I Get Around

To the Royal Albert Hall last night to see the Beach Boys in concert. A pleasant surprise upon arrival when we were offered an upgrade to our seats. Having thought we’d be at the back of the upper tier, it was very nice to find ourselves seated mid stalls when the show started. Not sure why we were offered the upgrade as the hall looked pretty full. Maybe a large party had cancelled and they didn’t want empty rows near the band. Whatever, you don’t refuse offers like that!
But I think I’m going to have to class this concert as “ticking off a band from my childhood”. There were a plethora of good musicians on stage, but they just sounded like a rather good Beach Boys tribute band. The lead singer sounded ok, but that would be because he was Mike Love, the only original band member in last night’s line up. Alongside him was fellow octogenarian, Bruce Johnston, who was recruited to the touring line up in the sixties - replacing Brian Wilson who refused to travel - before joining the band proper.
The songs were delivered very well but I never felt I was listening to the actual Beach Boys. I know Mike Love was awarded the rights to the name in a court case, and he and Johnston are actually the longest tenured members of the band, but there was definitely an impression of corporal punishment being administered to a deceased equine, if you get my drift.
The show was scheduled to finish at 11 but we were mindful that our last train was at midnight, so left before the encores. As it happened, all the tube connections worked perfectly and we were actually able to get the earlier train, though it did involve a flat out sprint across the concourse, down the ramp and along the platform at Euston.
But at least we got to sleep in a hotel bed, rather than a bench at the station!