Hey, gang.
While we all know that surfer-centric expression (well, in some form anyway), I hope it’s cool that I edited it slightly from the more familiar expression “Hang Ten.”
I mean after all, the boys who brought us The Endless Summer (the album in June 1974, not to be confused with the surfing documentary film of the same title, released in 1966) are out there touring again.
Yeah, it’s true. Some friends from work recently saw the Beach Boys live, in a Hartford, CT-area venue.
While the aging minstrels may have joked about needing to do some extra stretching, or maybe taking a nap (or two!) during the intermission, by the time the night ended, those musical octogenarians and an impressive nine-piece band performed nearly 40 songs.
And in addition to wowing the crowd with plenty of summertime nostalgia of their own, the band performed some memorable cover tunes including The Beatles’ “Back in the U.S.S.R” and “California Dreamin'” (The Mamas & the Papas), further highlighted by an homage to the Ramones’ “Rockaway Beach.” (Apparently, back in the day, the Ramones had covered “Surfin’ Safari,” so Mike Love and company honored the late New Jersey-based quartet in return.) [NOTE: The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2002.]
As for the Beach Boys (fun fact: originally formed as the Pendletones back in 1961), it’s hard to believe that the remaining surviving members, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Mike Love are now all over age 80!
Love (now age 82) serves as the band’s front man, backed up by longtime guitarist and keyboard player Bruce Johnston (age 81, who joined the band in 1965), rhythm guitarist Al Jardine (age 81) and further supported (though, primarily behind the scenes these days) by the legendary Brian Wilson (age 81).
The current touring lineup includes just Love and Johnston, but from what my friends told me, those surfer dudes from way back when still know how to foster all the same good vibrations.
See you back here tomorrow for day 9. (Yep, we’re getting there!)
JFish
PS As promised, here’s the answer to our mystery guest from Day 11:
Thor Heyerdahl (1914-2002) was a Norwegian explorer who earned worldwide fame when his boat, the Kon-tiki, successfully sailed from Peru to land just east of Tahiti.
@Copyright 2023 by John L. Fischer