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Review
This warm spring Friday night in Birmingham, AL would feature The Beach Boys and Creedence Clearwater Revisited to a near sellout crowd. This show gave us the Beach Boys without a Wilson and a Creedence band without their brothers. The orig.bass player and drummer and three new members made up this group. The last time the BBs played Oak Mountain was in 1988. My main reason for going to this concert was to see David Marks! After Carl's death, I had planned on going to no more BB concerts, as I have done ever year since 1972.
The stage for the Beach Boys had (from left to right) Bruce, Mike, David, and Chris Farmer on bass. Behind them were five seperate platforms. Also, from left to right were Adrian Baker (guitar),Tim Bonham ( piano), Mike Kowalski on drums, Mike Meros on keyboards, and Phil Bardowell, also playing guitar.
Noticably different: No Carl, Al, or Matt. The BBs cheerleaders, the sax, stage decorations (no surf boards), and the extra drums for Wouldn't It Be Nice were also absent.
Commentary on the songs performed:
California Girls was first (no surprise); Bruce could be heard very
clearly.
Do It Again -guitar into. was brief; Phil Bardowell played the
introduction and the
solo.
Then I Kissed Her - lead vocal was Chris Farmer.
Darlin' performed by Phil ( I was surprised they did this one).
Surfer Girl - middle vocal David Marks.
Don't Worry Baby -Adrian Baker
Sherry - Baker
Duke of Earl - Chris/ Phil
Bill Clinton jokes by Mike before the car songs.
409 - David Marks played the guitar solo.
Little Old Lady - Chris sang lead, Mike could not be heard if he was
singing.
Shut Down - No live sax, no Mike Love sax, David played a solo in its
place
I Get Around David on guitar solo.
Hushabye -Mike Meros played percussion, David sang some lead.
Wendy - Bruce sang lead.
God Only Knows - Bruce sang lead. Before the song, Mike stated that his
cousin
Carl Wilson had died last year of cancer and
for a while they
didn't perform this song. Mike
challanged the crowd to stop smoking.
Sloop John B. - Chris/ Bruce and Mike. Little breakdown before the song;
Bruce counted in down with a strong hand clap.
Wouldn't It Be Nice - Phil on lead vocal; Kowalski did the Matt drum part
on the regular drum set.
Mike then introduced the next 3 songs performed were # 1 hits for the BBs. He forgot that Good Vibrations was next. He then remembered and made another slam again the President "bombing the s*** out of people."
Good Vibrations - Baker
Kokomo - Bruce doubling with Mike on lead. Meros played the solo.
Help Me Rhonda - Phil on lead vocal.
Surf City was before Surfin' Safari.
Surfin' USA - David played the guitar introduction and solo
Encore included Barbara Ann ( Phil on the guitar solo) and Fun Fun Fun ( David played introduction and solo).
Coclusion: Bruce should have been featured more over the years. Al and
Dennis were never mentioned. David Marks has balls for trying to sing/
good guitar solo's, but with little playing of chords. Mike looks old and
his voice was weak ( maybe a little sick). Chris looks a little like a
younger Brian Wilson on bass.
With a few exceptions, Baker played the role of Brian, Chris played Al, and
Phil played the role Carl.
I choose to remember the Beach Boys concerts of the late 80's and early
90's. Then in action were Jeff Foscett( spelling check), Billy Hinsche, Ed
Carter, Matt and Al.
With the death of Carl the BBs will never be the same.
For whatever reason Al is not there, be it burnout, grief, bitterness ... or whatever ... I [commend] him for staying home!
Contributed by: Donnie Flynn