“America’s Band” the Beach Boys played the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA Friday night (8/30). Last year they played the Hollywood Bowl for three consecutive nights (7/2-4) for the bowl’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular which had been postponed from 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
The Beach Boys Formed in Hawthorne, CA in 1961 and became America’s biggest group with 36 Top 40 hits and over 100 million album sales worldwide as well as being America’s top band before, during, and after the British Invasion and were an inspiration for The Beatles. The group was formed by the Wilson Brothers (Brian, Carl, and Dennis), their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Over the years other instruments such as keyboards, percussion, and saxophone were added into their live shows.
In the band’s 63 year history, there have been many lineup changes but lead vocalist Love has been the only consistent member to this day from the original group and keyboardist/vocalist Bruce Johnston has been a member since 1965. Johnston was originally brought in to become Brian Wilson’s replacement on the road. The touring group consists of Love’s son Christian on guitar and vocals, Brian Eichenberger (Guitar/Vocals) keyboardist Tim Bonhomme, Randy Leago (Sax/Flute/Harmonica), bassist Keith Hubacher, and newest members John Wedemeyer (Guitar/Vocals) and drummer/vocalist Jon Bolton who joined last year.
Joining the Beach Boys was Full House star John Stamos who has toured with the group on and off for nearly 40 years. Stamos played guitar, drums, and percussion throughout the night but not on every song, but also at times handled drum duties solo. The 44-song setlist began with “Do It Again” following an intro video on the band.
The hits continued with “Surfin’ Safari,” “Catch a Wave,” and “Hawaii.” There was also a cover of the Ramones’ “Rockaway Beach.” Love’s daughter Ahmba who has performed with the group over recent years joined in for a duet on “Kiss Me Baby.” As Love says during each show “Time to rev up the hot rods one more time,” and that’s just what they did with the last five songs of the first half “Little Deuce Coupe,” “409,” “ Shut Down,” “Little Honda,” and “I Get Around.”
After an intermission the group returned for more hits like “The Warmth of the Sun,” “I Can Hear Music,” and “Forever”originally sung by Dennis Wilson. Dennis passed in 1983 from an accidental drowning. The song was featured in Full House. Stamos sang it as footage from both Beach Boys episodes was shown on the screen. Jeff Foskett, a member of both Brian Wilson’s band and The Beach Boys known for singing Wilson’s falsetto parts, had passed this past december and Stamos played his guitar on “Forever.” Stamos sang on the Mamas and Papas “California Dreamin’” too which The Beach Boys recorded in 1986.
Love told the story of the group writing “The Warmth of the Sun” and finishing around one/two A.M. and later that day the news broke about JFK’s assassination and the emotions when recording the song a month later. Love dedicated the song to Brian Wilson who is now retired from touring. The last time all surviving members performed together was on their 50th anniversary tour in 2012 and were most recently together for the Grammy salute to the Beach Boys and the premiere of their Disney+ film.
Love’s wife Jacquelyne was brought out for her birthday and “Happy Birthday” was sung. Carl Wilson was honored with “God Only Knows” sung by Christian Love. Carl had remained a member of the group until passing away from lung cancer in 1998.
For “Barbara Ann,” members of the band’s family and comedian Jeff Ross came on stage. Lead vocals were shared by nearly every member of the group. Johnston sang lead on “ You’re So Good to Me,” and “Do You Wanna Dance?” Not only did Christian sing lead on “God Only Knows” but also “Sail On Sailor,” and “Help Me Rhonda.” Bolton sang lead on “Darlin,”and “I Can Hear Music.” Eichenberger, the band’s new musical director, was originally Foskett’s replacement in Wilson’s band singing Wilson’s falsetto parts. Now with the Beach Boys he sings the majority of songs Wilson had sung lead on.
As always before “Be True to Your School,” there was some humor between Love and Stamos and Love singing the first word of the song “when” for an extended time. Love dedicated it to his nephew Kevin and a photo of him appeared on the screen in his UCLA jersey as well as his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and now Miami Heat. The final songs were “Kokomo,” “Good Vibrations,” “Summertime Blues,” and “as always “Fun, Fun, Fun.” In order to perform 44 songs, a few were shortened and combined with little talking in between.
