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NEWPORT — When the Beach Boys play in Newport on Sunday night, one of them will know his way around town.
Drummer John Cowsill grew up here and his family band, the Cowsills, put four hits — including “Hair” and “The Rain, the Park and Other Things” — into the Top 40 from 1967-69.
“It kind of blows my mind that I’m coming to Newport to play with the Beach Boys,” he said recently by phone from Boston. “I never get tired of playing this music, though people ask me. These are the songs I started out playing at Dorian’s and places like that … Beach Boys and Beatles. I think they helped my brother Bill get ideas for our harmonies later on.”
Today, the Beach Boys are led by singer Mike Love and veteran member Bruce Johnston, with a handful of other players, including Cowsill on drums. They will perform a free concert Sunday at Dewey Field at Naval Station Newport.
Gates open at 5 p.m. Lawn chairs and blankets are allowed, but coolers, backpacks, pets and outside food and beverages are not allowed.
Unlike last summer’s show with Huey Lewis and the News, there will be no fireworks, with the Navy planning its end-of-the-season display on Aug. 30.
Without giving away too much information, Cowsill — a 10-year Beach Boy — said the crowd can expect to hear the songs they know. “It’s a jukebox, basically,” he said. “You’ll hear the hits and some rarities. But it’s one great song after another.”
The Beach Boys have been famous for hits as well as groundbreaking albums such as “Pet Sounds.” Cowsill — whose own family band struggled with success — said some of the Beach Boys’ enmity is overblown. While they have been involved in litigation through the years, cousins Brian Wilson (now performing solo) and Love remain friends, he said.
Through the years, Love has been portrayed as the bad guy and Wilson — damaged by drugs and mental illness — the good guy. But, Cowsill said, “they talk on the phone all the time. You don’t hear about that. Mike never says anything publicly to defend himself, but the two of them are friends.”
Original Beach Boys Carl and Dennis Wilson have died and guitarist/singer Al Jardine runs his own band.
Cowsill said he was surprised and excited to see Newport listed on his 2009 itinerary earlier this year. “I couldn’t figure out where we were playing at first,” he said. “Then I saw it was the Navy base. That’s great for me. I’m a Navy brat. My father spent 20 years in the Navy.’’
Cowsill, who lives in California, said he expects to stay on base for the show, but he hopes to enjoy a summer day in town. “I definitely want to go downtown to look around,” he said. “It’s my hometown, and I usually get there only once a year.”
Because of the recession, bookings, particularly corporate events, are off a bit this year, he said. But he works a 10-month schedule, with January and February off.
“I’m a lucky guy,” he said. “I’m sitting at the drums and I have the $1,000 seat.”
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