1974

Thursday February 14, 1974

Fieldhouse, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT-with Jim Stafford (8:00 PM Show)

After a short hiatus, during which time Mike took a five-week TM course in Belgium, the Beach Boys returned to the road for a weeklong swing through the western states.  Putter Smith (bass), Ed Tuduri (second drummer), Billy Hinsche and Carli Munoz accompanied them.  In the absence of Blondie Chaplin, the group made one significant change to the set list, dropping “Sail on Sailor.” Accompanying them as opening act on the next few tours was Jim Stafford, a Floridian musician then riding the charts with his song ‘Spiders and Snakes.’

The Beach Boys tour-opening show in Bozeman was plagued by sound problems for which the band apologized after the intermission.  Unfortunately, the problems persisted, marring what would otherwise have been a great show.  According to Pat Dawson of The Exponent, “’the sound system was spitting out tinny highs on the drums, pronounced stumbling lows on the bass and feeble vocal mixing.”  Despite these issues, the group were called back for an encore, “a time when they called for requests.  ‘Barbara Ann’ did the trick.  A Chuck Berry ‘Johnny B Goode’ style intro led into the final number for the night ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’  Love and Dennis Wilson showed their appreciation by slapping palms which were extended over the edge of the stage.”

Friday February 15, 1974

The Spectrum, Utah State University, Logan, UT-with Jim Stafford (8:00 PM Show)

The reviewer for the Student Life newspaper noted, “Although the audience seemed to appreciate the groups more recent arrangements, it wasn’t until the group went into such musical milestones as ‘Good Vibrations’, ‘California Girls’ and ‘God Only Knows’ that the crowd hit the ceiling rewarding the group’s efforts with four standing ovations.”  For reasons known only to him, Dennis Wilson appeared at this show  dressed in a full tuxedo.

Saturday February 16, 1974

Adams Field House, University of Montana, Missoula, MT-with Jim Stafford (8:00 PM Show)

The group appeared as part of the three-day Fasching Festival, attracting 5,000 fans. Carol Van Valkenberg of The Missoulian noted, “When an audience is familiar with a singing group, it wants to hear the songs that made the singers familiar. (But) It seems that the Beach Boys were intent on laying new songs on the audience to prove that they had not been without inspiration these past five years. The audience didn’t care. What was important was that they were back and ready to hear those songs long lost between dust covers pushed aside by Dylan and the Beatles. The message got through and the result was Sloop John B, Help Me Rhonda, Surfin USA, Good Vibrations, Surfer Girl, Barbara Ann, I Get Around and Fun, Fun, Fun.”

Sunday February 17, 1974

Air Force Academy Cadet Fieldhouse, Colorado Springs, CO-with Jim Stafford (7:30 PM Show)

Monday February 18, 1974

City Auditorium, Colorado Springs, CO-with Jim Stafford (Two shows at 7:00 and 9:30 PM)

The 9:30 show was added after the 7:00 PM appearance sold out.

Tuesday February 19, 1974

Moby Gym, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (8:00 PM show)

Over 7,000 fans attended this tour-ending concert. The Rocky Mountain Collegian reviewer was irritated because the band played a short show (apparently one member of the group had stated that they would be there a long time but the band ended the show after 75 minutes) and did not play all the oldies that fans wanted. He noted, “If it hadn't been for a few of their hits from the early 60s and an excellent warmup act, the Beach Boys concert Tuesday night would have been a complete fiasco with much of the audience being rightfully outraged at the poor audio system and the personal coldness brought on by the entertainers…The new songs began the abbreviated evening...During the first three songs the fans were shouting numerous requests for their favorites they wanted to hear and didn’t really respond to the music until California Girls rang out. Like a bullet from a revolver, wild cheers erupted throughout Moby gym and fans began to react to the sound they wanted to hear-that good old surfin sound they so fondly remembered...When the Beach Boys played what the audience was there for, response was excellent.  After California Girls the group (around ten now) kept the beat alive with Surfer Girl but then fell back into its current vein. The height of the performance (what little it was) came with the tune that more people clamored for than any other-Surfin USA.  About two thirds of the audience was up on its feet to reminisce, either by singing, moving or dancing. Then came the intermission.

After a quick exit and an equally rapid return to the cheering fans, the same member who began the evening by promising a long program proclaimed that the Boys were now going to take "requests from the audience.” Naturally almost every song imaginable made famous by the artists was blurted out. Without even mentioning what song they were going to sing, they went ahead and played what was certainly no doubt in anyone’s mind a prepackaged assortment of popular items. This got them what they wanted: a screaming and wildly raving audience who paid up to $5.50 a seat to hear, among others, Good Vibrations, Rockin and a Rollin and other oldies. But after only three- or four short numbers during the encore the band members said ‘Good night, you’ve been a great audience.’ How many limes have you heard that during a concert before! The technical crew came on stage and literally started ripping apart the equipment. A bewildered audience, expecting more (as was promised in the opening statement) shouted ‘we want more!’ The band didn’t consent. After all they did their hours’ worth and got paid.”

Friday March 15, 1974

Salem Armory Auditorium, Salem, OR-with Jim Stafford (8:00 PM Show)

In 1974, the Beach Boys popularity was on the rise.  The depressing reality of Vietnam and Watergate led to a sudden embrace of nostalgia for the simpler times of the 1950’s and early 1960’s.  This romantic vision of nostalgia was perfectly encapsulated in the 1973 film American Graffiti, which featured Beach Boys’ music prominently in its soundtrack.  The group’s early sound represented an America that lived in a joyful celebration of fun that was void of the cynicism and negativity that permeated current times.  The Beach Boys In Concert album, released in November 1973, was boosted by a building revival of interest in the California icons.  The LP reached number 26 on the Billboard charts and gave the Beach Boys their first RIAA Gold Record Award in many years.

It was at this critical time that James William Guercio entered the picture.  Guercio started out as a musician, playing with the early Mothers of Invention, and as Chad and Jeremy’s guitarist and Musical Director.  He parlayed that into a producer’s role, first with the Buckinghams, and then to massive commercial success with the horn rock trend of Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears.  A genuine fan of the Beach Boys music, Guercio offered his services both as an occasional bass player in the touring band and in a managerial capacity.  Chip Rachlin stated, “I helped get Jimmy in.  Because I thought the records that he produced with Chicago were great…I thought it would be a very good association (for the Beach Boys) so I used whatever influence I had (to get him in).”

The Beach Boys hit the road for a short Pacific Northwest tour.  In addition to Carli Munoz and Billy Hinsche, Guercio joined them on bass.  Also in the lineup was a new face: drummer Bobby Figueroa.  He was a native Californian and a longtime Beach Boys fan.  Figueroa had first seen them play at the Azusa Teen Club in 1962.  By 1974 he was a professional musician playing with an eight-piece soul band at a club in Pasadena when he received a call from Carli Munoz.  Figueroa recalled, “I had given Carli a job when he first came out to the west coast from Puerto Rico via New York.  He was a fantastic musician and we played together for about a year.  Then we lost track of each other for a while.  He called me up in 1974 and said he was playing with the Beach Boys and they were looking for a percussionist.  He said, ‘You want to give it a shot?’ And I said, “yeah that sound pretty cool!’ So, he gave me the address of Brother Records in Santa Monica.  So, I went down there and I was the first guy in the studio and there were several other guys that were going to audition as well for the same position. Dennis was looking for someone to spell him so he could stay upfront and play keyboards and stuff (actually Ricky Fataar was still the main drummer and Dennis wouldn't touch the sticks again till the autumn).  So, I started playing and one by one Al and then Mike and the others individually walked into the studio and asked me to play different feels on the drums.  So, I obliged everybody and then they said ‘Thank you very much.’”

Figueroa, who thought he stood little chance of getting the gig, continues. “So, I was leaving the audition and pushing my stuff out the door and the other guys were getting ready to do their auditions and then I heard Dennis scream from down the hall, ‘Hey where are you going?’ So, I said, ‘Well you have to audition the other guys too, right?’ And he said, ‘No come over here.’  So, we went in the back to the office where he was set up and he said “We want you to go on the road with us.’  And I said, ‘When?’ And Dennis said, ‘Tomorrow.  We’ll have them send a car for you and we’ll see you in Washington.’  It literally happened that fast.  So, I had to go back to the nightclub that night and tell the guys I was playing with, ‘I’m leaving tomorrow and I won’t be back.’  Which was a shock to them.  But I had a really good feeling about it.  At that particular point in their career, the Beach Boys were doing the colleges and the 2500-seaters and weren’t playing the really large venues but I had a hunch (they would be big again) because I was familiar with them and was a fan.  And of course, within a year of my joining them they were again playing in the larger venues, like Wembley Stadium, as a result of the release of Endless Summer.  It was a really good time to join.  And because of Dennis and Carl trusting me to do certain things and the rest of the guys following suit, I loved being there.”  The photo by Ed Roach is from this tour but may not be from this show. Jim Guercio can be seen in the photo.

