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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | APRIL 2021 | 37 An excited, rollicking Sun Lakes crowd greeted Catch a Wave, a Beach Boys tribute band, at the Friendship Club's last show of 2016. The group wore the Beach Boys' signature blue-and-white striped shirts, white pants and shoes, and played white guitars, with a surfboard on the stage, along with a beach chair and towel. Catch a Wave opened the show with a rousing rendition of Fun, Fun, Fun! They told a lot of stories about the original group and even played the first song written and recorded by Brian Wilson for a class he took — and for which he earned a dismal grade of "F." The song was called "Surf," and it hinted at the musical style and basic elements that became iconic characteristics of the group's classic songs as we know them today. Glenn Henry, portraying Brian Wilson, was the leader and spokesperson of the group. He introduced Richard Gibson, an amazing guitarist, as Carl Wilson, Chris Hilliard as Al Jardine, and drummer Gene Wilson as Dennis Wilson. "Dennis was the one who brought all the car songs to the group," said Henry. They played "Shut Down," "409," "Little Deuce Coupe," and then "Surfer Girl," which Henry described as "the ultimate '63 Impala make-out song." Catch a Wave has been acknowledged as the only true-to-form Beach Boys tribute show. Instead of just singing the songs, as most cover bands do, they BECOME The Beach Boys, with their clothes, guitars, and stage business absolutely true to the originals. They use no vocal or instrumental tracks when they sing, and they are very accomplished musicians in their own right. After "Surfin' USA" and "Surfin' Safari," Henry introduced the autobiographical "In My Room," which captured the number 1 group spot on the California charts and stayed there for quite awhile. "Little Honda" and "Farmer's Daughter" followed, with beautiful harmonies and fabulous guitar picking and fingering. "When the Wilson house was dedicated as a historical monument," said Henry, "we were picked to entertain the Wilson family and assorted guests. It was quite an honor!" The audience swayed, bounced, clapped the rhythm, and sang along to the Beach Boys' first national number 1 hit, "I Get Around," followed by "Don't Worry, Baby," "Little Old Lady From Pasadena," and Bonzai Pipeline. Catch a Wave is from Orange County. Most of their members have been together for 10 to 15 years. Besides making beautiful music, they look like they love what they're doing. They've performed on many cruise ships throughout the world, playing the most-requested songs, "Do You Wanna Dance," "Sloop John B," "Rhonda," and "California Girls." When Paul McCartney first heard a preview of "God Only Knows," he called it "the greatest song in recorded history!" In 1967, "Good Vibrations" spent nine weeks at number 1 on the charts; the Friendship Club audience loved it, as well as "Wouldn't It Be Nice," which the group played next. After the music of The Beach Boys was pushed aside by more modern music, the 1988 movie, Cocktail revived interest in their musical style, and "put The Beach Boys back on the map," said Henry, as Catch a Wave launched into "Kokomo" and ended the show with the classic "Barbara Ann." The audience couldn't stop raving about Catch a Wave. Overheard were such comments as, "I grew up with their music!" "Their harmonies were as good as the real Beach Boys!" "What a great show; I didn't want it to end." The Friendship Club

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