Beachboys in town tonight!

Subject: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Banjer
Date: 17 May 02 - 03:16 AM

Tonight will be one of those memorable times when three generations will enjoy a concert together. Myself and wife, oldest daughter and husband and two grandkids will all attend the Beachboys concert in St Petersburg. I will post my impressions Sat AM.

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Wesley S
Date: 17 May 02 - 11:13 AM

Banjer - The first concert I ever attended { around 1965 } was a Beach Boys concert in St Petersburg - at the Bayfront Center if I remember correctly. I can't imagine that the Bayfront Center is still around. By the way the opening acts were Chad and Jeremy and the Loving Spoonful. I'll be looking forward to your review. I'm curious as to what original members are left in that group. Have fun.

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 17 May 02 - 11:24 AM

You'll only be looking at a portion of the original membership. Dennis Wilson (drums) died a number of years ago in a drowning accident, and Carl Wilson (lead guitar) died just last year from cancer. Brian Wilson (God) no longer performs regularly with the group, to the best of my knowledge. But you will get to see Mike Love and Al Jardine, and I'm sure the rest of the musicians will catch that sweet California sound. Should be a good time -- enjoy.

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 May 02 - 12:29 PM

I heard recently that Jardine was suing the surviving members (Wilson and Love) who were counter-suing him over touring with an unauthorized "Beachboys" group. Of course, I suppose that wouldn't stop them from appearing together.

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: 53
Date: 17 May 02 - 02:15 PM

I saw or heard them rather in 1988 in Myrtle Beach S.C.

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: GUEST
Date: 17 May 02 - 02:30 PM

The Beach Boys without a single 'Wilson' aren't the Beach Boys.

Enjoy the gig anyway

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: GUEST,sans culotte
Date: 17 May 02 - 03:05 PM

Mike Love, though he is a big jerk, is a founding member--

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Banjer
Date: 17 May 02 - 06:58 PM

Yes it is in the Bayfront Center! I am getting ready now to go there. My 'reviews' in the morning!

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 17 May 02 - 10:07 PM

I think a "Beach Boys, the next Generation" would be a nice alternative to "NSynch" and the "BSB's". Did any of them *have* boy children? I know there are at least 2 girls, once of the band "Wilson Phillips", but I have heard nothing of any male heirs.

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Banjer
Date: 18 May 02 - 12:35 AM

Well it's 12:16 which is morning where I come from....

WOW

Nothing can compare to an evening of feeling young again!! The show opened with a local radio personality, one Mason Dixon of Oldies 104.7, introducing a group of heroes, personell from FDNY that were down on a vacation sponsored by local businesses and the radio station. (This community has been hosting groups from FDNY and NYPD since shortly after 9/11) He then called for a moment of silence which was followed by the singing of the National Anthem by a group known as the Rockappela. Very nice version, tastefuly done.

The opening act was the Rockappela, five guys doing nothing but accapela rock songs. Two of the guys did the backups which sounded just like drums! It was a unique act. They performed from 8 PM til about 8:40.

A short intermission during which the sound equipment was reset and about 9:10 the Beachboys took the stage. They played one song after another....it was AWESOME. The song Be True To Your School featured two groups of local cheerleaders perfoming on stage as well as doing cartweels and other cheerleader things in the aisles of the bottom floor! The girls had been chosen after some sort of competition by the radio station.

Mike Love did a fine job of getting audience participation, although it didn't take mush work! Almost everyone was ready to swivel the hips to many of the numbers.

It was a pleasure for me to look around at the audience and watch the reactions of folks ranging from much older than me to preteens. Everyone had a wonderful time. At one point a group just two rows above us was blowing up beach balls and throwing them around. This soon caught on and it became a game to see how far the balls would travel. We watched them make it from oneside to the other and back several times. Watching my two grandkids being amazed that grandpa knew the words to songs that THEY liked was a wonderful thing! I think all three generations came away from the concert with a different perspective of the other generations.

The final number was Surfing USA....About a quarter of the way into the song a HUGE American flag was raised behind the group. The reaction to this was stupendous, I don't think any one was not moved by the effect! Such stomping and cheering and clapping I have not heard in many years. Uplifting....WOW....!!!

These are the highlights as I remember them. I'm sure that I will recall other things that I will add later when and if they occur to this rocked out old mind!

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: Banjer
Date: 18 May 02 - 10:36 AM

I forgot to mention that John Cowsill of the Cowsills is working with the band also.

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 May 02 - 10:47 AM

"Turn off that surfin' shit......Rock-N-Roll's been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died."
....John Milner in the yellow Deuce in American Graffitti

Glad you had a good time Banj!!! They came along 10 years later, but Karen and I both get that kind of "charge" by going to see Tom Petty whenever we can.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Beachboys in town tonight!
From: 53
Date: 18 May 02 - 02:29 PM

Glad that you had a good time and thanks for the report.