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WHAT THEY'RE
SAYING ABOUT CALIFORNIA SURF, INCORPORATED
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on most images below to view in full-size -----
| Article
from the Nevada (Iowa) Journal - May 31, 2018 - by Marlys Barker |
If you love Beach Boys’ music, you won’t want to miss seeing California
Surf, Inc. at The Talent Factory in Nevada.
Coming up Sunday, June
10, this five-man group that plays the songs of the famous Beach Boys,
will be in Nevada for the last performance of a “mini run” of shows they
are doing in both Iowa and Michigan.
“Because it’s the last stop on this
tour, we’ll be all warmed up for it,” said band member Randell Kirsch,
who does bass and vocals. “That (the last) show is always extra fun, because
we’re appreciating the fact that here we are with our friends, playing
the music we love.”
Kirsch, like the other
members of California Surf, Inc., played with the Beach Boys periodically
for over four decades. He even had a full time gig with the group for 11
years. He said it was 1983 when he had his first opportunity with them.
“My college band friends and I had been backing up Mike Love,” he said,
noting that they had a college band and Love, a co-founder of the Beach
Boys, had heard them play. “I started going on the road with him for his
solo album, ‘Looking Back with Love.’”
California Surf, Inc.’s
agent, Cord G. Coslor, said Bobby Figueroa, who does drums and vocals,
put this group together in 2011. In addition to Figueroa and Kirsch, the
group includes Ed Carter, guitar and vocals; Sterling Smith, keyboard and
vocals; and Probyn Gregory, guitar and vocals.
When asked about a
little fun fact on each band member, Kirsch was happy to oblige. “Ed,”
he said, “is a crack up. He used to sneak Brian Wilson out of the compound
where they were recording ... so Brian could get Coca Cola and cigarettes,”
neither of which he was supposed to have.
Sterling, Kirsch said,
is a master of puns. “He can turn any sentence into word play.”
“Bobby, he’s a prankster.
You’ll see, he’ll be cracking the audience up.”
Before he could get
to something about Probyn, we asked what the others would say about him.
“Well, they love to call me Ran-DELL.” he said, putting the emphasis on
the ‘dell,’ which is different from most spellings of the name. “They’d
also call me a punster, as well as the world’s tallest midget.” At 6 feet,
6 inches, Kirsch said he likes to tell people his height is 3 feet, 42
inches.
Anyway, the members
have fun, both with each other and with their audiences.
“We really enjoy what
we’re doing, and I think people are at the shows because they enjoy the
Beach Boys’ music... We are fans of it as well, so we (the audience and
performers) share that (love of music). The records never get old to us,”
Kirsch said.
The songs, Kirsch continued,
“are really the star of the show, and we present them as best we can.”
And they love it, he said, when the audience gets into the music by singing
along, clapping their hands or moving to the music.
As for Iowa, California
Surf Inc. has never performed in Iowa, but all its members have performed
in Iowa at times with the Beach Boys. “We love Iowa,” Kirsch said. “The
heartland! Everybody loves California, but Iowa ... I have a soft spot
in my heart for Iowa as a friend of mine, Steve Morris, who used to open
shows for the Beach Boys, lives there.” He also said they all have loved
coming to the Iowa State Fair. “It’s a gas.”
Coslor said, in his opinion,
those who attend this show will appreciate the vast catalogue of Beach
Boys’ hits that will be performed. “There are no recorded tracks or vocals
in the show. All five of the guys play an instrument and sing vocals. All
the classic hit songs are performed, and every Beach Boys’ era is represented
in the setlist,” he said. He added that audience members will hear some
great stories from the road, too. “I think following the show, the audience
will appreciate how friendly and ‘down to earth’ all the guys are.” |
| From:
Al Durrett, Fish-Tale Marina, Fort Myers Beach, FL: Mar 18, 2016 in regards
to CALIFORNIA SURF, INCORPORATED |
"Many thanks for yet another
terrific performance provided by Celebrity Direct Entertainment! California
Surf, Incorporated was a tremendous hit at our Customer Appreciation Party
last month and we look forward to working with them again in the future.
