Sept. 3, 1976 review: Beach Boys, Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group and the Cate Brothers at the Aud

 


A bicentennial extravaganza, this one. It was supposed to be the year’s third Summerfest show at Rich Stadium, but got diverted to the Aud instead. 

Sept. 3, 1976 

Beach Boys Sail Through Oldies

And 17,000 Have ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ 

          The Beach Boys paid their most triumphal visit to Western New York Thursday night in a manner completely appropriate to the summer of Operation Sail.

          The Memorial Auditorium stage was a dock to which was tied a model of a tall-masted ship. Lights outlined imaginary sails. Stalwart singer Mike Love wore a T-shirt inscribed: “Office Crew Yacht Harmony.”

          Their jolly crew totaled 14, with five horn players on deck. That’s not counting two little daughters in red jumpsuits who came out to add their voices at the end.

          The big group put a tidal wave of power behind the Beach Boys’ ocean of fabled surfing hits. “Help Me Rhonda.” With three keyboards churning rhythm, threw all sheets to the wind halfway through the 50-minute show.

* * *

FROM THERE ON it was nothing but old favorites right into their encore of Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful,” “Barbara Ann,” “Rock ‘N Roll Music” and “Fun, Fun, Fun” – a finale that brought virtually the entire crowd of more than 17,000 to its feet, dancing deliriously.

          The group’s standard front line was intact. Love struck an endless series of cute fatherly poses. Al Jardine and Carl Wilson manned guitars and took their turns at the mike, as did Dennis, who emerged from behind the drums for a couple numbers at the end.

          Big Beach Boy brother Brian Wilson, who wrote most of those old favorites, stayed home in California. In from Los Angeles on the company jet, however, was Warner Bros. president Mo Ostin with a party of friends and associates.

* * *

THE BEACH BOYS set climaxed a total evening of high-blown musicianship that, although it was not always well-appreciated, is not likely to be equaled in a rock show here for the rest of the year.

          Jeff Beck, appearing with Czech-born jazz-rock pianist Jan Hammer and his quartet, added further to his 10-year guitar legend, consuming Hammer’s monolith of sound with passionate fire.

          Hammer, a balding, boyish genie, grinned with delight at it all. Beck, fresh from jamming Wednesday night with Buddy Guy and Junior Wells at the Belle Starr in Colden, played more in 60 minutes than most guitarists do in a year.

          Opening were the Cate Brothers, whose “Union Man” was a hit last Spring. The Arkansas-based foursome rendered their blue-eyed soul rhythms flawlessly, but their seamless teamwork fell short of bringing the necessary focus to their otherwise excellent craftsmanship.

* * * * *

IN THE PHOTO: Speaks for itself.

* * * * *

FOOTNOTE: For those who don’t remember the Bicentennial Summer of 1976, Operation Sail was a parade of tall ships that visited ports all over the nation. Four of them came to Buffalo – this in the days before Buffalo had a Naval Park and World War II warships on display.

For the Beach Boys, it was the 15 Big Ones tour. Only nine songs turn up on the best setlist I can uncover, this one from guestpectacular.com: 

California Girls

It’s OK

Susie Cincinnati

Help Me, Rhonda

Palisades Park

Good Vibrations

You Are So Beautiful

Fun, Fun, Fun

Rock and Roll Music

Setlist from Nassau Coliseum the previous night was much bigger: 

California Girls

Palisades Park

Little Deuce Coupe

Susie Cincinnati

Catch a Wave

God Only Knows

It’s OK

Darlin’

A Casual Look

California Saga: California

Surfer Girl

Heroes and Villains

Help Me, Rhonda

Be True to Your School

In My Room

Back Home

Sloop John B

Wouldn’t It Be Nice

I Get Around 

The collaboration of guitar hero Jeff Beck and former Mahavishnu Orchestra keyboardist Jan Hammer was the prog rock-jazz fusion attraction in this lineup. Hammer had played on Beck’s “Wired” album and Beck went out with Hammer’s group to promote it. They played 100 dates together and recorded a live album that came out in 1977.

The Cate Brothers – Earl and Ernie – are twins who hail from the same town as Ronnie Hawkins. They hung with Hawkins and his band, the Hawks, a connection which paid off for them in the ‘70s when former Hawk drummer Levon Helm of The Band helped them land a contract with Asylum Records. Steve Cropper produced their self-titled debut album, which Levon played on, and it gave the Cates their only hit, the aforementioned “Union Man.” When The Band reunited without Robbie Robertson in the early ‘80s, the Cates joined them.

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