Thursday March 1 to Sunday March 4, 1979
Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
As 1979 began, the Beach Boys were finishing up the LA (Light Album) with Bruce Johnston producing. The album is chiefly remembered for the inclusion, at the behest of Bruce, of an eleven-minute remake of Brian’s 1967 Wild Honey tune “Here Comes the Night,” set to a disco beat. Bruce’s friend Curt Becher had suggested to him that the song would be perfect for a disco remake. Bruce was excited by the idea of a Beach Boys disco -single. He told a reporter “It’s the best time to do it. Because it’s out there, it’s happening. I keep telling the guys it’s like a costume to wear for one number if we were doing a show.” The rest of the group seemed less sure. Carl commented, “We’re not going disco… one of the cuts on the album is a disco cut. It was Bruce’s idea to do it.” Dennis was characteristically blunter, telling Music World and Record Digest, “I hate it. I never did like it. Certain lines I like…certain disco songs I like…but that one is dead. It has the most boring drumming… thump…thump…thump.” Despite their mixed feelings, the group premiered the song at Radio City with red disco lights flashing above the all white stage. Audience members booed. Ken Emerson of The New York Times declared it an “out and out failure.” Mike Love commented that the detractors “Were probably some hard core Beach Boys fans who’d like us to play nothing but ‘Barbara Ann’ and ‘Surfin’ USA.” His defense, however, seemed half hearted, considering that he apologized to the audience before playing the song. Beach Boys fans were not disco enthusiasts. The song was so badly received that it was gone from the set by April (though it briefly returned in May.)
The venue was unusual for the group, with an orchestra pit separating performers from the audience. Carl was slightly put off by it. He told Time Barrier Express, “I can’t really see the audience too well…I’m used to being able to have eye to eye contact…I prefer being right with the audience. I love that.” The set list for the March 3 concert was printed in the fanzine Add Some Music and consisted of “California Girls,” “Darlin’,” “Do It Again,” “In My Room,” “Caroline, No,” “Good Timin’,” “God Only Knows,” “Be True to Your School,” “Catch a Wave,” “It’s OK,” “Sloop John B,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “Lady Lynda,” “Sumahama,” “Surfer Girl,” “Heroes and Villains,” “I Write the Songs,” “Here Comes the Night,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ USA,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” It is also known that “Disney Girls” and “Angel Come Home” were performed on March 2.
Performing with the group were Ed Carter on bass, Bobby Figueroa on drums, Phil Shenale on Oberheim synthesizer, Sterling Smith on piano, Carli Munoz on organ and newcomer Mike Meros on clavinette and synthesizer. Meros had played on “Here Comes the Night” and was sitting in to teach the song to the band. Meros recalled, “I was blown away. Truth is, I wasn’t that familiar with all their stuff. So I sat in my room and wrote down all the charts. We got out on stage, and it’s Radio City, right? And I put the charts under my feet, and the crowd is cheering, and I’m looking down at my feet the whole night.” Meros got the gig due to his association with Bruce, who was back permanently with the group. Bobby Figueroa recalled, “I was happy to have Bruce there. He’s a very talented guy. Also, he was very good at mediating between the guys and making suggestions and finding compromise. I noticed that he was kind of a peacekeeper a little bit at first.”
Dressed in a jogging suit, Brian appeared on the first night (he skipped the rest of the engagement), though after the opening number he headed backstage, occasionally peeking out from behind a curtain. Ken Emerson of the New York Times reported, “The other Beach Boys added an element of suspense to the evening by continually trying to coax Mr. Wilson back out. Finally he reappeared and picked inaudibly at the keys like a sulky child at his dinner while one or another of the group or its entourage sat beside him on the piano bench and cheered him on.’ Dennis played all four nights but was drunk on at least two of them and seemed bent on creating controversy, sporting a t-shirt that said, “Pity about Mike Love” at one show. Mike downplayed the problems with his cousin. He told Record World, “Dennis and I are the most obviously competitive in the group. Brian’s passive, Carl is kind of a moderator, Al is very straight, while Dennis is the rebel and I am the eccentric. We get on each other’s nerves sometimes…but it’s not a big thing. We’re both just very volatile.”
Aside from the now common inter-group issues, the band appeared tight and rehearsed. However, Richard Forlenza of NY Rocker, who attended on Friday, noted, “The band seemed constricted, as if the slightest bit of spontaneity would send the whole structure tumbling. Only Dennis could be counted on for an occasional surprise, holding up the show so he could change his shoes, placing a Heineken bottle on the grand piano when the pianist began the Bach intro to ‘Lady Lynda,’ walking offstage for the performance of the discofied ‘Here Comes the Night.’ I sensed that Dennis is perhaps not all that happy with everything the band does, but his solid 4/4 drumming and spirited vocal on ‘Angel Come Home’ were the highlights of the show for me.”
Friday April 20, 1979
Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
The group toured with Ian Matthews, a former member of Fairport Convention who had a hit with “Shake It.” Musicians on this trip were Ed Carter, Carli Munoz, Phil Shenale, Charles Lloyd, Sterling Smith and Bobby Figueroa. Although the tour was ostensibly to promote LA (Light Album), the group played only four songs from it and “Here Comes the Night” was conspicuously absent. Toledo Blade columnist Jim Yavorcik reported that Bruce “loved the cut but now feels it was a mistake to include it on the LA (Light Album) because people just cannot accept the Beach Boys doing disco.” The single tanked on the charts as did the LP.
CBS had been subsidizing their tours, but as sound mixer Tom Murphy recalled, “When ‘Here Comes the Night’ and the album weren’t selling well that’s when the record company stopped giving tour support and there were cutbacks. They started cutting members of the band and eventually they got down to cutting me.” In fact, Murphy was one of the first people to go. When he flew to Indianapolis, Carl Wilson and Jerry Schilling asked him to take a walk. “I remember we were walking across the huge basketball arena in Indianapolis, Carl, Jerry and I. Carl was not speaking. Jerry did all the speaking for him. Jerry said, ‘Tom, we’d like you to help us here. We have to do layoffs and we have to cut expenses and we’d appreciate if you would not go to Dennis about us laying you off so that the tour can continue and Dennis doesn’t go nuts. So would you mind just leaving and not seeing Dennis first.’ What was funny to me was that Carl wasn’t talking he was just standing there. So I said to Carl ‘Is that your wish Carl?’ Carl sort of nodded and Jerry said, “yes that is Carl’s wish too.’ So I said ‘Ok’ and Jerry and I flew back to LA on a plane together…I could have argued with them, but I was burned out anyway.”