We received many compliments from our guests on what an amazing band they
are and how much fun it was to dance to their favorite songs from the surf-rock
genre! Your music exceeded our expectation and was the basis for our successful
event. With sincere thanks, Al Durrett |
| From:
Emily Geistfeld: Citrus Hills Golf & CC in Hernando, FL: Feb 23, 2016 |
Anyone growing up in the early
60's and beyond will love this concert; for many of our audience members
it was like stepping back in time. After the show, everyone was exclaiming
“wouldn't it be nice” if they came back every year?! California Surf, Incorporated
definitely rocked the joint! They really sounded great and you could tell
that their vocals and harmonies were authentic and true. The fact that
they were the real deal and actually performed and recorded with the Beach
Boys made it that much more spectacular. Everyone was singing along and
tappin’ their toes… couldn’t ask for more than that!
| From:
filledeplage: show review (Bridgeport, CT - May 16, 2015) |
Downtown Cabaret
Theatre, in Bridgeport, CT sits in a distinct undergoing massive revitalization.
The Main Stage series offer a subscription series, full of both stage theater
shows as well as many tribute acts. They have a BYOB (bring your own adult
beverage - and take out meals.) It is an interesting intimate setup, with
a community that appears culturally vibrant, using its theater to promote
community revitalization.
Last night
they hosted California Surf. I had sort of planned to go. Late in the week
I saw an addition to the regular guys, and got my seats. Christian Love.
Ya, I went to see "the kid" whose image is on the Sunflower album, as a
toddler, next to his dad, and later for many years in the Touring Beach
Boys Band. And it wasn't about his father last night. It was all about
Christian, singing many of his father's lyrics, next to Beach Boys' band
members, incredibly talented musicians, who brought so much to the BB bounty
of sound.
Christian's
leads opened and closed the show...and the setlist...
-California Girls - Christian
on lead
-Dance, Dance, Dance - Billy
Hinche and Bobby Figueroa
-Do you wanna Dance? - Bobby
- Billy
-Do it Again - Christian
-Darlin' - Adrian Baker
-Don't Worry Baby - Adrian
-I Can Hear Music - Adrian
-Then I Kissed Her - of
course, Christian
-Surfer Girl - entire group
-Sea Cruise - smiling and
"ageless" Ed Carter, looks exactly the same as when he became involved
in the late 1960's as a rocking hot guitarist. He played a wailing bass
last night...lots of fun and maybe less well known work...
-Little GTO - Bobby Figueroa
- another singing drummer, once an aspiring baseball player, brought in
to back Dennis Wilson, circa 1974. Gifted, beyond words. Also an actor,
as recounted by music director and MC Billy Hinsche. Even guest acting
spots on GH! My favorite soap! And working on a version of BB music en
espanol! Love it!
-4-0-9 - Christian
-Shut Down - Christian
-Little Deuce Coupe - Ed
Carter
-I Get Around - Adrian
-Caroline No - Christian
- solo. Billy commented the vocal similarities to "uncle Brian" (a cousin,
not a real uncle, but deferentially used as a term of respect.) I find
his voice more akin to Carl's but reasonable minds can differ. Billy told
the audience it was Brian's first solo release, although included on Pet
Sounds as the closer on side B.
-Bobby did the amazing percussion,
just enough...allowing Christian's voice and the song be the star.
-Sherry - OMG Adrian's Four
Seasons falsetto. I thought of my late dear girlfriend, Eleanor who loved
The Four Seasons and The Jersey Boys. Tribute. His voice sounded not a
day over 20. From the UK! The crowd went crazy with Sherry.
-Wipe Out - there is an
old YouTube from an old 4th of July DC (Washington) with Billy donning
the regalia cap and sunglasses to do the Fat Boys schtick, and it was a
gas! Find it for a yuk! My kids loved the Fat Boys, and I loved the BB's
so when the Still Crusin' cassette was flipped over in the soccer van,
my boys took over! Wipin' Out, indeed!
