Friday January 16, 1981
Sports Arena, San Diego, CA-with American Spring (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys first show of 1981 was a family affair. American Spring opened the concert and Dean Torrence joined the band for encores of “Barbara Ann” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.” However, Bob Laurence, of the San Diego Union, opined that while the 10,000 in attendance had a blast, there were major problems with the show. He noted that Dennis was “quite disoriented, carrying on with inappropriate clowning, and in ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ bashing the drums with considerably more abandon then the song called for” and was replaced midway through the show by Bobby Figueroa. He also commented that “Too often the harmonies that once flowed through their throats so effortlessly were ragged and strained, particularly and disastrously in a few songs where vocal smoothness was most needed: ‘Good Vibrations,’ ‘Little Surfer Girl’ and ‘Sloop John B.'” Jack Williams of the Evening Tribune noted that Brian sat “impassive, bored all but motionless behind a white grand piano and a haze of cigarette smoke…Dennis Wilson, the Beach Boys can go on without you and you too Brian-near comatose state that you’re in onstage-because the music you created endures. It crosses generations. It withstands the years, the trends, the faltering falsettos, the shrinking coastlines and burgeoning waistlines.”
Saturday January 17, 1981
Rec Hall, University of California, Davis, CA-with American Spring (8:00 PM Show)
A near sell-out crowd attended this show. Duncan Strauss, of the Davis Enterprise, noted, “The group played mostly early hits like “Surfer Girl,” “Help Me Rhonda,” 'Surfin,'” ''Wouldn't It Be Nice,' and 'Surfin' USA.' The strong sense of nostalgia and the infectious rhythms of most of these classics-and the large number of people onstage contributing vocals-helped to obscure the fact that many voices in the band, most noticeably Love's and Brian Wilson's, have seriously deteriorated. For their vocal sound, the Beach Boys have always felt more is better. Saturday night, more was essential." Mick Martin of The Sacramento Union noted that the group sounded good but seldom strayed from the Endless Summer hits. "And that was the only regrettable thing about the show. Several songs from their latest albums, such as 'Some of Your Love' (From Keepin' the Summer Alive) 'Good Timing', 'Sumahama' (both from LA Light album) and early 70s highlights like Sail on Sailor and Funky Pretty, for example, deserve to be featured, if only as proof of their continuing artistic growth."
Sunday January 18, 1981
Selland Arena, Fresno, CA-with American Spring (8:00 PM Show)
The Beach Boys performed in Fresno for the first time in seven years (I was not aware of this concert when I wrote my book). A full house was in attendance and David Hale of the Fresno Bee noted that the crowd was excited and appreciative: "There were at least three ovations in the first act alone, with the crowd applauding the opening bars of every favorite and it was the first time I can recall seeing a rock concert for which most of the audience spent the entire second half on its feet. And why not? It was vintage Beach Boys music with a western twang (that fitted the stetsons affected by Love and Carl Wilson) that sounded right off the records...The five (plus a handful of supporting players) seemed ready to play all night (only Brian Wilson, Buddha large, chain-smoking and utterly impassive, seemed unmoved by the general chaos). Until they shut down after about ninety minutes, they reeled off a dizzying collection of hit songs, most of them from the mid-60s, with little patter and a minimum of horseplay."
Monday January 19, 1981
DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
The group took part in the inaugural festivities for President Reagan. 3,000 young Republicans, including two of Vice President Bush’s sons (one of whom was the future President George W. Bush), paid $40 a piece to see the group play a “concert for youth.” Miss America Susan Powell introduced them after singing an A Cappella version of “America the Beautiful.” In addition to playing the concert, the Beach Boys served as honorary chairmen of the entertainment committee at the Vice President's reception Monday afternoon at the Smithsonian.
Thursday February 12, 1981
The Summit, Houston, TX-with Randy Meisner and the Silverados (8:00 PM Show)
The group began a twelve-day tour with Randy Meisner of the Eagles. Former keyboard player Sterling Smith was now in Meisner’s band and the group invited him to play “Lady Lynda” on piano at the shows. Ed Carter, Bobby Figueroa and Mike Meros accompanied the group.
Bob Claypool of the Houston Post lambasted the group’s poor performance. He opined that "The Beach Boys have finally crossed the line that separates strong, continuously creative rock groups from the so-so oldies bands, the guys who just don't have anything new to offer anymore...These days the group doesn't even try to do new material, things from their recent albums (unless of course, you count Chuck Berry's ‘School Days’). Nope they just trot out the oldies, the surf music that made them famous in the 60s...Trouble is they can't even do those warhorses the way they used to.”