Saturday March 16, 1974

Olson Auditorium, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA-with Jim Stafford (Two shows at 6:00 and 9:45 PM)

Bobby Figueroa recalled, “I was little nervous and apprehensive at those first couple of shows.  I didn’t have any rehearsal and here I was within two days on stage with them and doing it.  But that was probably the one and only time I felt like that because after that it was really great.  And I went bowling with Dennis and Carli and some of the guys after the show and it was a really fun scene.  And I thought, ‘Wow, what a strange thing to be doing.’  I went through the whole rookie, hazing thing.  It was a new thing for me.  I’d been playing small clubs for money for eight years and never really got to do the things I did with the Beach Boys…But Dennis was a great tutor in my drumming technique and calming me down into not doing so much and playing more feel than anything else.  And Carl was kind of my vocal coach.  And I felt like I was welcomed.”  Bobby Figueroa can be glimpsed in the photo from this show, behind Carl and Dennis

Sunday March 17, 1974

Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada-with Jim Stafford and Chilliwack (8:00 PM Show)

The set list for this show consisted of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “The Trader”, “Long Promised Road”, “California Girls”, “Funky Pretty”, “California”, “Marcella”, “Surfer Girl”, “Darlin’”, “Little Deuce Coupe”, “Caroline No”, “God Only Knows”, “We Got Love”, “Sloop John B”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “Surfin USA”, “I Get Around”, “Fun, Fun, Fun” and “Good Vibrations.”

Don Stanley of the Vancouver Sun noted that “Funky Pretty” and “California” were greeted by “polite applause followed by a puzzled silence, which shaded from respectful to surly,” while oldies like “Sloop John B” had the audience on their feet and dancing.  Stanley singled out Mike for appreciation, noting that “between cheer leading and Ed Sullivan impressions (‘Really big shew’) he made no fewer than three costume changes: a pink suit with a solar explosion on the chest, purple velvet with a purple wool cap, and a quick switch into Dennis Wilson’s lumberman’s basic.  With his blonde hair and bushy blonde beard, he looked like a spaced out, lanky walrus.”  Stanley, however, seems to have missed the real reason why Mike switched briefly into Dennis’ duds.  According to Rolling Stone, while Carl was singing “Caroline No”, Mike and Dennis ran across the stage stark naked and then switched into each other’s clothes.  The streaking cousins caused Carl to crack up in the middle of his performance. The photo shows Dennis streaking across the stage.

Monday March 18, 1974

Victoria Memorial Arena, Victoria, BC, Canada-with Jim Stafford and Chilliwack (8:00 PM Show)

The photo was taken on March 16

Tuesday April 9, 1974

Coliseum, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS-with Jim Stafford (8:30 PM Show)

The group flew to Memphis on April 8 and drove to Oxford, where they spent the night.  Accompanying them were Jim Guercio on bass, Billy Hinsche, Bobby Figueroa and Carli Munoz.  In addition, Don Lewis was hired to play synthesizer. Rick Nelson, Jason Raphalian and Steve Moffitt also traveled with the group. About 3,000 fans turned out for the tour opener at “Ole Miss.” Benjamin Smith of the Daily Mississippian noted, “The band alternated between songs such as ‘I Get Around’, ‘Little Surfer Girl’, ‘Good Vibrations’, and ‘Little Deuce Coupe’, with recent material from their Holland album… The audience never seemed to lose attention to what was happening on stage.  Unlike many artists today, who play lengthy songs which sooner or later are apt to become monotonous, the Beach Boys allowed each number just enough time to catch on before going into something else.”

Wednesday April 10, 1974

Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, LA-with Jim Stafford and the James Gang (8:30 PM Show)

Jim Stafford again served as an opening act on this tour and some shows also featured the James Gang, the Cleveland band formed in 1966 by guitarist Joe Walsh.  However, by this time Walsh had departed the group, which struggled to find its footing without him.

The Beach Boys attracted a large crowd eager to hear the hits.  Bill Shearman of the Times Picayune noted, “’Surfin’ USA,’ ‘Little Deuce Coupe,’ and their classic ‘California Girls’ brought the whole place to its collective feet and for an encore the band didn’t play anything past 1966…One gets the impression from watching the band that it stills enjoys performing, a feeling you distinctly didn’t get from the Rolling Stones in non-action a summer ago in Mobile.” Billy Hinsche filmed portions of this show, including performances of “The Trader” and “Marcella.” (Photographer Ed Roach actually filmed the concert since Billy was busy performing.)  He also captured a visit backstage by Van Dyke Parks, who kept everyone entertained with his Polaroid camera.  In addition, Hinsche filmed an earlier conversation at the hotel between Dennis, Carl and Rick Nelson about the tour itinerary.  The footage appeared in Hinsche’s 1974 On the Road DVD.

Thursday April 11, 1974

Municipal Auditorium, Atlanta, GA-with Jim Stafford and the James Gang (7:30 PM Show) and Fieldhouse, Auburn College, Auburn, AL-with Jim Stafford and the James Gang (9:30 PM Show)

Despite playing an earlier show in Atlanta, the group played until 2 AM for the Auburn audience.  According to David Nordness of the Auburn Plainsman, “The group was visibly beat. (But) It was like the half-awake giddiness you get after two all-nighters in a row with more polish and enthusiasm than most groups ever thought of having… They gave it everything they had and then some more… Everyone who was there felt the good vibrations of the truly great American band.”

Friday April 12, 1974

Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, FL-with Jim Stafford and the James Gang (8:00 PM Show)

This show was almost derailed when the James Gang failed to show (allegedly because the lead singer Roy Kenner had lost his voice), forcing promoters to offer refunds to those who wanted them.  However, there were just as many fans that had wanted to purchase tickets and quickly snatched up the available seats to make the concert a success.  The Beach Boys, however, continued to face the same-old story: fans that were impatient to hear the hits and sat on their hands when they played their newer music. Karen DeYoung of the Tampa Bay Tribune noted, “The crowd wanted oldies. Except for a sprinkling of over 20’s, they weren’t the old fans, but a new crop of kids.  And they wanted to hear those California surfer sounds.  They politely applauded the group’s new run of the mill rock numbers but when it came to the oldies, it was American Bandstand all over again: Shouts, screams, dancing in the aisles…The appeal is unavoidably camp.  What could be weirder or more campy fun than Mike Love, one of the original Beach Boys, along with Carl and Dennis Wilson and Alan Jardine, in all his tall, skinny looseness, dressed in iridescent purple pajamas with a big yellow sun on the front, bushy read beard and a Panama-hat, singing, ‘I’m getting bugged driving up and down the same old strip.’”

Saturday April 13, 1974

Sportatorium, Hollywood, FL-with Jim Stafford  (8:30 PM Show)

The group played a sold-out concert for 13,000 fans at this barn like venue near Miami.  Once again, the James Gang was billed but did not appear.  Reviews were mixed.  R. J. Dewhurst of the Miami Herald noted, “Despite the typically atrocious conditions at the Sportatorium, the overall impact of the show was rewarding and refreshing because the Beach Boys view the past with a clear affection and humor unhampered by clowning sentimentality.”  However, Dave Goldstein of the Miami Hurricane panned the performance as the worst he had ever seen. He argued that the group were sloppy and performed their new material in a shoddy fashion.  “Lead guitarist Carl Wilson obviously has the strongest voice and at times carries the group as they haplessly forget lines and meander off stage.  The group, in particular Mike Love, was condescending to the audience, sometimes to the point of lewdness.  Brother Dennis turned his back to the crowd and mumbled the whereabouts of the band’s sleeping accommodations-obviously for ‘interested’ fans.”

Sunday April 14, 1974

Sports Stadium, Orlando, FL-with Jim Stafford (8:00 PM)

The Beach Boys Easter Sunday concert in Orlando attracted an enthusiastic crowd and the group rewarded them with an extra-long show, that featured many of their hits. A tape exists of this concert. The set list consisted of: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “Darlin”, “Little Deuce Coupe”, “The Trader”, “Long Promised Road”, “Surfer Girl”, “Funky Pretty”, “California”, “Marcella”, “God Only Knows”, “We Got Love”, “Don’t Talk”, “Heroes and Villains”, “Surf’s Up”, “Don’t Worry Baby”, “Sloop John B”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “Surfin’ USA”, “Good Vibrations”, “California Girls”, “Barbara Ann”, “I Get Around” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.”  The photo is 1974 but is probably not from this show.