15,000 people turned out in Indianapolis. Zach Dunkin of the Indianapolis News reported, “Last night’s 28 song show opened the group’s tour and like most tour openers it had its bugs…Three of the best done tunes were songs from the current LA (Light Album)-Love’s ‘Sumahama,’ Jardine’s ‘Lady Lynda’ and Carl’s ‘Good Timin.’ A rare misfire was ‘Shortenin’ Bread,’ a song that was rehearsed heavily yesterday. It was supposed to be one of those sing-a-long jobs, but the crowd never quite got into it.” The photo was taken on March 25 when the BBs performed at an Easter Seals telethon in Los Angeles, emceed by actor Jack Klugman.
Saturday April 21, 1979
Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
James Chute of the Cincinnati Post noted that the Beach Boys did not play Here Comes the Night and “the songs they did play from LA Light simply sounded like the sixties Beach Boys hits with a touch more slickness. So, the musical question becomes, how well did they recreate the ageless Beach Boys sound? The answer ranges from extremely well to occasional mass-confusion…With Bruce Johnston onstage playing keyboards and occasional guitars…the band has seemingly rekindled the desire to perform. It was technical problems with the sound system and occasional timing lapses in the show …, that marred last night’s performance. When the sound system was functioning properly, the Beach Boys and their six-piece band sounded vintage.” The set list at this show consisted of: “California Girls,” “Sloop John B,” “Darlin’,” “Good Timin’,” “Do It Again,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “In My Room,” “God Only Knows,” “Shortening’ Bread,” “Be True To Your School,” “Catch a Wave,” “It’s OK,” “Lady Lynda,” “Sumahama,” “Surfer Girl,” “Angel Come Home,” “Heroes and Villains,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ USA,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.”
In regard to the sound problems, Philip Shenale, playing his last tour with the band, noted, “They didn’t know what they were supposed to demand from the monitors. In 1971 I saw Alvin Lee stop his show for ten minutes till the monitor guy got his shit together…The Beach Boys never did that. I mean in the late 70s a lot of guys would say excuse me I can’t hear myself, but the Beach Boys thought it was still 1970. Unless you were a technological guy…you would never know (how it could sound) …Brian could have been up on that, but he was in his thing. In my monitoring system I heard all the keyboards and the instruments, but the backing vocals were really not there. I was in my late twenties, and I didn’t know what to ask for myself. But what about (stage manager) Jason Raphalian? No road managers took responsibility for what needed to be done. I worked with Tori Amos for the last twenty years. John Witherspoon was one of the few guys that was a great road manager, and he is her manager now. In retrospect, the guys who supported the Beach Boys were totally not up to the job. There was no unity in the Beach Boys, so they didn’t get the best person for the job.”
Sunday April 22, 1979
Centennial Hall, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH-with Ian Matthews (7:00 PM Show)
This concert attracted a capacity crowd, so hell bent on having a good time they ignored feedback, bad sound mixing, missed cues on songs and dysfunctional behavior. Jim Yavorcik of the Toledo Blade reported, “Dennis Wilson seemed disorientated as he pranced about the stage, forcing Brian and keyboard man Bruce Johnston away from their pianos at one point…He also had a few problems with his only lead vocal of the night, forgetting the words to ‘Angel Come Home.’ But Dennis returned to his drums for some inspired playing and finished the show quite strong.”
Dennis had been a heavy drinker and drug user for years and by 1979, as engineer Tom Murphy recalled, “Drugs and alcohol were his life and music had become his secondary hobby.” Many insiders felt that the problem was that he had few outlets for all his pent up energy. He had largely abandoned recording sessions for his second album Bambu when the Beach Boys sold their studio to Tom Scott. Sterling Smith recalled, “That was the real decline of Dennis. Because when Dennis came back (from the road) instead of harnessing his drug confused but nevertheless very creative talent to some positive degree, Dennis had nowhere to go so he ended up just being the partying guy.” He began missing occasional shows and was often not in a condition to play anyways, though his animal magnetism was so great that audiences forgave all. The photo was taken at the taping of the Midnight Special TV show in March.
Monday April 23,1979
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL-with Ian Matthews, (8:00 PM Show
The April tour was enlivened by the presence of Fleetwood Mac’s Lyndsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, who’d begun dating Dennis in the fall of 1978. Phil Shenale commented, “I loved Christine McVie-she’s the best! She could drink any man under the table. And still, she’d be a laugh. That’s who Dennis would hang out with-Christine and Lyndsey.” However, Sterling Smith recalled, “Dennis…had stayed up all night in a partying mode and he missed the whole show. I think that was the first time that had happened in the whole time I had been there. And we thought, ‘Wow, this is not a good sign.’” Dennis was also absent the next night in Murfreesboro. Unfortunately, such absences became common in the next few years as Dennis slid further into alcoholism.
Colin Gibson of the Southern Illinoisan noted, “As the Beach Boys showed Monday night at SIU Arena in Carbondale, they do pretty much the same thing they’ve been doing for the last 18 years. It was an old favorite, Help Me Rhonda, that brought the near-capacity crowd to its feet halfway through the show…but their disco experiment Here Comes the Night was well received too. …The group did play some songs that were not likely to be heard at a Beach Boys Concert, like Shortening Bread and Lady Lynda, which was based on a Bach composition…(Brian) Wilson played piano, sat out a few songs and sang one, Sloop John B…His brother, drummer Dennis Wilson, did not appear at all.”
Tuesday April 24, 1979
Murphy Center, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN-with Ian Matthews, (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys returned to MTSU for the first time since 1967. Dennis was again absent but Roy Orbison came backstage to rehash old times with the group about their 1964 tour of Australia and New Zealand. The Midlander Yearbook noted, “The almost immortal Beach Boys, minus their popular drummer Dennis Wilson, played their way into the hearts and ears of a record crowd in Murphy center…The Beach Boys were easily able to transcend the barrier of another generation’s pop music to listenable, danceable, and pleasurable songs…Overall the Beach Boys and MTSU worked well together, despite a distorted sound system that sometimes caused problems and distracted from the whole concert.”
