It was either a great night for rockin’ and swayin’ to the sounds of the beach or an example of a “sorry state of decline” for an aging surfer group. For the 11,000 concertgoers at the April 23, 1978 performance by the Beach Boys, it was a matter of opinion. The Star reported on both perspectives the following day.

1978 Star file photo
Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and Mike Love, from left.

According to the Star review, the group played a “rag-tag 90 minutes marked by confusion, indifference and sloppy musicianship.” Drummer Dennis Wilson even disappeared from the McKale stage several times and a replacement had to fill in for him.

The old-favorites were fine in their time, but the review went on “two or three chords can only be stretched so far before breaking and boy-girl lyrics with forced rhymes can only be tolerated so long.”

1978 Star file photo
Barefoot fans were at the Beach Boys’ McKale concert.

But, the fans were much more favorably impressed with the quintet, according to the second article. They ‘squealed with delight’ and danced in the aisles. There were more Hawaiian shirts in the audience “than in the largest department store in Honolulu.”

Even when Dennis Wilson would stagger on and off stage at random, the crowd did not seem to mind.

“That quirky group had the fans in the palms of their sweaty surfing hands. McKale rocked out and swayed to a rhythm that almost made it seem like waves were lapping at the gym’s door.”