Monday April 15, 1974

State College, Edinboro, PA (8:00 PM Show)

Jim Guercio, who again traveled with the band on this tour, played an important role in mediating tensions that had been simmering within the group.  By the mid 70s, Carl and Dennis could usually be counted on to vote exactly the opposite way from Mike and Al in any band meeting and there were frequent flare-ups, but once Guercio arrived on the scene he managed to appease both sides and maintain the peace.  Road manager Rick Nelson recalled that Guercio made “the show totally work.  Jim was more than the bass player on the tours.  He’d get them to sit down and do critiques after the shows, which they’d never done.  They used to just all go off in their own direction."  It was Guercio who convinced the Beach Boys to revamp their live show and add more oldies.  Carl and Dennis had fought to keep the show relevant, but it was an uphill battle. Dennis rather glumly told a reporter in February that the “audiences don’t seem to give the new material much of a chance.  I personally enjoy our old material, but if the audiences gave us a chance I think they would begin to enjoy our more recent releases.”  Everyone in the band, however, was weary of constantly struggling with crowds who only wanted hits.  The practice of playing mainly newer songs in the first half and saving the majority of oldies till the end of the show simply wasn’t working.  Under Guercio, the Beach Boys revamped their stage show to include more of their older songs sprinkled throughout the set. While they still played songs from Holland and Surf’s Up, nostalgia began to play a much larger role in their concerts.

Tuesday April 16, 1974

Long Center, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA (8:00 PM Show)

Wednesday April 17, 1974

Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA-with Steely Dan (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys played on a double bill with the relatively new group Steely Dan. Terry Hazlett of the Observer Reporter noted, “The younger audience enjoyed the new sound of the Beach Boys: ‘California Saga,’ ‘Funky Pretty,’ and ‘The Trader’ but most true fans only applauded politely. However, they, and everyone else, roared when the Boys opened with ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ and almost everyone went hoarse when the Beach Boys spent the entire last half hour reeling off hit after hit, memory after memory.  They did two encores, the crowd could have stayed for twenty!”

Thursday April 18, 1974

Coliseum, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV-with Wet Willy (8:00 PM Show)

Mike Hasch of the Uniontown Morning Herald reported, “They opened the evening with several old favorites which got most of the crowd in the right mood.  Then came several of the newer songs, which I had rarely if ever heard.  To be perfectly honest, the group handled themselves quite well on stage and the performance was excellent…For the next hour and a half, the Wilsons, Love and Company kept a fast paced and smooth-running combination of the old and new…I left the Coliseum with the realization that it was one of the best concerts I’d seen in a while.”  The photo was taken in Youngstown on April 21.

Friday April 19, 1974

Johnson Fieldhouse, Marietta College, Marietta, OH (6:00 PM Show) and St. John’s Arena, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH-with the Talbot Brothers and Steely Dan (8:30 PM Show)

The group performed back-to-back shows.  The photo was taken at the early show in Marietta. The Columbus show was their third straight sold-out concert in three consecutive years at OSU.  The fans eagerly applauded the oldies, though Anne Warner of The Lantern noted it was unfortunate that “the group’s popularity cannot be extended with their current innovations.  Fans are steadfast to songs such as ‘California Girls’ and they make it quite difficult for the group to break the ice to a new image.  In this case, the Beach Boys might do better to elaborate on their old style.”  Cynthia Robins of The Columbus Dispatch argued that the "Problems is, however, that the Beach Boys new material has lost its cutting edge without the fine vocals of Blondie Chaplin, who was among the missing.  Ricky Fataar still plays mean drums and Billy Hinsche had some good moments on piano."

Saturday April 20, 1974

Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI (5:00 PM Show) and Athletic and Convocation Center, Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN-with Stanky Brown (7:30 PM Show)

Despite playing an earlier show in Grand Rapids, the Beach Boys showed no signs of fatigue at Notre Dame, performing a twenty two-song set and two encores.  Although there were problems with the sound system, which made Carl’s vocals on “Long Promised Road” all but inaudible, Jerry Lutkus of The Observer reported that “while they’re onstage, the group has the uncanny talent of making you feel that they’re having a great time entertaining you…The key to it is Mike Love who’s stage personality is nothing short of amazing.  He clowns, he dances and jokes while moving from one end of the stage to the other…Carl Wilson’s voice showed the wear and tear of constant performing and Dennis Wilson gave a little more evidence to the fact that his voice has been going for years, but despite all that, when their voices worked together, there is no better vocal work in the business.”

Sunday April 21, 1974

Morrow Field House, Slippery Rock State College, Slippery Rock, PA (2:00 PM Show) and Beeghley Gym, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, PA-with Henry Gross (8:00 PM Show)

3,000 fans attended this afternoon concert at Slippery Rock (see photo).  Although they were only contracted to play a minimum of one hour, the group performed for more than two.  They were paid $10,000 for the appearance.  Earl Fielder of The Rocket noted, “Those in attendance were presented with a blend of the old and new music of the Beach Boys…The crowd response was slow at first, but reached a feverish pitch by the final half-hour of the concert.”

6,000 fans attended the evening show at Youngstown.  Dennis McEaneny of The Jambar noted that when the group broke into “’Sloop John B’ the crowd rose to its feet and remained standing for the remainder of the scheduled performance: ‘Help Me Rhonda’, ‘Surfin’ USA’ and ‘Good Vibrations.’  They left the stage after ‘Good Vibrations’ but the screaming; clapping, stomping, cheering, clamoring crowd…brought them back for two more encores.  Extended, all stops-out versions of ‘California Girls’, ‘Barbara Ann’, ‘I Get Around’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ closed out the show.”

Thursday May 9, 1974

“An Evening with Salvador Allende”, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY-with Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, Phil Ochs, Dennis Hopper and others

Mike Love accepted an offer to appear at this benefit concert for the friends of Chile without the Beach Boys.  He performed a solo version of “California Girls”, backed by friend Charles Lloyd on flute and John McLaughlin on guitar, before an audience of about 4,600 people.  Tom Weir of the Oakland Tribune noted that the crowd “most of which had the seriousness of South American politics on its mind”, hissed and booed during the song.  Mike told Weir that Bob Dylan cheered him up when he went backstage by drinking a glass of wine with him.  Mike, who by 1974 was a virtual teetotaler, acknowledged that he was “probably the only person ever to think twice about accepting anything offered by Bob Dylan.”  It should be noted that the audio tapes that exist do not back up Weir's statement.  Mike appeared to be received very well.  Perhaps the people near Weir booed.  Mike’s appearance at the event was filmed and a portion of the footage was aired by NBC News later in the year when they were discussing the success of Endless Summer.

Saturday May 11, 1974

Millett Hall, Miami University, Oxford, OH (7:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys began a string of low-key Midwest dates.  The musical personnel remained the same as the April tour, except with Ed Carter in place of Jim Guercio on bass.  Once again, Billy Hinsche had his porta-pak movie camera with him.  The Miami University show attracted over 8,000 fans.  John Fisher of the Miami Student declared the group “good but not great” and argued that while they did “demonstrate some impressive harmonies and vocals” the “clean tight sound they used to have just wasn’t there.  The awful sound system could very well have been responsible for the whole thing, but voices do change over the years.”

Sunday May 12, 1974

Sports Arena, Toledo, OH (7:30 PM Show)

Prior to this night’s concert, Billy Hinsche filmed “The Match”, a highly charged backgammon game between Dennis and Carli Munoz with Ricky Fataar supplying color commentary and Billy and Bobby Figueroa acting as “coaches.”

Monday May 13, 1974

Physical Education Center, Wooster College, Wooster, OH-with the Apple Butter Band (8:00 PM Show)

A paltry 966 students attended this show.  The promoter blamed the low attendance on the change of date for the show.  The concert had originally been scheduled for May 12.  The photo was taken by Ed Roach but on a different day in May.

Tuesday May 14, 1974

Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL

Mick Kitterman and Sue Stepek reviewed the BBs concert in Macomb for The Catalyst and noted, “The uniqueness of their ‘surf-sound’ is still there, causing every bit as much excitement now as it did then. Fast rhythms and sing-songy lyrics and melodies, such as Wouldn’t It Be Nice, abound.  The only noticeable flaw is the high notes in songs such as Help Me Rhonda and Good Vibrations, which aren’t as clear as they used to be.  The Beach Boys mingled their new song with the older ones. Several selections were made from their most popular later albums, ‘Funky Critter (Funky Pretty)’, ‘Sail On Sailor’ and Marcella were also included.  One of the better new songs was ‘Water” (California Saga).  This was a country type number that showed what the Beach Boys termed ‘their fondness for California.’ Although they are writing some nice music these days, it went virtually unappreciated compared to all the standards such as Little Deuce Coupe and Little Surfer Girl…We Got Love, a new song, was well received but even then the applause was interspersed with pleas for California Girls and Barbara Ann.”

Wednesday May 15, 1974

Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO-with Henry Gross (8:00 PM)

A show was scheduled at Kent State but it was canceled and the group played in Kansas City instead.  Nancy Ball of the Kansas City Times noted that it took time for the crowd to build up enthusiasm.  She blamed the “sheer number of men on the stage” for the tepid response in the first half, noting that it led “to a good deal of confusion as to just who was playing what, and the horrendous back echoes of the arena played havoc with the delicately balanced vocal and instrumental harmonies.”

Thursday May 16, 1974

Southern Illinois University Arena, Carbondale, IL-with Henry Gross (8:00 PM Show)

Jimmy Dean of the Southern Illinoisan called this concert “unbelievably fantastic...Two encores to such greats as ‘Barbara Ann’ and ‘Good Vibrations’ and others had people standing in aisles and chairs for the final 45 minutes.  The first part of the two-hour concert had the Beach Boys playing some of their more recent tunes that didn’t quite hit it off as well with the good-sized crowd.  But once the nostalgia started, the Arena was filled with clapping hand and singing right along.”