Wednesday April 25, 1979
Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA-with Ian Matthews
Despite dismal weather outside the civic center, Chris Gladden of the Roanoke Times wrote that the Beach Boys created sunshine inside with ‘an exhilarating concert… California Girls opened the concert followed by a stunning Sloop John B…Love then introduced Shortening Bread… Though the Beach Boys later work is impressive, they seem to know which way the wind blows …and provide a mix heavily weighted toward old hits. Lady Lynda, Good Timin, a slightly disco Here Comes the Night and Sumahama…are recent tunes they offered the crowd that demonstrate that the Beach Boys are not content to rest on their past record. And Carl sang a lovely God Only Knows …It was a poignant tune as was In My Room, an introspective tune that was given added meaning by a subdued Brian at the piano who at one time in his past withdrew into a drug induced mist.” The photo is another image from the Midnight Special TV Taping in March. Bobby Figueroa and Phil Shenale can be glimpsed in the backing band.
Thursday April 26, 1979
Carolina Coliseum, Columbia, SC-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
Friday April 27, 1979
Stokely Athletics Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
A capacity crowd turned out at UT. Monica Langley of the Daily Beacon declared the group, “nothing short of outstanding,” but couldn’t help acknowledging the dysfunctional behavior that was now commonplace at a Beach Boys show. Langley reported, “Dennis Wilson, the drummer, acted crazy as he jumped onto the piano, danced on his chair, laid down on the stage while kicking his feet in the air and spilled his beer all across the stage. On the other hand, Brian Wilson, the oldest of the brothers, was so nonchalant that he contributed little to the concert’s success. Wearing green sweat pants and a windbreaker, he played the piano and walked across the stage twice rather routinely with his arms in the air."
Saturday April 28, 1979
Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham sang a few songs with the band at this show. The photo by Ed Roach shows McVie with the band.
Sunday April 29, 1979
Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
Blair Pethel of the Greensboro Daily News raved that the Beach Boys “drained every last bit of energy from the audience” of 8000 fans. She noted that Mike “was a great showman. He danced, clapped, battered back and forth with the audience and generally got everyone who was still sitting standing.”
Monday April 30, 1979
Capitol Centre, Largo, MD-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
For the last show of the tour, Christine McVie again joined the band, singing harmony on the encores of “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” Geoffrey Himes of the Washington Post commented that the concert “was a sharp contrast to sloppy, halfhearted local concerts of recent years. The vocals were strong and the arrangements were executed precisely.”
Friday May 11, 1979
Broome County Veteran’s Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY-with Ian Matthews
The group again hit the road for more east coast dates. Due to financial constraints, the backing band was now a stripped down group consisting of Carli Munoz on organ, Ed Carter on bass and guitar and Bobby Figueroa on extra percussion. Mike Meros took over keyboards. Pianist Sterling Smith recalled that on the April tour attendance was down and “at some point there was a business re-evaluation and they said ‘Hey, we have too many keyboard players, which I could have told them when I joined! Bruce Johnston was friendly with Mike Meros and he said ‘Hey, my guy will work cheap’ and that appealed to the organization. So they looked at Carli Munoz and I and of course Carli had greater seniority and was Dennis’ buddy. They also wanted to fire Charles Lloyd, who was making $1000 a night and the consensus was that he wasn’t bringing much to the party anymore. But Charles was Mike’s buddy and he brought Mike great credibility because he’s a world-class jazz guy and he’s a meditator. So Mike liked all that but he agreed he should be fired if a keyboard player was fired too. And that’s where I became one of the pawns and was let go, along with Charles.” The cuts contributed to the continuing tension within the group, which frequently threatened to boil over.
Perhaps hoping to drum up enthusiasm for the fading LA (Light Album), the band played five-songs from it on this east coast tour. Even “Here Comes the Night,” excised from the set soon after Radio City, was back (though it was gone by May 15). The opening show in Binghamton attracted 6000 fans.
Saturday May 12, 1979
Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, PA-with Ian Matthews
Sunday May 13, 1979
Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
A crowd of 10,000 people turned out in Rochester. Jack Garner of the Democrat and Chronicle opined, “The new material included five songs from the Light Album. Their new single ‘Good Timin’, the disco cut ‘Here Comes the Night’, Jardine’s ballad on a Bach melody, Lady Lynda, Brian Wilson’s cutesy rock version of ‘Shortenin’ Bread’, and Mike Love’s oriental influenced ‘Sumahama.’ The disco cut seemed more tightly controlled in concert, and brought home the unusual and difficult vocal arrangements of the tune."
Monday May 14, 1979
Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY-with Ian Matthews (8:00 PM Show)
A good quality tape of this concert and the following night in Springfield survives. Dennis was in good form for this often-erratic period in his career, as was the rest of the group.
Tuesday May 15, 1979
Civic Center, Springfield, MA (8:00 PM Show)
This show was taped for the King Biscuit Flower Hour and makes the rounds today. Scott Charney of the Republican attended this show and commented, "The Beach Boys...had little trouble getting the crowd to join in singing during their ninety-minute set...While the in-thing for most critics these days is to knock the recent work of the group, the Beach Boys sparkled on the material from the latest LA (Light Album), especially on Good Timin and Sumahama. With Carl's delicate lead vocal at the forefront, Good Timin went over well with the delighted audience. It was the mixture of new tunes with old that gave an added lift to tunes like Sumahama and Lady Lynda, as the good time spirit of songs like Catch a Wave and Be True To Your School still lingered on in everybody's mind. ...The only part of the show not quite up to perfection was Dennis Wilson's voice. His voice seems to have weakened somewhat, although he is still able to harmonize quite well with the rest of the group. During his solo spots, however, his voice came out with a gravel like texture whenever he strained to put some power into it. He did, however, perform a touching albeit short version of You Are So Beautiful, which satisfied all who might have been annoyed at his earlier troubles."
SSThe set for this show consisted of: “California Girls,” “Sloop John B,” “Darlin,” “Shortenin’ Bread,” “Do It Again,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” “Roller Skating Child,” “Peggy Sue,” “In My Room,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Timin’,” “Be True To Your School,” “It’s OK,” “Catch a Wave,” “Lady Lynda,” “Sumahama,” “Surfer Girl,” “Angel Come Home,” “Heroes and Villains,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Rock and Roll Music,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ USA,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Good Vibrations,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Fun, Fun, Fun."
