feature lead vocals by one-fifth of the original band and the stage presence of Bruce Johnston, Brian's long-time stand-in onstage and "sixth Beach Boy." While Love may have the legal right to the name, the real deal -- the band the brought this music to the masses starting in the '70s -- can be found under the name "Al Jardine's Endless Summer Band."
It may be the most appropriate name ever. ENDLESS SUMMER was the name of the double-album of '60s Beach Boys classics released in 1974; together with the awesome power of the '70s-era live Beach Boys band, the album created a major resurgence of popularity for the Beach Boys. Since Jardine is held hostage from being able to use the Beach Boys name (thanks to Mike Love), he has done the next best (or, frankly, better) thing: assemble the major players of the '70s era band, finely hone the vocal harmonies with his sons, create a set list that combines the hits and enough non-hits to satisfy everyone, and present it with the most well preserved original Beach Boys voice still intact.
The concert performed at Westhampton Beach (NY)'s Performing Arts Center on July 28 was arguably the most satisfying evening of live Beach Boys music since Carl Wilson's death in 1998. I say arguably: a strong case can be made for many of Brian Wilson's forays into live concerts, especially his long-awaited completion of SMILE performed live. Yet, as exciting as Brian's concerts can be, one still walks the emotional tightrope in watching them -- depending on Brian's mood and/or condition on a given evening, the experience can be joyfully celebratory or painfully robotic. As soon as the members of Al's band hit the stage (Ed Carter -- bass; Billy Hinsche -- keyboards, guitar; Mike Meros -- keyboards; Bobby Figueroa -- drums; Richie Cannata -- sax, flutes, percussion; and Al's sons Matt and Adam on vocals, along with Al Jardine himself on guitar and vocals) one sensed the same laid-back excitement as the classic Beach Boys '70s shows brought.
When the first notes of opener "California Girls" started ringing out and the band put its full muscle behind it, the audience knew it was in for something special. Ed Carter's heart thumping bass, the likes of which not heard in a Beach Boys show in years, rocked the hall like nobody's business. Mike Meros behind his bank of keyboards, including the legendary Hammond organ, put some serious meat behind the rhythm section anchored by Bobby Figueroa. Everyone but Cannata sang, and the harmonies were spot on.
It only got better as the show moved on. Al, whose guitar talents were often overshadowed by Carl Wilson in the Beach Boys proper, displayed great taste and finesse in his chunky rhythms and clean leads. Yes, it was Al playing the lead lines made classic by the late Carl Wilson. Classics like "I Get Around" and "Catch A Wave" were rendered in their anthemic arrangements first heard in the 70s. Rarities such as 1977's "Honkin Down the Highway" and 1972's "California Saga" were downright exhilarating. A soulful, hand clapping, rousing version of "Sail on Sailor" was a mid-show highlight.
Jardine was generous in sharing the vocal leads. Perhaps the most daring choice was son Matt's tackling of "God Only Knows," a Carl Wilson lead vocal considered so sacrosanct by most Beach Boys fans that many balk at even Brian Wilson himself attempting to deliver the aching beauty of this piece. Astonishgly, the younger Jardine's effort was respectable, even beautiful in its own right. Maybe he didn't quite make it "his own," but he's on his way. Billy Hinsche and Bobby Figueroa combined for "Sail On Sailor's tricky word play. Al himself handled the big ones -- his signature "Help Me Rhonda," "Sloop John B," and others.
As exact as the vocals were, it was the music that buoyed this evening to the upper reaches of concert nirvana. Remember the thump of live Beach Boys on the 1973 live album, or the 1976 tv special? It was back, in full volume, with the players that created it. At one point, Jardine introduced the band, noting that "these guys are the ones that brought this music to a new generation." Indeed, they were all (save the younger Jardines and Cannata) members of the Beach Boys Band during those mega-concert years of the '70s and '80s. By the time of the three-song knockout encore punch of "Surfin USA," "Barbara Ann," and "Fun Fun Fun," the audience was swept off its feet by the wall of sound coming from the stage. Standing ovations were well-deserved and no one really wanted it to end.
Frankly, the only shortcoming to the show was the shortness of it (by modern rock concert standards, anyway) -- just a little over an hour and a half and it was over. But, oh, what an hour and a half. They may not have the name, legally, but THIS WAS "The Beach Boys" as I remember them -- a tight, rocking, vocally perfect ensemble rocking hard yet singing sweet. For awhile, I felt like I was a kid again. Thank you to "Al Jardine's Endless Summer Band" for bringing the classic "live" Beach Boys lineup and sound alive again. May they continue to ride the wave of the endless summer.
SET LIST:
California Girls /
Do It Again /
Catch A Wave /
Hawaii /
I Can Hear Music /
Come Go With Me /
Don't Worry Baby /
409 /
Shut Down /
Little Deuce Coupe /
I Get Around /
Sail On Sailor /
California Dreamin /
California Saga /
God Only Knows /
Sloop John B /
Wouldn't It Be Nice /
Runaway /
Good Vibrations /
Kokomo /
Honkin Down The Highway /
Help Me Rhonda
ENCORE
Surfin USA /
Barbara Ann /
Fun Fun Fun
BAND:
Al Jardine -- guitar, vocals
Billy Hinsche -- keyboards, guitar, vocals
Bobby Figueroa -- drums, vocals
Mike Meros -- keyboards
Ed Carter -- bass, vocals
Richie Cannata -- sax, flute, percussion, vocals
Matt Jardine -- percussion, vocals
Adam Jardine -- percussion, vocals