Friday May 17, 1974

Louisville Downs, Louisville, KY-with Earl Scruggs Revue (8:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys played on a double bill with bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs.  John Christensen of the Louisville Times noted, “By every known critical standard, the Beach Boys were a bust last night.  They were frequently off-key, stuck on old material and sounded like your car radio would have eight years ago without commercials. In other words, they were great!  That was the obvious verdict of around 10,000-people who ignored the threats of rain and crossed a picket line to hear the Beach Boys and the Earl Scruggs Revue at Louisville Downs.  As double attractions go, it was the best around here in a long time. …Much has been made of the Beach Boys development and maturity…too much, really, for their strength is still their ability to evoke the sunny Sixties.  And their best music, when they finally get into it as they did last night, is still the older music which they have filled out by adding five members to the band.”

Saturday May 18, 1974

Jenison Fieldhouse, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI-with Henry Gross (8:00 PM Show)

Dan Riddle of the Michigan Daily reported that the group “wowed the Jenison crowd with everything from ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ to ‘Barbara Ann’ and worked in several more introspective songs from recent albums…But the most fun of all was ‘I Get Around’ at the end of the regular set.  As Mike Love and Dennis Wilson danced side by side a woman in a green sweater leaped on the stage to join them.  But it only lasted for a few seconds.  Love motioned to the guards who pulled the woman from the stage while the Beach Boys sang, ‘You leave your best girl home on a Saturday night.’” Riddle did not mention the surprise appearance of the Byrds founder Roger McGuinn, who was playing at a club called The Stables nearby.  Dave DiMartino of the Michigan State News noted, "McGuinn rushed over between sets at the Stables and performed 'Draggin' a composition from his first album that pokes fun at the Beach Boys unimitable vocal style.  Though arrangement were hastily thrown together, and partially improvised, it was impressive to see both musical greats performing together. McGuinn obligingly stayed onstage for two more tunes, than headed back to work at the Stables."

Sunday May 19, 1974

“Joliet Jam”, Joliet Memorial Football Stadium, Joliet, IL-with Bachman Turner Overdrive, the New Colony Six, Henry Gross, Fresh Start and Fast Eddie (1:00 PM Show)

Billy Hinsche filmed this large outdoor concert event, as well as a photo session that took place prior to it.  The photo I used was taken that day by Ed Roach. The group was scheduled to play a gig on Monday in Indianapolis, but it was canceled and they flew home after the Joliet concert.

Saturday June 8, 1974

Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA-with the Grateful Dead, Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen and the New Riders of the Purple Sage (9:00 AM to 7:00 PM Show)

The group arrived late for this event, forcing them to cut short their set.  The San Francisco Chronicle noted, “Promoter Bill Graham barely concealed his ire.”  Bobby Figueroa recalled, “Dennis was late.  We couldn’t find him and we were set to go on.  Bill Graham said, ‘Ok Beach Boys it’s time to go on.’  But we couldn’t find Dennis.  So then at the last minute he came cruising in as if nothing had happened.  It drove Bill Graham bananas.  We finally did the show but Bill was just beside himself.  Later I appeared with him in the movie Bugsy and we were talking about it.  He said, ‘That Dennis drove me crazy!’  The funny thing was that the next time we played for him we each we’re given these wardrobe cases and on each case there was a clock, like you’d find on a wall of an office building.  When we were making the movie I said, ‘so did you give us those clocks because of Dennis?’  And he said, ‘Yep!’”

The group went on just prior to the Grateful Dead, playing before a crowd estimated at over 30,000.  In addition to the hits, they did songs from Holland including “Funky Pretty,” “The Trader’ and part of “California Saga.”  Pete Cowan of the Oakland Tribune reported, “Love and Carl Wilson did most of the lead vocals, with Al Jardine and Dennis Wilson helping out on backup.  No longer the group’s drummer, Dennis played keyboards at times.  For an encore they did ‘California Girls’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ which seemed to be their motto from the start.”

Thursday June 13, 1974

Civic Center, Providence, RI-with Kiki Dee (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys began a short tour of the northeast with English singer Kiki Dee, who'd scored a hit the previous year with Amoureuse and would soon chart even higher with I've Got the Music In Me. Musicians that played with the Beach Boys on this ten-day tour included Carli Munoz, Billy Hinsche and Bobby Figueroa.  The Beach Boys now traveled with rattan furniture and plants, which a roadie would set up on the stage. Ty Davis of the Providence Journal declared that the group “seemed to be in as good a form as I’ve heard them in the last five years.  They maintained a good mix between their oldies, their recent popular stuff and their lesser-known material.  The crowd liked it all.  However, the oldies got the screams and the loudest cheers.”  The photo was taken of Dennis on June 8 in Oakland.

Friday June 14, 1974

Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY-with Kiki Dee (8:00 PM Show)

This show was broadcast on radio.  The set list consisted of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sail On Sailor,” “Funky Pretty,” “Marcella,” “California,” “We Got Love,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Trader,” “All This Is That,” “Feel Flows,” “Surfer Girl,” “God Only Knows,” “Heroes and Villains,” “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Sloop John B,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls,” “Barbara Ann,” “Surfin USA,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.”  Both Paul Simon and Elton John made surprise guest appearances during the Beach Boys set.  Elton came out during “Barbara Ann” and remained onstage until the end of the show.  Paul Simon came out for the closing number “Fun, Fun, Fun.”  The photo is 1974 but probably not this show.

Saturday June 15, 1974

Yale Bowl, Yale University, New Haven, CT-with Kiki Dee (8:00 PM Show)

Over 7,000 fans attended this concert.  The jaded reviewer from the New Haven Journal Courier argued that, "The musical quality of Beach Boys renditions does not live up to the enthusiasm their appearance generates, however.  In a number of instances, Help Me Rhonda and Good Vibrations for example, they showed that they no longer can reach the high notes but cleverly covered up by asking for audience participation. The audience carried the high notes and everybody had a good time."

Sunday June 16, 1974

Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga, NY-with Kiki Dee (7:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys performed before 15,000 people on a rainy, humid night.  Nancy Curran of the Schenectady Gazette noted that they had “learned” from their 1973 appearance in Saratoga, where fans demonstrated distaste for the new material and made clear their desire for “oldies.”  Although they opened with a few numbers from Holland, “they finally returned to the days of yesteryear with a barrage of their hits that kept the crowds in their thrall.  ‘Do I like it?  It’s the first song I ever danced to’ one fan crowed about ‘Surfer Girl’ and ‘1961 what a year!’”

Tuesday June 18 and Wednesday June 19, 1974

Cape Cod Coliseum, South Yarmouth, MA-with Kiki Dee

The group was one of the first acts to play at this 7,200-seat venue on Cape Cod. Peter Herbst of the Boston Phoenix noted, “The Beach Boys packed the Coliseum for two nights and during the show I caught, the audience was as enthusiastic as any I’ve seen in years.  The demand for the two encores was not a mere matter of form but was genuinely felt.” He singled out Carl for appreciation, noting “His quiet dignity and restrained but elegant singing and musicianship suggest a performer less attuned to the crowds then to the music.  His singing on “The Trader” and ‘God Only Knows’ among others, was beautiful, full of nuance and feeling, but it was also introspective, sung for his and the other members’ enjoyment. Amid all the oldies, that sensibility now pervades the performance of the Beach Boys. They also know who they are as a band: a vocal group set against rock instrumentation.”

Thursday June 20, 1974

Bangor Auditorium, Bangor, ME-with the Apple Butter Band (8:00 PM Show)

The photo of the BBs on the road is probably 1974 but not this specific date

Friday June 21, 1974

Civic Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada (8:00 PM Show)

This show was attended by almost 14,000 people.  Bill Provick of the Ottawa Citizen was almost deafened by the applause that washed over the Civic Centre when the group took the stage.  He commented, “Unfortunately, the sound was sometimes atrocious especially in the early parts of the show.  The lead vocals and accompanying harmony-a trademark- were embarrassingly bad at times with Dennis Wilson’s rendition of ‘Help Me Rhonda’ still the worst example…The crowd… demanded nostalgia, got it and left extremely happy.  The Beach Boys remained trapped within their early charisma.”

Saturday June 22, 1974

Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY-with the Apple Butter Band (8:00 PM Show)

The Binghamton Press reviewer was underwhelmed by the concert and argued most of the crowd was as well.  However, a fan wrote into the paper on July 1 to vigorously disagree.  She noted that, "The Beach Boys were fantastic and so was their music...When one of the Beach Boys said we can stand and dance (the cops wouldn't let us earlier), you better believe the crowd got up and danced. People rushed to the stage and started dancing and even singing...I never saw a crowd go so wild before....The writer also said that 'the group lacked both unity and spirit.' This also is not true.  If they didn't have unity and spirit, people wouldn't clap or dance."