Wednesday May 16, 1979
Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY-with Ironhorse (8:00 PM Show)
Randy Bachman’s new group Ironhorse opened a number of shows on this tour. Carl hit it off with Bachman and ended up getting together with him to do some writing. Carl told a reporter, “We went to a ranch to write some songs. We had two days, and we cranked up 5 tunes." The songs would appear on the Beach Boys next album Keepin’ the Summer Alive. The photo shows the BBs at a signing that took place at the Record Theater prior to the concert. Dennis did not attend the event but was at the concert that night, attended by 12,000 people. Dale Anderson of the Buffalo Evening News noted that the show had some ups and downs, as 'tempos occasionally dragged...nevertheless, there were some spectacular surprises as well. Dennis Wilson ended 'Help Me Rhonda' atop a piano. Al Jardine did a number based on Bach (Lady Lynda). Producer and longtime friend Bruce Johnston...got the solo spotlight to sing a song nobody knows he wrote-the Barry Manilow hit I Write the Songs...'Hey Bruce,' singer Mike Love interjected as he returned to his station, 'If you ever want us to put some harmonies on the end of that.' Toward one another, the Beach Boys were all deference and praise. The discord of 1977 has been replaced by family solidarity. Breezy Mike Love even omitted his references to Transcendental Meditation. As for the shy mastermind Brian Wilson, he wore a blue warmup suit which said B. Wilson on the back, drank bottled water, smoked frequent cigarettes and absorbed himself in a white grand piano at one side of the stage."
Thursday May 17, 1979
Community War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, NY-with Ironhorse (8:00 PM Show)
Michael Kern of the Syracuse Post Standard noted that the show "could have taken place in 1975 or 1970 or 1965-which is just fine with Beach Boys devotees. Very little has changed as far as the group's live performances go. Mike Love is still a ringleader extraordinaire, Carl Wilson's vocals are still as sweet as ever, and brother Dennis Wilson remains the group's enfant terrible... Best of the new material was "Angel Come Home," in spite of Dennis Wilson's mumbled, raspy vocals (a la Joe Cocker)."
Friday May 18, 1979
Civic Center, Augusta, ME-with Ironhorse (8:00 PM Show)
8000-fans turned up at the Augusta Civic Center to see the Beach Boys and Ironhorse. John Hale of the Kennebec Journal noted, "The Beach Boys opened with California Girls. From then on it was a tumultuous party, with the greatest response for the classic oldies. The crowd loved...Surfin' USA and they shook the rafters and the stands with their united rhythmic clapping and stomping...Mike Love emceed the production, which featured a wide variety of lighting effects created by the group's own entourage. During a Japanese number by Love, 'Sumahama', a big mirror globe with hundreds of facets was spotlighted as it dangled from the ceiling. The effect was a myriad colored points of light, projected onto the ceiling and the faces in the crowd, shimmering like so many stars. Bruce Johnston...sang I Write the Songs, claiming he wrote the song not Barry Manilow. Unfortunately, his voice was hoarse and embarrassingly flat....When they finished (the concert) the crowd refused to leave, standing in place, chanting and clapping. The Beach Boys returned to sing three encores: Good Vibrations, Barbara Ann and Fun, Fun, Fun."
Saturday May 19, 1979
Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY-with Ironhorse (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys and Ironhorse were the first acts to appear at the brand new Glens Falls Civic Center. Over 7000 people turned out for the show.
Sunday May 20, 1979
Civic Center, Providence, RI-with Ironhorse (8:00 PM)
Bill Flanagan of the Providence Journal reported, "Making last night's show special, even while adding a bit of tension, was the presence of songwriter-producer-guiding light Brian Wilson...Still reluctant to sing leads, (at one point Mike Love told the sound man that Brian would begin 'Wouldn't It Be Nice.' The song began. Brian did not.) The oldest Wilson delighted his fans by singing 'Sloop John B.' Also noteworthy was the return of on-again, off-again Beach Boy Bruce Johnston to active duty. Johnston pleased much of the audience and appalled a few others when he sang 'I Write the Songs' a ballad he composed for Barry Manilow."
Monday May 21, 1979
Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA-with Ironhorse (8:00 PM Show)
Over 15,000 fans turned out to see the Beach Boys annual concert in Philly. The photo of Brian was taken at the LA residency two weeks later.
Monday June 4 to Sunday June 10, 1979
Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA-with Glenn Super (One show each night)
The group's weeklong engagement in their hometown started off on a note of triumph. June 4, 1979 was declared "Beach Boys Day" in LA and the group took part in a meet and greet for fans outside Peaches Records, before heading off to the Amphitheater for what promised to be a joyous occasion. Daryl Dragon even took up his role of Captain Keyboards for the occasion.
Sylvie Simmons of Sounds attended the opener and declared it "An encyclopedic set of note perfect oldies, a smattering of new songs and the obligatory plug for the new album, explosive sound; we didn't even get that disco thing (though we did get Manilow solo from Bruce, 'I Write the Songs'). A killer concert." However, G Brown of the Denver Post had a very different take. He reported, “Musically things were a mess on opening night. Dennis Wilson can barely be termed a drummer, as he spent most of his time banging on the same two drums when he wasn't staggering around the stage in some chemically induced euphoria. Brian Wilson opened his mouth to sing 'Sloop John B' for the second number, than sat behind his piano for the duration of the set, chain smoking and clutching at his head in the best 'Lost Weekend' tradition.” Both reviewers were alarmed by Dennis’ drunkenness. Simmons commented that he fell over at one point, while Brown noted that Christine McVie refused to join him onstage despite repeated requests because “he was a little too buzzed to contend with.”
Dennis’ behavior deteriorated as the week progressed and on Friday June 8 all hell broke loose. A drunk and enraged Dennis attacked Mike on stage in full view of the audience. Writer Jon Stebbins was in attendance and recalled, “The people around me gasped in horror as Dennis kicked his drums off the riser and took off after Mike. He chased him down the side of the stage and began to beat on him. I distinctly remember feeling like I was watching a car wreck…After the roadies, security personnel, and various band members finally separated the combatants and hustled them offstage, an unscheduled intermission was called…When the band returned to the stage, Mike made a speech downplaying the incident to the audience. Then Dennis appeared, grabbed a microphone, and began to repeat the words, ‘I love Mike Love.’ Appearing to ignore this incantation, Mike kept himself as far away from Dennis as he could.” The band finished the show, but the incident was not forgotten. The upshot was that Dennis was indefinitely suspended and strongly encouraged to clean up his act. With the exception of a guest appearance at a show in Hawaii in August, he'd be absent till November.
Tuesday June 19 and Wednesday June 20, 1979
Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO-with Iron Horse (One show each night at 7:30 PM)
Thursday June 21, 1979
Aladdin Hotel, Las Vegas, NV-with Ironhorse
The image is from earlier in 1979-probably from Radio City in March.
