Al Church and The Congregation at Turf Club (September 6, 2025)

 

Al Church Setlist

1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. Catch a Wave
3. Little Honda
4. California Girls
5. Barbara Ann
6. Don’t Worry Baby
7. I Get Around
8. Surfin’ USA
9. Surfin’ Safari
10. In My Room
11. Help Me, Rhonda
12. Sloop John B
13. Fun Fun Fun
14. Surfer Girl
15. Wendy
16. Good Vibrations
17. God Only Knows

Note: All songs written by Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys).

The Turf Club in St. Paul described the evening as one of “Surf at the Turf”, as Al Church and The Congregation were working a tribute evening to the music of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.

Al Church is a busy Twin Cities musician who plays multiple instruments and writes and performs both solo and in a variety of other bands in many genres. His 2015 album Next Summer is electronic pop. Before getting to the main event, Church started the evening with “Surfvana”, turning Nirvana songs into their surf version counterparts. Appearing appropriately as a trio (guitar, bass, and drums) they were in matching button down shirts, and leaning into that surf rock sound. Surf as You Are (alternatively, Come as You Surf) was a pretty excellent mock up of the more famous Nirvana song done perfectly with no vocals, except a “surf’s up!”. Satire like this only works when the underlying music is solid, and the band had that covered easily. Church’s guitar skills were up to the task and with the good reverb effect, this really worked. Drums were a highlight on the next number and honestly, this rose above to actually be pretty fun all on its own. It helped to have the Nirvana songs in the back of your head, but frankly, I enjoyed this re-imagining. It was also hilarious to see multiple people walking around the audience in the same shirts, who presumably were headed onstage later in the evening. Committed to the bit, they completed their five song set (finishing on Smells Like Surf Spirit) that absolutely should be released as an EP.

The band grew by three and the now sextet (vocals/guitars, bass/backing vocals, keyboards/backing vocals, saxophone, percussion/backing vocals, and drums) started straight in on the hits with Wouldn’t It Be Nice. The three backing vocalists gave the depth needed for a Beach Boys sound. Jacob, a guest singer (the only one not in matching shirt) came on for lead vocals on Little Honda. As expected, it was a play of all the early hits, with California Girls letting Church go to falsetto for parts of the chorus. Church and his drummer were the keys to keeping things on track and their non-verbal communication ensured instrumental sections and endings of songs were crisp and effective. The band routinely switched up lead singers on different songs and it was clear they were having a ton of fun.

I Get Around was perfect for Church’s vocal stylings for the evening, and a change of lyric to Snelling Avenue was a good example of the on brand silly moments throughout. A switch of drummer left us as a quintet and led to Surfin’ USA with a great guitar and sax instrumental. As Hank left the drums, it was noted that this was his first Turf Club show. After a toast to Brian Wilson, it was a slower song of In My Room. A sung Happy Birthday to an audience member aside, our guest vocalist Jacob was back for the great Help Me Rhonda and with five vocalists, the band had it in hand. As they neared the end, it was an impressive reminder of the sheer number of hits that Wilson & The Beach Boys penned. A late set appearance of Good Vibrations was well placed and had that very recognizable keyboards and was turned into quite the jam. Ending on God Only Knows, Al Church and The Congregation had done their tribute to Brian Wilson right.