Sunday June 23, 1974

“World Series of Rock”, Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, OH-with Joe Walsh and Barnstorm, REO Speedwagon and Lynyrd Skynyrd (2:00 PM Show)

This tour ending show at the baseball stadium, produced by radio station WMMS and Belkin Productions, was attended by approximately 40,000 people.

Tuesday July 9, 1974

Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA-with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Jesse Colin Young (8:00 PM Show)

At James Guercio’s suggestion, the band also sought to broaden their audience by accepting the position of opening act for super group Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.  Bill Graham was promoting their massive 1974 concert tour.  Graham had once scorned the Beach Boys, but had since become a supporter.  Chip Rachlin approached his old boss and recalled, “Bill Graham went to the mat for the Beach Boys and convinced Crosby, Stills and Nash.  The CSN camp was pretty much hipper than thou and (didn’t want them) …but Bill was an advocate for it.”  As a result, the group opened for CSNY at eight highly publicized concerts over the summer.  The tour put them back in front of huge stadium crowds that had not been exposed to their exciting live show.  As Rachlin said, “These were the moves that you did to make them not simply an oldies-act but to make them relevant.” The strategy worked.  Even if reviewers sometimes overlooked them, the fans were blown away.  “They did a little less than an hour because CSNY wouldn’t let them do more than that.  It was all greatest hits.  And it was unbelievable.  I had never seen them received like this by a crowd and I remember saying to myself ‘Hah!  Let Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young follow this!’”  Even if the crowd wasn’t really there to see them, the Beach Boys got their message across.

More than 15,500 fans attended the opening date of the much-hyped CSNY reunion tour.  The Beach Boys were not the main event for the audience.  Nevertheless, Bobby Figueroa recalled, “That was a fun tour for me because I was getting to see up close these icons of the sixties movement.  And what a great show it was to have both these great bands playing together.  The crowds were really warming to us.  You’d hear people saying, ‘Oh wow I love ‘Don’t Worry Baby.’  So I think people were starting to wake back up to the Beach Boys at that time.” The tour coincided with Capitol’s decision to release a double album of classic Beach Boys hits titled Endless Summer.  The album was released in July 1974 and to the surprise of the entire music industry it rose all the way to number one on the Billboard charts.  The group’s initial complaints about packaging and song selection were silenced by the exciting Billboard statistics reflecting the LP’s massive sales across the U.S.  The success of Endless Summer provided clear evidence that the Beach Boys’ audience wanted oldies.  The direction that Jim Guercio had instinctually taken the group in was proven to be prescient.  As Mike said “We determine what we play by the response it gets from the public and with the success of things like Endless Summer, that material seems to be what’s most in demand.”  While Dennis and Carl privately fretted about becoming a singing jukebox of ancient hits, the band publicly embraced their old songs.  A number one album gave the group a whole new audience that was eager to hear them live.

Friday July 19, 1974

Royals Stadium, Kansas City, MO-with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Jesse Colin Young (6:30 PM Show)

The group opened for CSNY but many people left the stadium exclaiming that the Beach Boys stole the show.  The Kansas City Times noted, “The crowd’s biggest reaction was saved for the Beach Boys, stars of the middle 1960s.  The group was called back for an encore after performing for an hour and a half.  Standing ovations followed each of the group’s three encore numbers, including golden oldies, ‘Surfer Girl’ and ‘Good Vibrations.’”  Bobby Figueroa agreed with reviewers that CSNY made a tactical mistake in letting the Beach Boys open for them.  “I mean how do you follow an hour and a half of nothing but hit songs.  The crowd would go wild every time we started a new number.”  The photo is probably from July 31.

Sunday July 21, 1974

County Stadium, Milwaukee, WI-with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Jesse Colin Young (12:00 PM Show)

A massive crowd of 52,000 turned out for this concert, simulcast on WQFM.  Once again, despite preceding CSNY, the group made a strong impression.  Damien Jacques of the Milwaukee Journal reported “After doing several sections from their fairly recent Holland album, they moved into a string of their old hits that brought the memories surging back.  It was like a recitation of the No. 1 hits of the last decade.  ‘Little Deuce Coupe’, ‘Don’t Worry Baby’, ‘Surfer Girl’, ‘I Get Around’, ‘Surfin’ USA’ and ‘Good Vibrations’ were played one after another.  By the time the group got to ‘Barbara Ann’ the audience was dancing, clapping in unison and singing along.”

Thursday July 25, 1974

Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO-with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Jesse Colin Young (8:30 PM Show)

This massive show was scheduled to begin at 6 PM but Jesse Colin Young actually took the stage at 5:15 PM.  The Beach Boys followed him as the sun was setting and CSNY came out at 9 PM.  Tony Reilly of the Fourth Estate was impressed by the Beach Boys: “After all these years, they can still sing like they did when they started out in southern California.  Of course, I am sure they would rather have people going crazy over their new material from the Holland album, but they are resigned to the fact that crowds are always going to be demanding ‘Be True to Your School’ instead of ‘Funky Pretty.’ It’s a little sad but basically, they still put out the best sounds of any group around.”

Saturday July 27, 1974

Oklahoma Jam, All Sports Stadium, Oklahoma City-with Leon Russell and the Gap Band, Elvin Bishop, Trapeze, Babe Ruth and Isis (2:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys took a break from opening for CSNY to play this afternoon concert. Over 13,000 fans turned out for the all-day event organized by Oklahoma native son Leon Russell.

Sunday July 28, 1974

Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, TX-with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Jesse Colin Young (4:00 PM Show)

With over 50,000 in attendance, the CSNY show at Jeppesen was more of an event than a concert.  The Beach Boys proved a tough act to follow.  Bob Claypool of the Houston Post reported, “The Beach Boys came on full of zippy surf harmonies that came across tight and bright in the still blistering sunlight.  The Boys ran through a big chunk of past triumphs-most of which came from the pre-psychedelic sun and surf era.  It seemed to be what the crowd wanted most-‘Little Deuce Coupe,’ ‘Little Surfer Girl’, ‘I Get Around’ and others-occasionally balanced by newer things, such as the Love-Jardine Transcendental Meditation tribute, ‘All This Is That.’”

Wednesday July 31, 1974

Texas Stadium, Irving, TX-with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and Jesse Colin Young (6:00 PM Show)

Over 32,000 fans attended this show.  Susan Barton of the Dallas Times Herald reported that the Beach Boys “had almost everybody up and dancing 1974 dances to their lighthearted, bouncy tunes depicting sunshine, convertibles and California girls.  It has been a long time, in fact, since a group has caused such a rocking reaction to its music.”

Friday August 23, 1974

Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ-with the Eagles (8:00 PM Show)

The group launched a ten-day tour with Carli Munoz on piano, Billy Hinsche on keyboards, Jim Guercio on bass and Ross Salamone, formerly of the band Madura, and Robert Kenyatta on extra percussion.  This was Ricky Fataar’s last tour as official Beach Boys drummer. While oldies definitely outnumbered post 1970 songs, the band still played “Sail on Sailor” (with Billy Hinsche on lead), “Long Promised Road”, “California”, “Marcella”, “All This Is That”, and “Feel Flows” on this tour.  Ricky Fataar sang his usual lead on “We Got Love” as well.  The photo was taken around this time.

Saturday August 24, 1974

Capital Centre, Largo, MD-with the Marshall Tucker Band (8:00 PM Show)

By August 1974 the Beach Boys were regularly selling out much larger venues than they had in sometime.  For example, over 22,000 fans turned out for their show in Toronto on August 28.  As Dennis noted “There was a time when it was uncool to be into the Beach Boys.   Somehow the Beach Boys didn’t fit at one period, but now…well, I guess were just fitting again.  It’s not uncool to like the Beach Boys anymore.”  Road manager Rick Nelson argued that the group was having a renewed popularity because “the show is totally happy.  I’ve never seen a down show.  Night after night it’s up, up, up.  The music is a positive creative force…and people are ready for that these days.  People need it or enjoy it or are looking for it.”  Mike credited the group’s “hard work and determination” for the change in fortunes.  He told Melody Maker that, “Over the last few years we’ve reached maybe a half million people who weren’t aware of the Beach Boys as a 13-year entity.  Our concerts have got better and better and I think the new audiences and record buyers from 12-20 are now becoming aware.”

Many reviewers were struck by the young age of the fans that turned out for the Beach Boys’ concerts.  Jack Reiley’s strategy of constantly touring and performing for college audiences had created a second generation of fans, most of whom were too young to recall when “Little Deuce Coupe” was a new song.  Quite a number of reviewers were dumbfounded that young people would embrace “surf” music, but as Scott MacRae of the Vancouver Sun noted, the Beach Boys gave people a chance to forget the problems of today and “reflect that it might be fun to be an adolescent, if the biggest concern was that Daddy would take the T-Bird away.”  The photo was probably taken on July 31 in Dallas.