Friday June 22 and Saturday June 23, 1979
Greek Theater, UC Berkeley, San Francisco, CA-with Iron Horse (One show at 8:00 PM on Friday and at 2:00 PM on Saturday)
Sunday July 1, 1979
Midway Stadium, St. Paul, MN-with Atlanta Rhythm Section, Climax Blues Band, Jay Ferguson and Iron Horse (2:00 PM Show)
With Dennis out of the band, Bobby Figueroa took over his drum kit at this time and “You Are So Beautiful” was dropped. Figueroa was not happy about the change. He recalled, “We had sort of broken up the show to the point where neither of us would get tired but when he started playing less and less, I had to do more and more and it hurt me. I hurt my back at that time and eventually (in 1981) I had to leave the band. I had tangled all the muscles.” Drum technician Tony Leo tried to lessen the load for Figueroa, playing extra percussion, such as the tympani on “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Mike Meros and Carli Munoz were on keyboards and piano and Ed Carter was on bass.
Monday July 2, 1979
Rosenblatt Stadium, Omaha, NE-with Jay Ferguson and the Atlanta Rhythm Section (4:00 PM Show)
24,852 fans attended this show, a record turnout in Omaha. Steve Millburg of the Omaha World Herald was exuberant in his praise for the group's performance, gushing, “The energy was real and, trite as it sounds, the vibrations were good, just as poor Brian Wilson's song said so many years ago."
Tuesday July 3, 1979
Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI (7:30 PM Show)
A crowd of 15,000 attended this show, despite cold, pouring rain. Brian’s grand piano had to be covered with plastic, but Daniel P. Kelly of the Milwaukee Journal reported that the group still put on a “stellar” show. “There were a couple of newer selections, including the silly version of ‘Shortenin’ Bread’ that appears on the Beach Boys new LA (Light Album) but it was the oldies-from ‘California Girls’ to ‘I Get Around’ to ‘Good Vibrations’-that convinced the some 15,000 joyously drenched listeners that they had indeed had ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’
Wednesday July 4 to Saturday July 7, 1979
Pine Knob Music Theater, Clarkston, MI-with Ironhorse (One Show each night on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and one matinee show at 1:00 PM on Saturday)
The group’s residency at Pine Knob completely sold out. Kim McAuliffe of the Detroit Free Press reported, “The show never really lagged, mainly because nearly every song was taken from the group’s enormous history of hits. ‘Help Me Rhonda,’ ‘Little Deuce Coupe,’ and ‘Be True To Your School’ brought down the house, along with some beach balls and Frisbees…The Beach Boys couldn’t get away without doing three encores and they saved the best for last, ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Barbara Ann’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun.’”
Sunday July 8, 1979
St. John’s Hollow, Tiffin, OH (2:00 PM Show)
Monday July 9 and Tuesday July 10, 1979
Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, OH (One show per night at 8:00 PM)
18,000 fans were expected opening night at Blossom, but pouring rain kept many away. The crowd that remained was eager for one thing: oldies. “Roller Skating Child” was greeted with polite applause, but the crowd grew restless when Bruce played “I Write the Songs.” Anastasia Pantsios of the Cleveland Plains Dealer reported, “Mike Love reprimanded the audience for its inattentiveness and noisiness. Then he introduced a new tune ‘Sumahama,’ appealing to the audience by saying that it came from a deep place in the heart and should command respect. It didn’t work, no matter how thick he laid it on. Songs like ‘Sumahama’ weren’t what the people came to hear and they weren’t buying any. It took tunes like ‘California Girls’ and ‘I Get Around’ to command their attention.” A portion of one of these shows was filmed for a profile on PM Magazine that aired in October. The setlist for the July 10 show was: "California Girls", "Sloop John B", Darlin'. "Shortnin' Bread" Do It Again", Roller Skating Child", "Little Deuce Coupe" ,"In My Room", "God Only Knows", "Good Timin'", "Be True to Your School", "It's OK", "Catch a Wave", "I Write the Songs", ‘Sumahama’, "Lady Lynda", "Surfer Girl", "Heroes and Villains”, “"Help Me Rhonda", "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Rock and Roll Music", "I Get Around", ‘Surfin' U.S.A.", "Good Vibrations", "Barbara Ann" and "Fun, Fun, Fun" The photo of Brian was taken on July 12 in Montreal.
Wednesday July 11, 1979
Rockland Community College, Suffern, NY-with the Henry Paul Band (8:00 PM Show)
5000 fans turned out for this show. The Journal News reported that, "Though the band kept up with the times with a disco version of Here Comes the Night, the warmest response of the evening was for oldies like Little Deuce Coupe, Help Me Rhonda, Surfer Girl and California Girls."
Thursday July 12, 1979
Montreal Forum, Montreal, QB, Canada-with Long John Baldry (8:00 PM show)
The Beach Boys attracted a large crowd to the Forum. Matt Radz of the Montreal Star wrote, "When 'Catch a Wave' rolled around the audience was sitting on top of the world and getting higher. 'Rock and Roll Music' and another Chuck Berry tune, this one with the Boys own lyrics, 'Surfin' USA,' 'Wouldn't It Be Nice.' All this before the encore which was 'Good Vibrations,' (what else?) with the Regents' oldie 'Barbara Ann' and 'Fun, Fun, Fun' capping an evening which was a reminder of just how good this music can make you feel."
Friday July 13, 1979
Monmouth Park, Oceanport, NJ
Over 13,000 attended the show, the first such event at the Race Track. Dave Wilson of the Asbury Park Press was not impressed by the band’s performance and noted, “On stage the group gave the impression that it was doing the songs from memory, for it brought little energy and even less enthusiasm to its playing. Brian Wilson’s presence made little difference in this respect, for the only time he came to the fore was when he asked Love to tell the crowd to stop throwing things in the direction of the stage. Other members of the group were similarly preoccupied. Love’s attempts to relate to the audience were unsuccessful for the most part and Dennis Wilson’s drumming (actually Bobby Figueroa’s, as Dennis was not there) was listless and uninspired…. Jardine’s rendition of Sloop John B was amateurish, while Love’s voice was less than perfect during such songs as Catch a Wave. In spite of all this, the crowd appeared to be satisfied. For most of those who came, the concert was a chance to recapture the past. When the group performed its more recent songs, such as Good Timin' and Lady Lynda from LA (light Album) they sat quietly and listened to the music. When it came to such oldies but goodies as Help Me Rhonda, Wouldn’t It Be Nice and Good Vibrations, however, the crowd was on its feet and clapping in time to the music.”
