Beach Boys Britain

 
It is not very often that we get a Beach Boys type of event down here in Cornwall, probably because we are right down the far end of the South West but The UK Beach Boys have come down here for the second time after coming to the same venue this time last year.

It was in an unusual setting in a cave of all things but the sound in the cave was excellent because of the dimensions and shape.

This venue was originally a slate mine and still has the original timbers to the entrance and during WW2 it was used by the Royal Navy to store rum and is still known as The Rum Store. Since 2002 it has been used as a venue for live concerts.

Wanting to get a good seat, Heather and myself were there an hour early and were the first to go in and as we made our way down to the front row we could see the bands equipment all set up ready for the evening.

After an hour wait Graham Richards the proprietor came on and welcomed everyone to the place and reassured everyone that the cave has regular safety checks so it is completely safe to be in there but then being Cornish, although not a miner myself, I have mining ancestry so I suppose it is natural to be Cornish and be underground.

Graham then introduced the band saying that they are back by request by many people who came last year and then The UK Beach Boys came up through the centre aisle as there was no backstage area in such a venue and came on stage after an applaud  went into DARLIN' followed by CALIFORNIA GIRLS and ALL SUMMER LONG.

Guitarist Steve Styles then mentioned about the music of 1966 and introduced drummer and falsetto singer Simon West to sing WOULDN'T IT BE NICE followed by more from 1966 GOD ONLY KNOWS  and SLOOP JOHN B. This was followed by WENDY and then BREAKAWAY.

Moving to a later period Steve introduced Keyboardist Ian Baker as 'Johann Sebastian Baker' and then Ian played the intro as they went into LADY LYNDA.

This was followed by getting the audience to clap as they did DON'T WORRY BABY. This was followed with THEN I KISSED HER and I CAN HEAR MUSIC and getting everyone to clap again into YOU'RE SO GOOD TO ME.

This was followed by CATCH A WAVE and Simon used a great cymbal effect during the song to simulate waves.

Then it was time for some acappella with intros from three non Beach Boys songs starting with The Beatles' PAPERBACK WRITER, Abba's SUPER TROUPER with Steve wearing a special wig and Queen's BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY.

Back to the Beach Boys music and with a change of guitars for Steve it was I GET AROUND with a great solo from Steve on a beautiful sounding Fender Stratocaster with the pickup setting between middle and bridge (I could see the switch from the front row) a perfect sound blending with the harmonies in the song. The first set came to an end with LITTLE DEUCE COUPE with an added guitar solo.

During the interval after a quick chat with the band we made our way outside to get a cheeseburger passing a stand selling CDs and tee shirts and having a quick look I noticed they only had the CD that I bought from them last year that has a lot of Beach Boys hits from the 60s.

 Coming back inside after the break we waited for part two of the show which started with Ian coming onstage alone and playing DISNEY GIRLS on his Korg M1 keyboard shortly being joined by the others who sat on stools and just harmonised without any other instruments and a nice whistle at the end the same as the original.

Back to the instruments but still sitting on stools with Steve on an acoustic guitar it was SURFER GIRL with excellent harmonies.

A bit of humour next saying Brian Wilson did his first harmony arrangement at seven years old and they all went into TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR.

This was followed by AND YOUR DREAM COMES TRUE sung in acappella with perfect harmonies.

Next Drummer Simon had another acoustic guitar  and it was mentioned that this is the only number they do that is not completely live as they use an ancient drum machine for this and the song was KOKOMO.

Back to the main instruments with Steve back on his Gibson Les Paul which he told me later that it was his first night with it, great sounding guitar and into HELP ME RHONDA a very short drum solo and then DANCE DANCE DANCE with a nice solo from the Les Paul.

Next it was GOOD VIBRATIONS with excellent bass lines from bass player Pete Phipps and then getting the audience clapping it was DO IT AGAIN.

The set was followed by SAIL ON SAILOR and HEROES AND VILLANS followed by COTTONFIELDS.

The place rocked after that  with a set of three surf songs SURFIN' SAFARI, Jan & Dean's SURF CITY and SURFIN' USA.

Ian then introduced the band members and said what a great venue it was and would like to come back next year (I hope so).

It was then the last number for the night which was FUN FUN FUN with two solos instead of one, guitar first and organ second and an extra verse with different lyrics.

After much applaud there was an encore with BARBARA ANN which really rocked and then the show came to an end, what a great night and the only disappointment, they didn't play IN MY ROOM.

After meeting them by the trade stand and Heather taking a couple of photographs I said to them 'Hope to see you next year'.

Next morning during my usual weekend activity which is surfing (something we do have a lot of in Cornwall) I could still hear The Beach Boys music in my head so this particular day, when I caught a wave I was really sitting on top of the world.

What a weekend, sun, sea, sand, surf and Beach Boys music. What could be better?

Setlist.
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DARLIN'
CALIFORNIA GIRLS
ALL SUMMER LONG
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE
GOD ONLY KNOWS
SLOOP JOHN B
WENDY
BREAKAWAY
LADY LYNDA
DON'T WORRY BABY
THEN I KISSED HER
I CAN HEAR MUSIC
YOU'RE SO GOOD TO ME
CATCH A WAVE
Intros PAPERBACK WRITER/SUPER TROUPER/BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
I GET AROUND
LITTLE DEUCE COUPE

interval