Sunday August 25, 1974

Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, VA-with the Marshall Tucker Band and the Eagles (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys played for 8,000 fans. The South Carolina based Marshall Tucker Band and rising stars the Eagles started off the show and as a result the BBs did not take the stage till close to midnight.  However, they still played a 23-song set that included three encores.  Joseph Phillips of the Virginian Pilot noted, “There was music for almost everyone.  The surfers found theirs in such hits as Surfer Girl and Surfin USA. The car gang had Little Deuce Coupe. The unhappy in love, Help Me Rhonda and the happy Barbara Ann. Transcendentalist Mike Love, famous for his satirical humor, kept the light chatter flowing well during the show. But special mention must be made of the superb performance of Carl Wilson on the mellow Feel Flows…Carl’s electric piano work and vocals were a highlight of the show. He was given brilliant backing on the tune by faint conga rhythms in the background, electric organ frittering and wild outbursts on the Moog-synthesizer. He followed this up with a haunting melody ‘All This Is That’…Carl was also brilliant on Long Promised Road, also off the Surf’s Up album.”

Monday August 26, 1974

Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA-with the Marshall Tucker Band (8:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys Roanoke appearance attracted 3,996-fans.  Reviewer Donna Shoemaker of the Roanoke Times knew little of the group's history (she thought the Beach Boys 1969 single I Can Hear Music was a new release) but repeated the usual tired refrain: "In their relaxed high-voiced style, they served up large quantities of a music that requires little of the listener except to listen and dance to the simple lyrics and tunes.  Songs such as Little Deuce Coupe, I get Around and Fun, Fun, Fun brought the crowd in the center section to its feet, as they stood on the chairs and cheered.  The Beach Boys voyages into less familiar music were greeted with restrained applause.  The audience wasn't quite sure how to take those California kids talking about their experiences in transcendental meditation, as in All This Is That."

Wednesday August 28, 1974

CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON, Canada-with Bachman Turner Overdrive

Over 22,000 fans attended this concert.  Lawrence O’Toole of the Toronto Globe argued that the clear harmony on their records was lost by the need to play to a stadium of rowdy fans.  He commented, “The Beach Boys…have also juiced up their instruments to jump well over the lyrics (and some of their later lyrics are good stuff.)…The heavier beat destroys that lovely, almost diaphanous quality songs like I Get Around and Do It Again once had.  There was a basic innocence at the core which drew you back into hazy, summer days.”

Thursday August 29, 1974

Ohio State Fair, Columbus, OH (Two shows at 4:30 and 8:30 PM)

The group’s equipment truck broke down and they were forced to use the Fair’s existing sound system.  Despite pouring rain and sound problems Cynthia Robins of the Columbus Dispatch reported that the crowd of roughly 23,000 “pulled a mini-Woodstock (and) grooved on very, very good vibrations and enjoyed a newer, tighter, cooking group of musicians.”  Robins argued the band was better than they’d been when they last played Columbus in April and gave credit to the addition of drummer Ross Salamone, who played in tandem with Ricky Fataar.  The set list for the second show consisted of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “California”, “Marcella”, “We Got Love”, “Do It Again”, “I Can Hear Music”, “Little Deuce Coupe”, “Long Promised Road”, “Sail On Sailor”, “The Trader”, “Feel Flows”, “All This is That”, “Sloop John B”, “Surfer Girl”, “Heroes and Villains”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “I Get Around”, “Fun, Fun, Fun”, “Good Vibrations”, “California Girls”, “Barbara Ann” and “Surfin’ USA.”

Saturday August 31, 1974

Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI (7:30 PM Show)

The Beach Boys were supposed to appear at Pocono International Raceway in Long Pond, PA-with the Allman Brothers, Edgar Winter, the Marshall Tucker Band and Duke Williams and the Extremes but the show was canceled and instead the group flew to Michigan to appear at Pine Knob.  This concert was added after two other scheduled dates at the venue on September 2 and 3 sold out. Eric Mobey of the Oxford Leader reported, “At Pine Knob on August 31, the Beach Boys had the audience clapping, dancing and singing along throughout the performance.  The band is much larger now, with six musicians backing up the four original members…The sound is much louder and perhaps even better despite some difficulty with the sound system.  They started out the evening with Wouldn’t It Be Nice and soon were deep into more familiar tunes such as Little Deuce Coupe and Fun, Fun, Fun. As the crowd shouted out requests, the band told them to sit tight because they would be there a long time but I must admit it went awfully fast.  The stand out songs of the evening were Sloop John B, I Get Around and a couple of their newer songs like Do It Again and a great Sail on Sailor.” The photo is from 1974 but may not be this date.

Sunday September 1, 1974

Assembly Hall, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana-with Kansas and the Eagles (1:00 PM Show)

This concert was scheduled to take place at the outdoor 10th Street Stadium but monsoon conditions forced it indoors.  The last minute switch led to technical problems at the concert, but the crowd of roughly 12,000 was well behaved.  Peter Kaufman of the Indiana Daily Student noted that the new songs interspersed throughout the first half of the concert “received a polite but token reception” but when the group played older numbers “the crowd was ecstatic: from ‘Sloop John B’ through ‘Surfer Girl’, ‘Help Me Rhonda’, ‘I Get Around’, ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ and ‘Good Vibrations’ the crowd loved it all.  Then the encores ‘California Girls’, ‘Barbara Ann’ and “Surfing USA’ and the Beach Boys 75 minute set was over.  And if the vocals occasionally wandered and the harmony was a little ragged here and there, nobody seemed to mind.  It was too exhilarating to mind.”

Monday September 2 and Tuesday September 3, 1974

Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, MI (One show each night at 7:30 PM)

The Tuesday show took place on Al’s birthday and the joyous crowd of 10,300 sang to him when he came onstage.  John Weisman of the Detroit Free Press reported, “While some of the group’s subtleties were lost Tuesday night because of their Leviathan sound system, the Beach Boys, backed by a group that included James William Guercio on bass, showed the audience exactly the kind of good time it had expected all along.  They are still at the top of their form-something not many other pop groups can claim after having been on the concert and recording trail for more than a decade.”

Sunday September 8, 1974

Roosevelt Raceway, Westbury, NY-with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Joni Mitchell, Tom Scott and the LA Express and Jesse Colin Young (1:00 PM Show)

The group opened for CSNY one last time at this eleven-hour event, attended by close to 80,000 people.  The Raceway was owned by Madison Square Garden, which organized the show with Bill Graham.  The Beach Boys took the stage at 2 PM and quickly won over the crowd.  They played “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sloop John B,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Surfing USA,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.”  According to the Stony Brook Statesman, “The sound of the Beach Boys brought back memories of surfing and hot rods, scenes typical of the early 60’s and the crowd responded wildly.”  Dave Marsh of Rolling Stone Magazine stated that they were "as good as I've ever heard them."

It is probable that this was Ricky Fataar’s last concert.  He made the decision to move on in October and was offered a job with Joe Walsh. His departure was apparently amicable but it should be noted that in 2018 an exchange took place on Facebook in which a poster asked Carli Munoz about whether Ricky had left due to racist comments from some band members and management.  Munoz stated “I can only speculate for this to be a true statement and only by observation. But still, speculative.  There was always resistance from expected sources for brown Beach Boys.” Kevin Michaels than chimed in and stated, “I was in the studio in September/October 1974 and Ricky said he quit right in front of me (because of the racism). I was totally floored. I could not believe it.” Although it has been previously suggested in print that his last show was in December, keyboardist Ron Altbach confirmed that Ricky was already gone when he joined the Beach Boys backing band in November.  Bobby Figueroa commented, “He was a fantastic drummer…Watching him play really helped me a lot.  He was a great guy and his drumming style was really cool.  I liked it a lot.”

Tuesday November 12, 1974

Niagara Falls International Convention Center, Niagara Falls, NY-with the Raspberries

With little recording going on, band members pursued their own interests off the road.  Most of Mike’s free time was taken up by meditation.  Al shared his passion for TM and it brought the two closer together during this period.  However, TM alienated them from the Wilsons, whose devotion to meditation had lagged.  Mike believed that it gave him the strength to resist the temptations of the road and grew increasingly impatient with the self-indulgent lifestyles of his cousins.  Due to his disgust and sadness over seeing Brian’s drug-related deterioration, Mike had grown intolerant of recreational drug use and drinking.  The Wilsons on the other hand were irritated by Mike’s judgmental attitude and rigid sobriety.  As Chip Rachlin commented, “They were so splintered…Dennis and Carl Wilson were on one path and Mike Love was on another.  The only place they saw each other was occasionally at a board room or else on the road.”

10, 300 fans attended the opening date of the fall tour.  The group added a number of older songs to the set that they hadn’t performed in years, including “I Can Hear Music”, “Warmth of the Sun”,  “In My Room”, “Catch a Wave” and “I’m Waiting For the Day” (sung by Billy Hinsche).  David Pollack of the Niagara Falls Gazette reported, “The Beach Boys obliged everyone in a 90 minute set that featured all the biggies: ‘Good Vibrations’, ‘Heroes and Villains’, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, ‘California Girls’, ‘Barbara Ann’ ad infinitum.  They have the wisdom to play the music at its face value and have fun with it.”The concert was notable for a number of reasons.  Firstly, it marked Dennis’s return to the drum kit after a three-year absence.  Secondly, it marked the return of Bobby Figueroa, who would become a group mainstay, to handle extra percussion.  Thirdly, Ron Altbach was added to the group, joining Billy Hinsche and Carli Munoz on piano and keyboards.  He also played sleigh bells on “Don’t Worry Baby.”

