Scene & Heard (MSN Entertainment)

Beach Boys tour coming to DVD

Sublime Red Rocks performance filmed for release

By Mark C. Brown Jul 17, 2012 2:25PM
Beach BoysWhen the Beach Boys played a sold-out Red Rocks amphitheatre, fans came from all over the country to see the show in that pristine setting. Not only that, Brian Wilson flew in his wife Melinda and his whole family. Also in the crowd were Carl Wilson’s widow Gina and their former producer James William Guercio.

The reason for the historic reunion, both onstage and off? The Red Rocks show was filmed and recorded for a planned DVD release. And the 51-song set was strong; both the performances and song selection will please any Beach Boys fan.


Honestly? If you had said to me a year ago that the Beach Boys were going to put out “Smile,” plus a whole new album of strong material and put on a great concert tour, I’d have slapped you and told you to snap out of it. It ain’t 1966, pal.

Beach BoysBut the band’s new album “That’s Why God Made the Radio” is better than it had any right to be and sounded like an immediate Beach Boys classic. Neither that album nor the stage show sounded forced at all, and this crowd really did range in age from young kids to people who bought the “Fun Fun Fun” 45 when it was new.


The first half of the set was for the hardcore fans. Sure, there were hits in there, with the show kicking off with “Do It Again.” But some deep cuts (ie, songs that radio ignored) were lustily greeted by fans, from the sublime “When I Grow Up to Be a Man” to Bruce Johnston taking a solo turn with “Disney Girls.”


Yes, there were plenty of backing musicians to help fill out the trademark harmonies – they even took lead vocals on some songs in place of the late Carl Wilson. But the four principle singers – Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Johnston – all took strong lead and harmony vocals throughout the set. 

Beach BoysThe first set finished out with “the car songs” including “I Get Around” and more. After an intermission the band came back and pulled out the big guns, be it greatest hits such as “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows” or fan favorites such as the “Smile” nugget “Heroes and Villains.”


Like I said – I wouldn’t have believed it. It was a historic night, of course, but it was also a flawlessly fun night, even for the casual fans. Eventually if all goes well you’ll have the Red Rocks DVD in your hands and you can be the judge.

Brian Wilson

5Comments
Fri 10:20 PM
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Cool! Saw them early in the tour (St. Augustine) and later (Virginia Beach). Terrific shows both times. Always fun. My favorites.
Fri 9:36 PM
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How cool!  I was at three of the most amazing shows on the tour.  The crowds were electric and each venue was sold out to folks of all ages!  Can't wait for THIS DVD and the PBS show from Phoenix! Great job Beach Boys, and good luck on the world part of the tour!



Fri 10:31 AM
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I was at the show in Tampa, one of the earliest of the tour and they were just outstanding.  Seen them dozens of times over the years this by far was the best!!  I sure hope the DVD is the complete, unedited concert from opening to close.
Fri 10:04 AM
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One of the BEST concerts I have ever attended........the Beach Boys are still one of the TOP live bands in the world.
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Sweet! My husband and I (teens in the late sixties) and two of our adult children (early and late twenties) agreed - it was the best concert any of us had ever attended! The Beach Boys were awesome. I'm thrilled that such a wonderful, memorable night will be on DVD for us to enjoy over and over!

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As music editor at USA Today, music obsessive Ken Barnes started the Idol Chatter blog. Now he comments here on "American Idol," "The Voice," "X Factor" and other TV music competitions several times a week. He also dissects music awards shows when permitted.

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