-California Dreamin' - Adrian
-Sail on Sailor - this one
song - worth the price of admission. Holland. Released twice, in 1973 and
1975, the lead has been done by Brian Wilson, Carl, Billy Hinsche, Blondie
Chaplin with Ricky Fataar, John Cowsill, and on the soundtrack of Martin
Scorcese's The Departed. And the late Ray Charles at the 25th anniversary
in Hawaii. The great Bobby Figueroa on lead!
-God Only Knows - Adrian
- and under Carl's "blue lights."
-Sloop John B - Bobby Figueroa
- great Carter bass!
-Wouldn't it be Nice - Adrian
-Help Me Rhonda - Ed Carter!
Just awesome! and Billy's fantastic key work! Among the best in BB's
live corpus!
-Kokomo - Billy
-Good Vibrations - Adrian
-Surfin' USA - Christian
- Adrian co-lead
-Encore - second show
-Barbara Ann - group
-Fun, Fun, Fun - Christian
- Adrian shared lead
Post both shows,
they went to the lobby for photo ops, autographs, and just to chat. There
were girls "lining up" for Christian.
The BB's can't
be everywhere. Brian Wilson can't be everywhere. California Surf Inc. does
some deep cuts, from the early years and the early activist 70's when the
touring focus was the college and university community, reseeding the fan
base. These guys should not be missed. Their musicianship is sharp; the
classic 5-6 guy live band standard that embodies rock. No frills. Just
flat out rock and roll. I went to see the kid who zapped Caroline No, composed
before he was born, and he is his own man, bringing his own touch, spellbinding
the audience.
None of those
guys are defined by the BB's, and there isn't enough space on any stage
to fit them all. But, when these guys come to a place where you can get
there on "a tank of gas" by all means, make the effort. They will make
you feel 15, again and that is always worth the trip!
Thanks for
that great double-header of BB (and other music!)
| From:
Shirley George: newspaper correspondent in Port Charlotte, FL: Mar 4, 2014 |
Charlotte County is fortunate
to have Celebrity Direct Entertainment (CDE) that brings extraordinary
shows to various venues. [...] As a Charlotte Sun correspondent, I had
the pleasure of working with Cord on the promo stories for shows. He is
dedicated to bringing the ‘best of the best’ entertainment to our area.
It was a big party at the ‘California Surf’ show in February, 2014 at the
Cultural Center Conference Center. Thank goodness the dance floor was large;
I had a blast dancing to some of my favorite songs. The five-member group
[were all] members who toured and recorded with the legendary ‘Beach Boys’
who rocked the house with hits such as ‘Surfin’ USA,’ ‘Kokomo,’ ‘Good Vibrations,’
‘Help Me Rhonda,’ and many more. Keep ‘em coming, Cord.
| From:
Wendy Woodman: Okeechobee KOA in Okeechobee, FL: Feb 2, 2014 |
| Our guests at Okeechobee
KOA really enjoyed the high energy performance by California Surf, Incorporated.
We were transported back in time when the iconic music of the Beach Boys
was heard and loved by folks of all ages. The band members
of California Surf engaged the audience as if we were sun-bleached blonds,
in Hawaiian shirts with a surfboard on the roof rack of a “Woody” automobile.
California Surf, Incorporated is a party and great fun for all ages. |
| From:
Marlene Donaldson: Captiva Island Yacht Club in Captiva, FL: Feb 5, 2014 |
Dear Cord - What a
concert! Thank you so much for bringing the surfer sounds to the Captiva
Island Yacht Club. Compliments were abundant last night & today, &
many said your concert at the club was the best party ever! It was so good
seeing our members having so much fun -- all thanks to you and California
Surf, Incorporated !
Looking forward
to more "cool sounds" from you and Celebrity Direct.
My best, Marlene |
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