The Beach Boys at State Theater

The Beach Boys at State Theater

The Beach Boys in concert at State Theater..   By Andy Novick

 

Tonight’s concert will be without Brian Wilson. I had my doubts.

Brian is the brain behind the Beach Boys, and after a very difficult

life, he came back to create his own band and finish the famous album,

Smile. I heard Brian at Carnegie Hall a few years ago and he was amazing.

Coming back from a life of sadness and drug abuse, he still had his brain,

and sounded great. But tonight it is just Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, and

several new kids like John Cowsil on drums and Scott Totten on lead guitar.

 

Surprise, surprise, Mike Love is a real professional on stage. He gave kudos to

Brian Wilson, his cousin, acknowledged his genius, and the new kids were excellent.

Scott Totten on lead guitar was masterful; he was able to play a full range of rock, surf, blues and acoustic with skill and perfection. The drummer, John Cowsil, who is the heart of any rock band, kept the rhythm going, and had the timing of a Swiss watch. An added plus, the drummer can sing! He did 2 tunes, and I kept on looking around to see who was singing on Darling, till I saw it was the drummer. Amazing voice and he was going full steam on the drums while singing.
The play list went something like this:  
Little Little Deuce Coup

409

When I Grow Up

Darling

Be True to Your School

Our Hearts  (the Four Freshmen)

Disney Girls (from the Surfs Up Album)

Good Only Knows (with a dedication to Carl Wilson, who is the only Beach Boy who can really surf!)

California Dreaming (Momma’s and Poppa’s)

Sloop John B

Wouldn’t it be Nice?

California Girls

Good Vibrations

Gotta Be Rock and Roll

Do You Wanna Dance

Barbra Ann

 

And then came the encores…

Honey

Going to the Beach

and finally…

Surfing USA.

 

We really got our moneys worth..

Mike Love is a true showman,

And the Beach Boys he put together

all are skilled musicians and can be allowed

to call themselves Beach Boys even if they can't surf.

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