Pop Notes: Rock and Wheels

The Beach Boys, straight off a controversial performance at President Trump’s fundraising concert in Orange County last weekend that had founders Brian Wilson and Al Jardine disavowing the appearance by the touring outfit led by former Santa Barbara resident Mike Love, return to a favorite stomping ground at the Ventura Fairgrounds on Friday, October 23. The nearly 60-year-old group that scored an unprecedented string of hits in the 1960s will still be performing outside at the venue, although it’ll be in the parking lot rather than a stage at the raceway, and the audience will be limited to viewing from their autos as the show is part of the ongoing Concert In Your Cars series. The show features Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath and longtime Beach Boys buddy John Stamos – who teamed with the band for a remake of “Do It Again” back in 2017 – as special guests.

The following night, Saturday, October 24, brings original 1980s and ‘90s-era Oingo Boingo members Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez, Sam “Sluggo” Phipps, Carl Graves, Steve Bartek, and John Avila – who tour under the unwieldy if descriptive name “Oingo Boingo Former Members” – for a “Halloween Jam” show at the car-centric series, where they’ll play such hits as “Dead Man’s Party,” “Weird Science,” “We Close Our Eyes,” “Only a Lad,” “Just Another Day,” “Stay,” “Who Do You Want To Be,” “Gratitude,” and “Private Life.” Visit www.concertsinyourcar.com.

In the streaming center: Iration, the Isla Vista-born band that last appeared in town at the Santa Barbara in summer of 2019 and are due back at the big outdoor venue next August 29, have two live stream shows from Malibu available online. The performances – an October 18 one is already in the can, while a completely different show from the reggae-rock band is set to premiere on October 22 – are meant to promote Coastin’, Iration’s seventh studio album, released during the Summer of COVID. Visit www.irationmusic.com. 

Never Say NIVA

Beyond our shores, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) recently hosted its Save Our Stages Fest as a benefit for its NIVA Emergency Relief fund, which helps some of the most at-risk venues from closing permanently as the organization waits for Congress to pass the Save Our Stages Act. Recordings of the concerts featuring 35 artists and dozens of iconic venues, including Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews and Reba McEntire, are available at SOS’s website (www.saveourstages.com) where you can also make donations.