Saturday July 14, 1979
"Sunfest 79" Yale Bowl, New Haven, CT-with the Cars, Eddie Money, the Henry Paul Band and Flo and Eddie (12:00 PM Show)
More than 35,000 fans turned out for this concert, organized to benefit the Easter Seals Charity. The temperature reached a sweltering 95 degrees on the day of the show and over 300 people had to receive medical treatment for heat exhaustion. Many attendees had left the stadium before the Beach Boys appeared, to escape the heat.
Saturday August 4, 1979 and Sunday August 5, 1979
“Japan Jam,” Enoshima Beach, Japan-with Heart, Firefall, TKO and the Southern All Stars
The group, minus Dennis, returned to Japan for the first time since 1966. The backing band consisted of Mike Meros, Bobby Figueroa, Carli Munoz, Tony Leo and Ed Carter. Also present were manager Jerry Schilling and Steve Korthof and Jim Redman, Brian’s personal minders. The group was in Japan by August 3, when they appeared on a bizarre TV show at which guests sat at a round table with cocktails. The host showed little interest in the Beach Boys and spent most of the time talking in Japanese to the people seated with him. After ten minutes, he finally turned to them but only to ask what they knew about Japanese music! The band appeared on the show to promote the “Japan Jam,” two mammoth outdoor shows at a popular beach resort. Over 60,000 fans attended, including 1,000 servicemen.
Tuesday August 7, 1979
Osaka, Japan-with Heart
Carl greatly enjoyed the trip to Japan. He told Mike Powell of Super Pop, "It's funny really, when I first went to the UK I thought it was the most beautiful part of the world and the same goes for France and Spain. But this month Japan just blew my mind. The climate's very tropical and humid and the plants are so green-at present, Japan's my favorite part of the entire globe." The country also impressed Bobby Figueroa. He recalled, “That was my first time in Japan and you know it was wild. Everything was different. I was only 27 so I was wide-eyed. But I loved playing there, because those people really loved this band. They were serious fans and they showed up in numbers to see us do our thing.” The photo is from August 4.
Wednesday August 8, 1979
Momoyama Castle, Kyoto, Japan-with Heart
Unfortunately for fans that bought tickets to this event, foul weather prevented the group from taking the stage. Bobby Figueroa commented, “There was a storm brewing and after Heart performed, the whole place fell apart. The roof actually fell in. They had to cancel the rest of the show. We went all the way to Kyoto to play it, but we couldn’t play. We stayed in Kyoto for a few days and it was a fun experience, other than the fact that we couldn’t play."
Saturday August 11, 1979
On their way back from Japan, the Boys stopped off in Hawaii for one concert. Though officially suspended from the band, Dennis was in Hawaii and was invited onstage. Bobby Figueroa recalled, “He knew that they were going to be there. You could see that he missed it and he was going to try to find a way to get back in and say ‘Let’s put that behind us.’” However, it was strictly a one-night reunion and he was not allowed back on the next tour.
Saturday August 18, 1979
"Chicago Jam," Comiskey Park, Chicago, IL-with Pure Prairie League, Sha Na Na and Blondie (10:00 AM Show)
This was one of two concerts held on the same weekend that were dubbed the "Chicago Jam." Promoter Sandy Feldman described it as a Midwest version of Woodstock and as many as 140,000 were expected to attend. However, instead of the 70,000 expected on the first day, only about 8,000 showed up due to ominous clouds in the sky. Atlanta Rhythm Section were supposed to appear but dropped out at the last minute.
Sunday August 19, 1979
Mississippi River Festival, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
The Beach Boys again returned to the Mississippi River Festival (where they’d appeared in 1972 and 1977). R.A. Wilber of the Belleville News Democrat was pleasantly surprised by their committed performance. He noted that, “In past years a reliance on old material and a lackadaisical attitude toward sound mix and the audience in general made many Beach Boys appearances disappointing. Not this time. Mixing in some unusual old material and a good representation of new material from LA Light, the group gave a concert that was the best of the summer at MRF and perhaps the best job it has done in the St. Louis area. …(Bruce) Johnston’s setup-‘You’re a great audience, letting us show you this new stuff’ seemed to produce patience and then admiration from the crowd. In return the group did an outstanding job on such new numbers as Jardine’s Lady Lynda…Brian’s Good Timin’, his best effort in years, and the group’s hit from the album: Carl Wilson’s Angel Come Home and even the Lilting and vocally demanding Sumahama, a contribution of rare quality from the usually mawkish pop Milke Love… The new material from LA Light allowed Brian an occasional moment or two to participate. The troubled genius of the group has had emotional problems for years that have kept him from participating on tours but he appears to be on the mend.”
Monday August 20, 1979
Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, IA (8:00 PM Show)
An estimated 10,000 people attended this show. Jim Healey of the Des Moines Register praised the band for streamlining their act. He commented, “By cutting back the group to a more manageable size, and by getting Johnston to sign on again, the Beach Boys have drawn tighter the yarn that binds them and their music. The result was a truly exciting set here Monday, one that re-established the group as a prime force in modern rock ‘n’ roll.”
Tuesday August 21, 1979
Norfolk Scope, Norfolk, VA (8:00 PM Show)
Henry Edgar of the Norfolk Daily Press noted that the Beach Boys were “in fine form. They introduced a song from their new album and went right into Shortening Bread, which sounds surprisingly good with a Beach Boys beat. Roller Skating Child is a cute novelty that sounds more like a song from the 50s than one of today’s…Another surprise came with Bruce Johnston singing I Write the Songs. He’s nor Barry Manilow but the audience loved it. A romantic Japanese flavored Sumihama was a big crowd pleaser and deserved all the applause.” The photo is from the Beach Boys appearance on American Bandstand, which was taped later that week after the BBs returned to California.
Friday August 31, 1979
Allentown Fair, Allentown, PA-with Jerry Doucette (7:30 PM Show)
The group hit the road for a short tour. They mostly played old favorites, but continued to include 'Sumahama," "Good Timin" and "Shortenin' Bread" from their recent album.
