Fun, fun, fun with Surf City Allstars
By Cary Ginell soundthink@aol.com

For those too young to have seen the original Beach Boys in a live setting, the next best thing came to town last Sunday.

The Surf City Allstars, who got their start in the early 1980s, are veteran musicians who've spent years playing with the greatest groups in surf music. Currently touring the U.S., the Allstars presented a free concert at Conejo Community Park as part of the Conejo Recreation and Park District's "Summer Concerts in the Park" series.

With the first familiar drumbeats of the Beach Boys' 1968 classic "Do It Again," the group proved it wasn't just another tribute band. Its members have worked as backup musicians for the Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, the Ventures and other top groups from the '60s.

They're so well respected that original Beach Boys Al Jardine and David Marks, and Jan & Dean's Dean Torrence are guest stars on their latest CD. Torrence, an accomplished art director, even designed the band's stylish logo depicting two crossed surfboards.

Drummer David Logeman, who calls Oak Park his home, anchors the infectious rhythms that made surf music a popular antidote to the drab early '60s preBeatles pop scene in America. Guitarist Don Raymond brings the electrifying sounds of the Ventures, Dick Dale and Duane Eddy to the group. Calling Chet Atkins and Les Paul two of his idols, Raymond contributed sizzling solos to songs such as "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Help Me, Rhonda."

The band also features lead vocalist Philip Bardowell, keyboardist Michael Chanslor and Matt Jardine, son of Al Jardine. Matt supports Logeman in the percussion section and also supplies the Brian Wilson high falsetto harmonies that became identified with the Beach Boys' sound.

The concert naturally drew heavily upon the repertoire of the Beach Boys. Nearly all of their hits were represented, from the surfer's anthem, "Surfin' U.S.A." to their last big hit, "Kokomo." Letterperfect renditions of standards such as "Little Deuce Coupe" and "I Get Around" pleased the many fans lounging on the lawn, but especially impressive was the group's offering of "Good Vibrations," the psychedelic hit from Brian Wilson's legendary "Pet Sounds" LP (minus the spacey theremin).

The Allstars did well involving the audience in the fun, passing out hula hoops for a contest while they performed the instrumental "Misirlou" and inviting would-be drummers to solo on the Surfaris classic, "Wipe Out."

Given that all members of the group are backup musicians, no one exhibited the charisma that many front men for classic bands have showcased (Herman's Hermits' Peter Noone comes to mind). It's something they can work on for the future.

Also, despite succeeding at replicating the Beach Boys' evocative multipart harmonies, none of the slower Brian Wilson classics (save for "Don't Worry, Baby") were included in the concert. It would have been nice, as a change of pace, to hear such songs as "In My Room" or "Caroline, No," or even one of Wilson's many album gems, like "Farmer's Daughter." And Jan & Dean fans must have been disappointed to hear none of their favorite songs in the show.

These few minor objections aside, the Surf City Allstars showed that the surf music originated by the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean has indeed aged well.

Lead guitarist Don Raymond told me that he continues to be amazed by how many young children know the words to all of the tunes they play, despite the fact that the songs are more than 40 years old. It's a tribute to the music that's become identified with the sounds of summer, sandy beaches, hot rods and California girls.

May daddy never take the TBird away.

For more information about the Surf City Allstars, visit www.surfcityallstars.com.