The Beach Boys Love You

Rip It Up, Issue 9, 1 March 1978, Page 3

The Beach Boys Love You

Ken Williams

it was perfect Beach Boys weather. Sunday afternoon, hot and dry, cloudless sky, and a Fleetwood Mac size crowd. Ouite an achievement for a group whose biggest successes were 10 years ago. But the taste of mythical California sand was everywhere. Some of these people weren’t born when “Surfing USA” hit, but they’ve all ridden the eternal wave. Even if like the girthful Brian Wilson, only in the surf of their minds. “Hi, everyone,” Mike Love welcomes to a parade of Beach Boys hits. "California Girls” opens and there’s immediate microphone problems. These will recur, taking the edge off some songs. The breeze scatters the sound a little, but these are minor quibbles. It’s all hard work and good fun. Everything a Beach Boys fan could want to hear. Twenty seven songs. Bar a couple, all hits. Naturally, some are received better than others and the continuing sound problems do no justice to others. “Heroes and Villains" suffers. But "Help Me Rhonda” has the audience up and clapping. "A potentially rowdy crowd out there,” says chairman Love, before racing into "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" and "Get Around.”

By now the Beach Boys can do no wrong. Earlier flat periods are forgotten, even the seemingly interminable noodlings of saxophonist Charles Lloyd, which prompted the man next to me (I’d never seen him before) to ask, “Disappointed?” They dedicate "Good Vibrations” to the audience. Maybe they do that every time out but it has the desired effect. It’s one of those generation anthems that seems to last when all the other memories fade. An encore is called for and Dennis Wilson shambles on stage to do his piece. Hands in pockets he gravel-voices his way through “You Are So Beautiful,” a performance all the more affecting for its being thrown away. He’s joined on stage by the others for a good rocking climax: "Barbara Ann," "Rock and Roll Music" and “Fun Fun Fun”. "Barbara Ann” is a classic idiot song. Always felt bashful about admitting to liking it. Several thousand other idiots owning up feels good. Gonna have fun fun till daddy takes the T-Bird away..