While there have been many groups to call California home since the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll five decades ago, none have come to represent the Golden State quite like The Beach Boys, a band synonymous with sun, surf and youth.
On Friday, Jan. 26, former Beach Boys’ frontman Brian Wilson will make an appearance at 4th & B with his crack band, which includes another former Beach Boy. It promises to be a hit-filled concert with chart-toppers galore from their first global smash, “Surfin’ USA,” which name drops quite a few San Diego surf spots “” including Del Mar, La Jolla and Swami’s “” during its scant two minutes. More psychedelic fare such as “Good Vibrations,” as well as tracks from Wilson’s solo works will round out the set.
4th & B’s great sightlines and sound system are a far cry from Wilson’s first local appearance with The Beach Boys at Pacific Beach’s long-defunct Roxy Theatre back in 1962, when they played during intermission at a screening of surfing movies. The group has since played locally dozens of times, but their most famous visit took place on Feb. 15, 1966, at the San Diego Zoo. Not a note was played, but a photo shoot on site yielded the cover of the band’s legendary “Pet Sounds” album. Several well-respected session men, including drummer John Guerin and guitarist Barney Kessel, also took part in many sessions with The Beach Boys during the decade.
During the ’70s, The Beach Boys continued their hit parade with songs like “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music” and “It’s OK,” but it was a visit to San Diego during June of 1977 that truly cemented Wilson’s local legend.
Guitarist Marc Intravaia, then with prog-pop band Listen, had a near run-in with Wilson at the time.
“[Listen’s] drummer met and jammed with Brian Wilson,” Intravaia explains. “A mutual friend spotted Brian in Mission Beach wandering down the street and gave him a lift to the Siers Bros. (another local band) house.”
And while Intravaia, who currently performs with roadhouse blues shouter Eve Selis, did not meet the legend, his bandmates did and enjoyed a jam session with Wilson.
“They all met and played ‘Little Deuce Coupe,’ and ‘Darlin,'” Intravaia explained. “Brian cleared up our confusion about the words in the chorus ‘O, keep dreamin’ it darlin.’ We were doing the song in Listen around that time and couldn’t quite make them out.”
Shortly thereafter, Wilson hitchhiked from San Diego to Mexico and back, only to be discovered passed out “” barefoot and unkempt “” in Balboa Park under a tree near the foot of the Laurel Street Bridge.
Wilson was picked up by local authorities from the park and transferred to Alvarado Hospital, where he spent some time recuperating. Incidentally, Alvarado Hospital is also where Wilson’s daughter Carnie went to have her weight reduction surgery.
In the ensuing years, Wilson’s visits have had a much more positive spin. In 1990, he surprised San Diego fans by making an unannounced appearance at Mission Valley’s Hanalei Hotel “” with iconic drummer Hal Blaine in tow “” during a Beach Boys convention.
While recent appearances have been far more orthodox, they are no less special, as few artists can touch the breadth of Wilson’s catalog.
“Simply put, Brian Wilson is one of our greatest living songwriters,” said Mark DeCerbo, guitarist with covers group, Rockola.
For Decerbo, it’s the vocals that set Wilson’s music apart.
“The music can be magical enough,” he remarked, “but no one can put together vocal arrangements like Brian Wilson. It’s spine-tingling at times and never less than brilliant.”
With dissent among the surviving Beach Boys, Al Jardine’s onstage presence should kick up the proceedings a notch, making this concert as close to The Beach Boys experience as one is likely to find in 2007.
Brian Wilson performs at 4th & B Friday, Jan. 26. Visit www.ticketmaster.com for more information.