Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - The Beach Boys

This week’s feature is in memory of my Dad, whose birthday would be this weekend.  He was a HUGE Beach Boys fans, and a self-admitted “car song fan”.  He definitely liked the car songs.  You could almost divide the Beach Boys sound into 3 categories : Car songs, Summer/California/Beach songs, and the technical/deep stuff (Pet Sounds/Good Vibrations).  At any rate, not hear to analyze the many facets of The Beach Boys.......only their concerts.

I have seen the Beach Boys 4 times : Poplar Creek, Illinois State Fair, Crystal Grand Theatre, and Skyline Stage at Navy Pier.  Interestingly, 3 of the 4 times were outside, though one could almost consider the Crystal Grand Theatre as outside since it was at Wisconsin Dells and everybody was dressed like they were on the beach.  But, in reality, the Beach Boys are best enjoyed outside. Outside in the setting sun, or the refreshing summer evening, or the countryside, or in the dark – and definitely a place where beach balls bound all around!!!  The best way to describe a Beach Boys concert is with one single, small – yet significant – word.....FUN.  (Or Fun, Fun, Fun – get it?  Get it?)

Seriously though, a Beach Boys concert is about fun in the sun, carefree days and nights, great memories, and relaxation.  And, the band guarantees you’ll have a fun experience.  The show is filled with all the sing-along hits, with a few rarities here and there.  The band, especially Mike Love, is very interactive with the audience, stories, jokes, and the usual tricks-of-the-trade to get the crowd’s reaction.  But that is exactly what a Beach Boys fan wants in their concert.  The State Fair show was my favorite, it was inside the horse/car track and the crowd sat in the main grandstands (or stood on the track).  It was a throw-back to the 1960s era of touring concerts to all the fairs with the various bands, and the cheap bleachers, and the general “outdoor country” of a State Fairground.  Though, this isn’t to say I didn’t have fun at the Skyline Stage with Chicago’s skyline one way and Lake Michigan the other – or Poplar Creek – in the lawn seats under a summer sky – or even the festive Crystal Grand Theatre. But, the underlying theme that tied all the shows together – FUN – and the general carefree spirit of The Beach Boys music. 

I was fortunate enough to see them with a Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston lineup once, and then various combinations of that lineup the other 3 times.  Sadly, Carl passed away shortly after one of the shows we got see him play.  I even got to see John Stamos on drums, yep John Stamos on drums at the Poplar Creek show.  I have seen Brian Wilson, albeit solo, but that’s an entirely different entry, maybe next week (hint hint).

Anyhow, the Beach Boys have splintered into several variations now, but if you ever get a chance to see a show with any combination – it’s worth it.  Buy lawn seats or bleacher seats and enjoy the old-fashioned, summer in the sun, carefree spirit of their music!!

Have Fun Fun Fun..................