Altbach was a TM devotee and had been recruited by Mike, whom he’d met the previous year.  He visited the band when they were in Toronto in late August and was not exactly made welcome.  He recalled, “I saw Carl in the lobby.  I walked up to him and said ‘hi’ and that Mike had invited me to come over because I was going to join the band and Carl said basically ‘Go fuck yourself’ and walked away."  Carl considered himself the de facto bandleader and felt that hiring musicians was his job, not Mike’s.  He viewed Altbach with distrust as part of the “meditating” contingent.  After that frosty reception, Altbach decided the gig was not going to happen.  He recalled that after he returned home, “I didn’t hear anything about any Beach Boys stuff.  I made a decision to go to Fairfield, Iowa and be one of the initial faculty members at the newly opening Maharishi International University…I stayed about a month or so and then Maharishi sent a message saying I was invited to come to Switzerland and join him and then go with him and a group of about 50 people to Nepal to teach thousands of people TM.  So I packed up again and went to Switzerland.  But literally within hours of arriving there, I got a call from Rick Nelson who asked why I wasn’t at Caribou Ranch rehearsing for the tour that was starting in less than a week.  So after about an hour of soul searching, I got a flight back to the U.S. and went to Caribou, where the rehearsals were finished.  Carl was there and grudgingly took me through the set and told me what to play on what songs.”

His first show did not go well.  He recalled, “I had been with my own band King Harvest through college, through a few years in Paris, through having a big hit (“Dancing in the Moonlight”) and touring, and we always wore whatever, jeans, etc. But, when I showed up on stage in a tee shirt, Carl was fuming.  And, after the show he attacked me verbally, saying I had rushed the little Theremin part I played on ‘Good Vibrations’ and that I had played out of tune on another that required accuracy in some other place.  Al was standing with me and in fact reminded me a couple of months ago of what I said to Carl, which was, ‘I have forgotten more about music than you have learned, Carl, but it’s your band, so if you want to fire me, this would be a good time to do it.’  Unfortunately, that set the tone.  I was clearly marked as being in the meditator contingent and while I know Carl was a gentle and sweet man and a beautiful singer, we just never hit it off.”

Wednesday November 13, 1974

Heiges Field House, Shippensburg State College, Shippensburg, PA-with the Raspberries (8:00 PM Show)

Dick Klotzman promoted this show and the previous night’s concert in Niagara Falls.  Chip Rachlin recalled that Klotzman “was a colorful character…who paid no attention to the terms of the contracts that we signed.”  He had promised to pay $68,000 for the Beach Boys but tried at the last minute to proffer $54,000 instead since he had not sold higher priced reserve seating tickets.  Rachlin played hardball and forced him to cough up the cash they had agreed on.  However, when he came up to Niagara Falls, Rachlin received quite a surprise.  “I stopped by the sound check and he had printed up these bright yellow t-shirts with the Beach Boys logo (of an American Indian on a horse) on the front and on the back of the t-shirt he wrote ‘Who is Chip Rachlin?’  He printed up 200 of these shirts and had security guards, ushers, anyone he could get wearing them.  So when we did the settlement, I said ‘how much were the t-shirts?’ and he said ‘200 dollars’ and I said they’re a legitimate tour expense so you don’t owe me 60% of that 200!”

Thursday November 14 and Friday November 15, 1974

Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA-with Billy Cobham (Thursday only) and Roger McGuinn (Friday only)

The group was only scheduled to play Thursday, but a Friday show was added due to demand.  Matt Damsker of the Evening Bulletin reported that the group was “all in good form and voice, deftly triggering a super-charged, joyous, sing-along-clap-along audience with a shower of surf anthems.  Unquestionably it was the older songs-‘I Get Around,’ ‘Little Deuce Coupe,’ ‘Surfer Girl,’ among countless others-in their soul-of-wit brevity and with their soaring doo-wahs and mid-range ba-ba-ba-bahs, which drove the crowd to wild heights.  Indeed, those tunes are the classics-archetypal, sublimely melodic, infectious now as ever.”

Saturday November 16, 1974

Jadwin Gym, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ-with Roger McGuinn (8:00 PM Show)

The group’s third appearance at Princeton attracted 8,000 people.  The Daily Princetonian reported that the “vibrations” caused by the crowd’s exuberant dancing loosened the beams in the gym and caused damage.  As a result, they banned further concerts there.

Sunday November 17, 1974

Civic Center, Springfield, MA-with Roger McGuinn (8:00 PM Show)

A capacity crowd of 10,000 people attended this concert standing or sitting “wherever there was an inch of space in the auditorium” and 36 Springfield police were required to get them under control.  Fans were thrilled to see Dennis back pounding out the beat and he seemed happy to play a more central role on stage then he had in recent years.  Rick Nelson argued, “The greatest thing that ever happened for Dennis was to get back with playing drums.  His whole attitude changed; he really felt vital to the group again.”  The photo is 1974 but may not be this date.

Monday November 18, 1974

Syracuse War Memorial, Syracuse, NY-with Roger McGuinn (8:00 PM Show)

9,000 fans attended this show.  Andrew Reschke of the Syracuse Herald Journal reported, “the harmony which has been a trademark of the Beach Boys for many years has never sounded better.  The distinctive blend of voices on which many of the younger members of the audience have been weaned since they were toddlers, is as pure and delicate as ever. …There was a polished quality to their performance one that has been perfected in their dozen or so years in rock music, and they know what their fans want.”

Tuesday November 19, 1974

Pucillo Gym, Millersville State College, Millersville, PA (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys charged the Millersville concert committee $15,000 to appear.  The fee included a $4000 charge for miscellaneous expenses, such as wages for work crews and advertising.

Wednesday November 20, 1974

Patrick Gym, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

The Raspberries were originally scheduled to open and the Beach Boys planned on only playing one 60-minute set, but the University paid an extra $500 to get them to play two sets with no opening act.  The group was promised $15,000 plus 60 percent of any gate over $22,000.  The University made $26,000 from the show.  Thus, the group ended up netting $17,400.

Carlo Wolff of the Burlington Free Press noted that the 5000 fans “cheered the Beach Boys every time they swung into one of their hits, golden oldies like ‘Little Deuce Coupe’, ‘Surfin’ USA’, ‘Help Me Rhonda.’  And their more complex songs like ‘Heroes and Villains’, ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘Waiting for the Day’ came across with a power not usually associated with the group…Even though the Beach Boys didn’t play any new material, it all sounded fresh…It felt like the group has finally caught up with its past and is ready to come out with new material after a pause of nearly two and a half years.”

Thursday November 21, 1974

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY-with Roger McGuinn

Despite heavy promotion, this appearance was not a sellout.  Nevertheless, Fred Kirby of Variety reported, “Spirits were high onstage and offstage at Madison Square Garden Thursday as the happy surf-rock of the Beach Boys permeated the arena.  The Coast combo spiced their full set and encores with many tunes they’ve never before done live plus some, such as ‘In My Room,’ their first encore, which they haven’t done locally for about ten years. The crowd was good in its response too, as auditors had the floors vibrating for such later encore oldies as ‘Help Me Rhonda’, ‘California Girls’ and ‘Surfin’ USA.’”  Mike Love referred to this show in a conversation he had with reporter Roy Carr as the moment that he knew things were changing for the better for the Beach Boys and that they were indeed being embraced by a new audience.  A young girl ran up to the stage as they were beginning their encores and yelled out “Please play ‘Surfin Safari.’ I can tell you I was not only stunned but a little worried.  I could have understood if she’d called out for a song off Holland but she was no more than ten years old and there she was asking for us to play our very first national hit which we recorded at least two years before she was even born!”

Friday November 22, 1974

Baltimore Civic Center, Baltimore, MD-with the Raspberries (8:00 PM Show)

Saturday November 23, 1974

Boston Garden, Boston, MA-with John Sebastian (Two shows at 6:00 and 9:00 PM)

The Beach Boys sold out the Boston Garden necessitating a 6:00 PM show being added.  The set list for the first show consisted of “I Can Hear Music”, “Marcella”, “Little Deuce Coupe”, “Do It Again”, “The Warmth of the Sun”, “Sail On Sailor”, “Surfer Girl”, “Heroes and Villains”, “Darlin’”, “God Only Knows”, “Don’t Worry Baby”, “Sloop John B”, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “I Get Around”, “Good Vibrations” and encores of “In My Room”, “Help Me Rhonda” and “California Girls.”