Saturday September 1, 1979
Festival II, Aqueduct Raceway, NY-with Flo and Eddie (5:30 PM Show) and Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD-with Jerry Doucette (8:30 PM Show)
The Beach Boys played the first of two weekend dates at Aqueduct Raceway. Tom Zatorski of the Stony Brook Statesman noted, "They went through an hour and a half of their best selling material and I'm sure they could play for an additional 90 minutes without any lag in the crowd's enthusiasm. The playing was flawless, their showmanship was excellent and the songs couldn't have been better...From the first song, 'Help Me Rhonda,' to the last chorus of 'Fun, Fun, Fun,' the audience was clapping and singing along-a response that the Beach Boys engender at almost every performance." Following the gig, the group flew to Maryland for an evening show. Becky Brashear of the Frederick Post reported, "Audience participation was a big part of the concert. Mike Love made sure of that. He asked the audience to take off their shoes and socks while he and the group performed the all time favorites, 'Surfin' Safari' and 'Surfer Girl.'…Another audience participation song was 'Good Vibrations' in which the group had a sing-along. In fact the audience sang so well that Love wished he could put the audience on a bus and take them to California and have a beach party." The photo of Brian is from the BBs appearance on ABC TV's American Bandstand a few weeks before.
Sunday September 2, 1979
Festival II, Aqueduct Raceway, NY-with Flo and Eddie (5:30 PM Show) and Music Inn, Lenox, MA (Canceled)
Monday September 3, 1979
CNE Grandstand, Toronto, ON, Canada-with Long John Baldry
24,000-fans turned out for the Beach Boys show in Toronto. Henry Mietkiewicz noted that the first half of the show "seemed unbalanced and shaky, even with surefire material like California Girls and Sloop John B. Vocals by Mike Love and Brian Wilson were strained and the band itched to slip into gear. A curious rendition of Shortening Bread slowed the pace even further and a lackluster version of Roller Skating Child got a lukewarm reception. But as the group launched into Little Deuce Coupe, the Musicians and the audience suddenly sprang to life, egging each other on for the rest of the night....The Audience went from standing ovation to the next, applauding not just the music onstage but the memories the concert would evoke of the summer of 1979. The vocal bridge was off key in Wouldn't It Be Nice, the harmony was hurried and disjointed on Help Me Rhonda and much of the new material from LA (Light) sounded muddy but the crowd didn't care...The Beach Boys philosophy can be summed up in two words: Endless Summer."
Friday September 28, 1979
Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN-with Target (8:30 PM Show)
The Beach Boys embarked on a short tour of the south and southwest. Bobby Figueroa, Ed Carter and Mike Meros accompanied the group on these dates, but Carli Munoz was gone. Bobby Figueroa recalled, “That was a bummer because he was the reason I was there, him and Dennis Wilson. It wasn’t totally his choice but he had other things he wanted to do anyways. But he was a great player. I loved his presence. I loved what he did on stage." 7,500-people attended the opening show of the tour in Memphis. Walter Dawson of The Memphis Commercial Appeal noted, "Songs like California Girls and Sloop John B seemed perfectly compatible with the group's new material...With assistance from a bass player, drummer and keyboard player Beach Boys Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine and sometime Beach Boy Bruce Johnston wove a very pleasant textured sound and at the same time kept up a high level of enthusiasm....Last night there were some places where the harmony wandered a bit but for the most part the band held everything just where it should be."
Saturday September 29, 1979
Zoo Amphitheater, Oklahoma City, OK-with the Lienke Brothers (3:00 PM Show) and Kansas Coliseum, Wichita, KS-with Prism (8:00 PM Show)
7,000 fans turned out for the afternoon appearance in Oklahoma City. While the crowd boiled in the over 90-degree heat, the group stayed cool under a shaded canopy. Following the show, the band flew to Kansas for an evening appearance in Wichita with the Canadian band Prism, who'd released a very popular album in Canada called Armageddon. However, they failed to have much chart success in the States. The photo of Mike was taken on October 7, 1979.
Sunday September 30, 1979
Blackham Coliseum, University of Southern Louisiana, Lafayette, LA-with Prism (2:00 PM Show) and Texas A&M, College Station, TX-with Prism (8:00 PM Show)
Another busy day with shows played in two separate states. The Beach Boys were paid $35,000 for their afternoon concert in Lafayette, LA. Rogers Olverson of the Daily Advertiser reported, “Brian Wilson, the sometimes-unpredictable songwriter, never said a word, but the USL t-shirt he sported and the cigarette that dangled from his mouth as he bent over the keyboard, gave the feel of an informal jam session. But the reason the concert worked was the music. The Beach Boys music, albeit vintage stuff as well as very white and middle class, has that raw, physical power that is rock. It is good time party music meant to be enjoyed. And that's the way the Beach Boys present it." That night the Beach Boys performed at Texas A&M. Keith Taylor of The Battalion noted, "The Beach Boys were flawless Sunday night. Their vocal harmonies, made possible by Al Jardine and Carl Wilson, were excellent, but the key to their success was the showmanship and energy of lead singer Mike Love. He was obviously enjoying himself and it rubbed off on the rest of the band....The band played all of its hits starting with California Girls and ending with Fun, Fun, Fun. All the song were performed well, particularly Barbara Ann, Rock and Roll Music and the crowd's favorite Be True To Your School." The photo of Carl was taken at the afternoon show.
Monday October 1, 1979
Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX-with Prism (8:00 PM Show)
8,000-fans turned out to see the Beach Boys in Dallas. Prior to the show, Mike was asked by a reporter about the state of the band. He commented, "I don't think differences of opinion in our band can ever be over because we're all totally different personalities. But we're not about to stop. And I don't think the articles that concern themselves with personalities, disputes and hostilities-of which some have been more meaningful than others-should overshadow the fact that we are a group that continues not only to survive but also to excel." The photo of Brian was taken on October 7.
Tuesday October 2, 1979
Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas-with Prism
6,500 fans turned out to see the Beach Boys in Beaumont. Dwight Silverman of the Beaumont Journal raved,"The group's Tuesday night show at the civic center was the finest concert ever to bless this facility....Mike Love, Al Jardine, Brian and Carl Wilson (Dennis was among the missing) and returnee Bruce Johnston proved to nearly 6,500 rabid fans Tuesday that although this band has been singing Surfer Girl for nearly eighteen years, they still have the energy and youthfulness to make it stick." He also noted that Brian "the troubled creative genius for the band-took the lead vocal on Sloop John B and drove the crowd into further frenzy. Brian's emotional troubles are well known and it's not unusual for his paranoia to drive him from the stage. Yet he hung in for the entire concert, joining in for harmonies occasionally, playing his white grand piano with determination."
