I often think that the Beach Boys will never quite take their rightful spot in music history. Whereas the Beatles will always be considered musical geniuses, The Beach Boys – to the general public – will be too closely associated with the simple feel-good surf rock ditties and throwaway tracks like Kokomo to ever be considered brilliant. However, music critics often know better and have thus ranked their album Pet Sounds as the greatest album ever recorded, even topping the Beatles’ many masterworks. At the core of this Beach Boy genius is one particular Beach brainiac named Brian Wilson. You might recall my chance meeting with him back in 2008, but up until now I had never seen him perform in person.
Beach Boys fans the world over were excited beyond belief when Brian began performing solo tours several years ago. He had stopped touring with the Beach Boys in 1965, and thus for decades if you saw a Beach Boys concert, you weren’t really seeing the Beach Boys. With the deaths of Dennis Wilson and Carl Wilson, it was impossible to see all of the Beach Boys perform together again ever, but this year somehow some way it so happened that lucky fans were finally afforded the opportunity to see as many Beach Boys as we possibly could. That is to say, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Bruce Johnston (who joined the band in 1965) would be taking us back as close as possible to seeing the Beach Boys as they were in 1962 – 50 freaking years later.
There was no question that I had to go, no matter what…even if I had to go alone. They were playing in two locations in Ohio: Cuyahoga Falls and Cincinnati. I actually toyed with the latter show since Foster the People were opening for them there, but ended up settling on the closer show at Riverbend on Tuesday, June 12, 2012. It wasn’t all that easy to find someone to go with me, but my Mom ended up accepting the offer. She has a limit on how much she’d pay for the tickets, but I wanted to get the best seat possible, so I picked us up seats in Row H. With the three pit rows in front of us, that put us in row 11. It just so happened, we were on Brian’s side too.
I picked up Mom after work and she took me out to eat at Cracker Barrel as a Fathers Day gift. We then headed toward Riverbend, arriving at 6:45pm, 45 minutes before the show was scheduled to start. Once we found our seats, it was clear that they were good ones.
Scoping out the merchandise upon arrival. I didn’t buy anything.
Mom and I wait for the show to start
The concert itself was outstanding and the Beach Boys sounded amazing for guys who were mostly all hovering around 70 years of age. David Marks was the baby of the group. At age 63, he had been 14 when he joined the band. Although I was basking in Brian’s brilliance and the sheer thrill of seeing him perform so many of his classics, I couldn’t help but not how tired he looked. Sometimes his voice sounded stronger than others, but being backed up by his friend and collaborator Jeffrey Foskett bridged the gaps where Brian’s falsetto voice had long ago given out.
The Beach Boys take the stage one by one, introduced on the screen behind them
The Beach Boys in all their glory. Up front from left to right: Brian Wilson at piano, Jeffrey Foskett, David Marks, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston on the keyboards
Brian gets situated at the ivories
David, Mike, and Al with Scott Totten supporting them right behind Al
Beach Boy under the palm trees. Darian Sahanaja from The Wondermints is behind him.
The Boys move into the Little Deuce Coupe era
Just before the intermission as the guys wind down with I Get Around
The band did nice tributes to Brian’s deceased brothers Dennis and Carl, by having their lead vocal tracks piped in, along with video footage of them, to accompany the live music on Forever and God Only Knows, respectively. The video screen behind them was put to great use, as often the songs were accompanied by a montage of photos and footage of the Beach Boys throughout their career. The black and white film of the boys in the studio during the original recording of Good Vibrations was particularly poignant, as the live band belted it out 45 years later.
There was no opening act and the concert lasted over three hours. The band played two sets with a 20-minute intermission between (during which time I talked Mom into a ‘Fathers Day’ beer), and then an encore. Sitting right in front of Brian Wilson, I kept my eyes on him for the bulk of the show, relishing the one or two times, he actually turned his head toward the crowd. At the end of each set, he would hightail it off stage; when he was on, he didn’t leave the piano until the last two songs of the encore, at which time he strapped a bass guitar around him and played with his bandmates.
The best photo I took that night as Brian’s bandmates gather around him for a rendition of Add Some Music to Your Day
The best I could do to get a photo of The Beach Boys and me
Heroes and Villians
Pretty lights, fabulous music
Brian under Brian as he belts out Good Vibrations
Good vibrations, amazing band
Brian grabs a bass to join the fellow during the encore
Fun Fun Fun. Yes it was. It was indeed.
I feel so fortunate to have seen Brian and the Beach Boys during this tour, which is also supporting their new (great!) album That’s Why God Made the Radio. I know it wouldn’t have been possible to get Brian on the road without his close friends and musical entourage that included Jeffrey Foskett, Nelson Bragg, and Darian Sahanaja & Mike D’Amico from the Wondermints. The guys were responsible for maintaining the incredible solid sound throughout the show. For the sake of other fans like me, I’m keeping fingers crossed that Brian will stay mentally and physically healthy enough to complete the tour.
Even though I didn’t get home until about 12:30am, it was a small price to pay to see all of this…live!
First set: Do It Again, Little Honda, Catch a Wave, Hawaii, Don’t Back Down, Surfin’ Safari, Surfer Girl, The Whole World, Marcella, Then I Kissed Her, Kiss Me Baby, Isn’t It Time, Please Let Me Wonder, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, When I Grow Up (To be a Man), Cotton Fields, It’s OK, Be True to Your School, Disney Girls, Ballad of Ole’ Betsy (Scott Totten on lead vocals), Don’t Worry Baby (Jeff Foskett on lead vocals), Little Deuce Coupe, 409, Shut Down, I Get Around
Second set: Add Some Music to Your Day, Heroes and Villains, California, Sloop John B, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times, Sail On Sailor, All This Is That, That’s Why God Made the Radio, In My Room, Forever, God Only Knows, Good Vibrations, California Girls, All Summer Long, Help Me Rhonda, Rock and Roll Music, Do You Wanna Dance?, Surfin’ USA
Encore: Kokomo, Barbara Ann, Fun Fun Fun
That’s 47 songs, folks. And not once did I complain that they didn’t play Darlin’ or Surf’s Up. Beaming with appreciation, I was incredibly satisfied with what I got.
Return to June 2012…
Good to know you got to see the Beach Boys! I missed their recent show in nearby White Plains, NY – by the time I found out about it, it was already sold out. And some VIP tickets were going for $500! But I did buy a DVD set of that show, which will have to suffice for being the next best thing to being there.
Bill
June 27th, 2012
Very cool, Brad. I’m jealous!
Aaron
June 27th, 2012
Me too! I was considering trying to attend one of the Chicago dates, but in the end I felt it was just too far to drive on a weeknight. I’m glad you were able to see them, and could take your mother with you. It will make all the memories even more special!
Dave Chasteen
June 28th, 2012
Wow…! How amazing pictorial article! I am jealous to see the Beach Boys enjoyment. All the pictures shared here seem to me gorgeous and attractive for their pretty good color and impressive get up. I wish to go such amusing program. Thanks mate for the magnificent post. 😆
marindarrell
June 28th, 2012
What was Brian Wilson’s facial expression during “Kokomo”?
Eric Hubble
July 21st, 2012
Pretty much the same as it was when he met me. Wait a second…
Brad
July 23rd, 2012