Film Review: 1974 On The Road With The Beach Boys

Musician Billy Hinsche has a long storied history, but in 1974 he played front and center in The Beach Boys during the “Holland-era” tour. Billy playing guitar and harmonizing with the Wilson brothers is all documented in this new film. Not so much a concert film, but a selection of never before seen “home movies” of the band onstage and off. Lots of footage of the late Dennis and Carl Wilson are shown, intercut with current interview clips of other players in the band and some archival photos. It also really lets you learn about various background players, like sound engineer Steven Moffitt and musician Ricky Fataar and how important they were to the stage show. Highlights include Al Jardine playing bits of “Heroes and Villians,” Carl getting silly at breakfast, Dennis coming off very cool and some concert footage. You really feel like you are hanging out with the band in spots and traveling with them on tour, boarding the band’s private Fairchild F-27 plane in Kansas City, landing in Chicago and then checking in the hotel with Brian Wilson upon landing. Hinsche filmed plenty of private moments with the band, like Dennis and Al discussing transcendental meditation or a rowdy game of backgammon. Most of the movie was shot on Portapak black and white video, so it’s not exactly high definition. But for Beach Boys fans this is must-see TV, in addition is the Hinsche penned theme “Under A Beach Boy Moon” performed by John Hunter Phillips. Don’t miss the extra features: “Director’s Comments” and “Where are they now?” with an update on what became of the players.