Following this concert, the band returned to California to tape Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve TV special.  It was filmed before a live audience at MGM Studios on November 26 and also featured Chicago, Herbie Hancock, Olivia Newton John and the Doobie Brothers.  The Beach Boys performed “Good Vibrations”, “Darlin’” and “Surfer Girl.”  Mike, Al and Carl also sang background vocals during Chicago’s performance of  “Wishin’ You Were Here.”  Jim Guercio played bass with both bands during the show.  Dennis was absent from the taping.  He allegedly balked over the group’s decision to appear in matching double-breasted blazers, white slacks and polka dot scarves.

Thursday December 5, 1974

Denver Coliseum, Denver, CO-with Honk (8:00 PM Show)

The group began a string of sixteen western dates.  Bobby Figueroa, Ron Altbach, Billy Hinsche, Carli Munoz and Jim Guercio accompanied them.   A number of newer songs, such as “Trader,” were dropped from the set, in favor of more oldies.  This opening concert of the Beach Boys west coast tour again illustrated their renewed popularity.  Whereas in April 1973, when they performed in Denver, they had been unable to sell out a show at tiny Regis College, they were now playing to capacity crowds at much larger venues and many in the audience were a new generation of Beach Boys fan. The Denver Post reported, “The coliseum was packed to the ceiling, even behind the stage.  The young crowd was animated nearly to the point of hysteria.” The photo was taken on Nov 26 at the Rockin' New Year's Eve television taping.

Friday December 6, 1974

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT-with Honk (8:00 PM Show)

This show marked the first appearance by the group in Salt Lake City since 1970.  According to Vandra Webb of the Salt Lake Tribune, the audience reacted as if they had never been away.  “They didn’t stop clapping, swaying, stomping and screaming all night long as the Beach Boys presented old time favorites time after time.  There was ‘In My Room’ and ‘Surfin’ Safari’ and both brought renewed cheers from the audience…It’s the kind of music that makes you happy and takes you back to that time when the biggest problem was finding a big wave.”

Saturday December 7, 1974

Boise State University, Boise, ID-with Honk (8:00 PM Show)

A capacity crowd attended the Beach Boys first Idaho appearance since 1969.  The BSU Arbiter declared that the group “proved to the crowd that the Beach Boys are alive and well and still producing the same great sound that they immortalized in the sixties…Most of the crowd could identify with every song they played, calling them back for three encores.”

Monday December 9, 1974

Coliseum, Spokane, WA

The Beach Boys resurgence on the back of Endless Summer was in evidence on this December tour,  4,000-fans attended this show. Kent Swigard of the Spokesman Review noted that, "Several girls in the crowd couldn't have been past the doll-playing stage when 'Surfer Girl' was recorded but they burst out with cheers and applause when the music began."

Tuesday December 10, 1974

Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, WA-with Honk (8:00 PM Show)

Erik Lacitis of the Seattle Times noted that the crowd was mainly composed of teenagers.  However, he pointed out “The high schoolers who went to the Seattle Coliseum last night weren’t on a nostalgia trip.  They went because they are now discovering the Beach Boys for themselves.  Last night as the Beach Boys sang tunes with titles such as ‘Surfin’ USA,’ ‘Barbara Ann,’ ‘Good Vibrations’ and ‘Help Me Rhonda’ youths streamed down from their seats into the main arena to dance.”  Bill Larsen of the Tacoma News Tribune noted, "With Carl Wilson singing the lead, the group opened with I Can Hear Music, followed by Marcella and Little Deuce Coupe, the latter with singer Mike Love on lead. The Boys closed with Good Vibrations then presented In My Room, California Girls, Barbara Ann and the wild Fun, Fun, Fun, during the encore."

Wednesday December 11, 1974

Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada-with Honk

The Beach Boys were back on top due to the nostalgia boom.  They had struggled to sell 5000-tickets for the UBC Gym show in late 1973 but now demand was so great in Vancouver that a second concert was added for Saturday.  Reviewer Scott MacRae was dumbfounded that the Beach Boys were so popular, since he argued that they had nothing relevant to say in 1974, but came to the conclusion that the Beach Boys had “realized their strength is goodtime music and that for audiences there is somehow more relevance in being told to ‘Be True To Your School’ then to ‘Sail on Sailor.’ They once tried to be arty…and people would not accept it.”

Friday December 13, 1974

Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR-with Honk (8:00 PM Show)

10,000 fans attended this show.  John Wendeborn of The Oregonian reported, “It’s a whole new generation that wants the Beach Boys-and it’s got them.  The noise surrounding all the oldies-‘I Get Around’ and the finale ‘She had Fun, Fun, Fun ‘til her daddy took her T-bird away,’ among a dozen or more others- bordered on pandemonium.  The only bad part was the sound; It didn’t fill the Coliseum acoustically only noisily.”  Wendeborn, who had attended numerous Beach Boys’ concerts, was disappointed that the band had abandoned their more esoteric music. He wrote that “the group, now nine strong and powerful, still is doing some progressive stuff, but the 100 minutes that enthralled the wildly enthusiastic crowd Friday were filled mostly with the earlier style.” However, he defended the band’s decision and noted that while the fact “that the music was sans political or philosophical lyrics might be grist for the more somber, destiny-conscious critic, entertainment doesn’t have to always have an ulterior, hidden meaning to be ‘hip.’ ‘Fun’ can be ‘hip’ too.”

Saturday December 14, 1974

Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC, Canada (8:00 PM Show)

As proof of their resurgence, Mike proudly proclaimed to Melody Maker reporter Harvey Kubernik that 17,500 fans attended this show and 5,000 more had to be turned away.

Wednesday December 18, 1974

Selland Arena, Fresno, CA-with Little Feat (8:00 PM Show)

Thursday December 19, 1974

Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, CA-with Little Feat (8:00 PM Show)

The group received a hero’s welcome in Bakersfield, with the audience drowning out the opening number with applause.  The group kept them in the palm of their hands the rest of the night.  John Ford of The Californian reported, “each time the audience settled down to relax with one of the newer songs by the Beach Boys the group would catapult everyone back into a frenzy with another surfing classic…As the Beach Boys finished their last number and wished everyone a Merry Christmas, the crowd began to roar for them to do an encore.  Hundreds of matches lit up the room like little stars while people pounded and chanted for more.  As the group returned, the bandsmen showed their appreciation by building an already tremendous concert to a staggering climax.  People sang, swayed and screamed at a group that has sold over 70 million records.”

Friday December 20, 1974

Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA (8:00 PM Show)

Saturday December 21, 1974

Exhibit Hall, Earl Warren Community Center, Sacramento, CA-with Honk (Two shows at 1:00 and 8:00 PM)

The 8:00 PM show sold out only seven hours after tickets went on sale causing a 1:00 PM show to be added.  John V. Hurst of the Sacramento Bee noted “there was far less of their current music than of their California gold of the 60s- a far different program from the one the BBs played here a year ago Thanksgiving.  Then they included a larger sampling of their new music.  But the benchmark songs were there: ‘I Get Around’, ‘Little Deuce Coupe’, ‘In My Room’, ‘Surfer Girl’, ‘Don’t Worry Baby’…the whole gamut.  The fans were on their feet for most of the set, and they called the group back twice for encores.”

Sunday December 22, 1974

Earl Warren Convention Center, Santa Barbara, CA

Friday December 27, 1974

Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles, CA-with Honk (7:30 PM)

At their first hometown show in over a year, the band put on an exhilarating if ragged show, with Jim Guercio on bass.  Dennis Hunt of the LA Times noted that “the performance was flawed –shoddy singing and no more than adequate musicianship-but the Beach Boys were able to create such a festive atmosphere that it was almost impossible not to like the show…The Beach Boys’ greatest hit ‘Fun, Fun, Fun,’ which was played at the end of the second encore, was an appropriate finale for a jolly evening.” Harvey Kubernik of Melody Maker noted, “The harmonies are still excellent and as the years go by, the music is getting tighter and better.  All of the eras of the group’s existence were touched upon in the two-hour set…The concert ended with ‘Good Vibrations,’ possibly one of rock’s finest songs.  The crowd wouldn’t leave.  Then came the opening notes of ‘California Girls,’ with ‘In My Room,’ and a song of desperation, ‘Help Me Rhonda,’ then ‘Barbara Ann,’ and to close ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’”  The photo is not from this show

Saturday December 28, 1974

Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, CA-with Honk

Sunday December 29, 1974

Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA-with Honk (8:00 PM Show)

The Beach Boys celebrated their thirteenth year as a live act with a 90-minute concert in the city where they’d made their first major appearance in 1961.  The Long Beach Press Telegram reported, “They worked an energetic crowd into near frenzy, played for an hour and a half and walked off stage two encores later without scratching their creative brains for new material…Comparing this concert to one given in the Arena last New Year’s Eve, the Beach Boys would have to earn A-plus for their latest effort.  Despite the sad harmonics and so-so musicianship, they gave the crowd a good time.  And that’s what entertainment is all about. Encores included ‘In My Room’, ‘California Girls’, ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ and by the time ‘Surfin’ USA’ rolled around, the audience was on its feet dancing in the aisles.”