I was in college back in 1976 when The Beach Boys regrouped with their brother Brian and went on tour to celebrate America’s Bicentennial. I felt their simple rhythms and attitude were beneath my recently developed jazz tastes, so I eschewed any desire to see the band that invented the California lifestyle during their tour that brought them to Anaheim stadium. Almost 40 years later, and watching the dvd of what was originally filmed as a TV show of that spectacle puts this music and my then-musically snobby life into perspective. These guys were all American, and all FUN.
The concert has the Wilson family, friend Al Jardine, cousin Mike Love and some extra hired hands running through an enthusiastic collection of what the West Coast of the 60s was all about: “Fun Fun Fun,” “Surfin’ USA” “Good Vibrations” and “California Girls” being not only song titles but attitudes. Mike Love is in great form, the fragile Brian is fairly coherent, and the mixed in footage of Highway 1, convertables and beautiful blonds reflect a simpler time with simpler and happier music. There are some extra ditties included like the 3 Wilson brothers singing about their dad, as well as a cute vignette of the Blues Brothers posing as policemen. Not a care in the world here. Was life really that simple?
Eagle Vision DVD
www.eaglerockent.com