Wednesday October 3, 1979
SFA Coliseum, Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, TX-with Prism
The Beach Boys concert at Stephen Austin State University was a home run according to reviewer Jan Bailey of the Longview News-Journal. However, she noted that "The performance got off to a draggy beginning, with most of the 8-member band looking as if they were suffering from terminal jet lag. Their opener California Girls followed by Sloop John B were well received by the crowd, but hurt from the obviously tired and easily distracted performers. But by the third song, Darlin, and a rock version of that old Southern favorite Shortening Bread, the professionals snapped out of it and let go with an extra source of energy that would have put Superman to shame...'I'd say it's great to be here but I don't know how to pronounce it,' Love told the Nacogdoches crowd and noting all the Hawaiian print shirts and straw hats in the audience commented 'I recognize a high degree of surf consciousness here in this crowd.'...Interspersed between other Beach Boys gold like Be True To Your School and Surfer Girl, the group introduced a few new numbers from their most recent album LA Light: A Japanese style love ballad Sumahama and a pretty instrumental on Lady Lynda will probably ensure that the new LP does well at the cash registers."
Thursday October 4, 1979
Convention Center Arena, San Antonio, TX-with Prism
The Beach Boys packed them in at their first San Antonio appearance since 1969. Rusty Walton and Carolyn Perkins of the Trinitonian noted, "Most of the Boys were featured in solos and Bruce Johnston put forth an extraordinary performance of 'I Write the Songs'...and he did make all the young girls cry or at least scream when he amended the lyrics and said, 'I write the songs all you San Antonio girls sing.' 'Good Vibrations' and 'Surfin' USA' were the encores with Love directing the audience in sections singing 'Good Vibrations.'" However, the reviewers noted that Brian appeared "slightly catatonic and sometimes during the concert he just walked off stage when his involvement was not crucial." Brian remained a subject of concern throughout 1979. When the year began he had spent time at the Brotman Memorial Hospital for depression, which was compounded by the breakup of his marriage. After his release, he continued to tour but his involvement level varied widely. Often his only participation at a gig would be to sing the opening line of “Sloop John B” or a hoarse verse of “Surfer Girl.” He frequently sat glumly at the piano, only occasionally playing. Some musicians in the band argued that it was better when he didn’t play, since he sometimes caused havoc when he did participate. Brian’s piano playing was so problematic that Tom Murphy was instructed to turn him down in the mix so audiences could not hear if he went into another song. Still Brian had his moments. Phil Shenale commented, “Onstage I don’t think Brian was there at all or very rarely. But there were things that he did in the studio occasionally that were brilliant.” Both Shenale and Sterling Smith fondly recalled a session for “Night Bloomin’ Jasmine,” a brilliant little riff that Brian had written. All the musicians were really excited by the piece. Unfortunately, Brian’s attention span was so short that during the session he lost interest in the tune and started playing the oldie “Get a Job” instead. The song would not surface until Brian’s 1988 solo album. The photo of Mike was taken the night before at Nacogdoches.
Friday October 5, 1979
The Summit, Houston, TX-with Prism
The Beach Boys made their annual visit to Houston for an evening appearance. John Atkinson of the Houston Post reported, "The band did a lot of material from the L.A. Light Album like 'Shortenin' Bread,' 'Good Timin,' 'Sumahama,' and 'Lady Lynda'. The results were mixed, particularly on 'Timin,' which is undoubtedly the best song on the LP and possibly the best thing they have done in years. The vocal blend which has always been the band's trademark was not effective; sloppy phrasing and flatting out on the falsettos dampened what could have been the showstopper."
Sunday October 7, 1979
Reed Green Coliseum, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS-with Prism (2:00 PM Show) and Riverside Centroplex, Baton Rouge, LA (Canceled)
The Beach Boys were supposed to appear at the Hirsch Coliseum, Shreveport, LA on October 6 but the 3,000 ticket holders were informed on October 3 that the group was canceling due to "equipment difficulties" and a conflict with their recording schedule. This is suspicious since they remained down south to play a show the next day. The Hattiesburg show was scheduled for 8:00 PM but was changed to 2:00, allegedly so the group could be in L.A. for a recording session on Monday. The change of plans necessitated the cancelation of a Baton Rouge show. Frank Rives of the Student Printz gushed, "The Beach Boys put on a superb performance. They started with 'California Girls' and worked up the audience steadily. Halfway through the show the audience was on its feet, clapping and singing along and there the audience stayed until after the encore."
Thursday November 15, 1979
Activity Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ-with John Stewart (8:00 PM Show)
In the midst of recording Keeping the Summer Alive, the group played a few dates. Surprisingly, Dennis, suspended since June, rejoined them, as did Mike Meros, Ed Carter and Bobby Figueroa. Guitarist John Stewart, formerly of the Kingston Trio, who had a hit record with "Gold," opened the shows and joined the Beach Boys for the encore of "Barbara Ann.” The opening date at ASU was a Homecoming concert attended by 6,200 fans. Hardy Price of the Arizona Republic reported, “With a cowboy hatted Mike Love fronting the band and singing most of the leads, the group returned to the days when it sang about 16 year old girls in bikinis. It all seemed to fit nicely with the mood of the crowd…Al Jardine is still singing harmony and playing guitar, Carl Wilson maintains lead guitar duties and yes, even Brian was there, seated at the piano and occasionally taking a chorus or two, as he did with ‘Sloop John B.’” The photo of Brian was taken the next day in Colorado.
Friday November 16, 1979
Moby Gym, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO-with John Stewart (8:00 PM Show)
A smaller than expected crowd turned out at Colorado State for the Beach Boys appearance. Mitch Little of the Rocky Mountain Collegian reported, "Although the gym wasn't packed the fans that attended made up for those that were absent, generously voicing their appreciation of many well known songs...Mike Love proved to be the catalyst of their show as he continually moved about the stage and identified upcoming songs with witty one liners. Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston seemed amazed at the crowd reaction and voiced the Beach Boy's thanks many times."
Saturday November 17, 1979
Special Events Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT-with John Stewart
The Salt Lake City show, which ended the short tour, was a nostalgic occasion. KNAK DJ Bill Hesterman, who’d emceed the band's appearances at the Lagoon in the 1960s, was on hand to introduce them. All six Beach Boys were present, though Dennis had injured his arm the previous night and played with one arm in a cast. Tom Wharton of the Salt Lake Tribune noted, "The Beach Boys sounded good Saturday night, much better than the first time I saw them in 1968 at Lagoon's Patio Gardens. Love, the lead singer of the group, still has the same energy he had then, although his beard is graying a bit. Carl Wilson and Al Jardine both sounded good on the vocals, as did Bruce Johnston, a new member of the group. Brian Wilson was very aloof, as befits his image as the brain behind the group. And Dennis Wilson, the drummer, was his old zany self." This was the Beach Boys last show of the year, as they returned to the studio for intensive work on what became the Keeping the Summer Alive LP.