July 5
Wantagh
The Beach Boys/Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals/Lovin’ Spoonful @ Nikon @ Jones Beach Theater
1000 Ocean Pkwy, 7:30 p.m. $97.05, $85.20, $74.90, $53, $40. 800-745-3000
www.jonesbeach.com
Back in the day, this would be one of those bills that would be a highlight for whatever year a tour like this would occur. Alas, all these line-ups are of the lite variety. While founding member Brian Wilson returned to The Beach Boys on the road and in the studio with That’s Why God Made the Radio, to coincide with the group’s fiftieth anniversary, he’s nowhere to be found in the group. Instead, the Beach Boys have reverted to the pre-reunion line-up for this current string of dates that features Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. Same goes for the Rascals, who last year performed at this same venue with the original four members whereas this time around, it’s keyboardist Felix Cavaliere and a crew of sidemen. As for the Lovin’ Spoonful, founding members Joe Butler and Steve Boone are still involved but aside from a brief reunion in 2000 when the Spoonful was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and an appearance in the 1980 Paul Simon film One Trick Pony, John Sebastian has been clear that he has no desire to return to the fold.
