Few bands have what it takes to last fifty years. Not only does it take a good bit of luck, timing, and personal longevity, it demands that your songs make an indelible mark on the culture. Luckily, all of those things describe the Beach Boys.
Often brought up in the same breath as the Beatles due to the time period, the Beach Boys were America’s answer to Beatlemania. Boasting a robust catalog that features classics like “Kokomo,” “Good Vibrations” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.” the Beach Boys are without a doubt one of the most important bands to ever land on the face of the earth.
This year, the Beach Boys return to their West Coast roots with a three night residence at the Hollywood Bowl spanning 7/2-7/4. Though fans of the band will immediately notice that the current iteration of the Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and do not feature original members Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, or David Marks. Sadly, the band has become fractured over the past decade, and in particular the rift between Mike Love and Brian Wilson has only grown wider and deeper.
Earlier this year, Wilson actually encouraged fans of the Beach Boys to boycott their music after Love indicated that he would play the Safari Club International Convention in Reno, Nevada. Sadly, it seems that this rift is nowhere near closing, and given the age of each of the band members, the chances of seeing Wilson and Love together on stage have dwindled close to zero.
But while you may not be able to see Wilson at this show, you can still see Love along with Bruce Johnston, musical director Scott Totten, Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher, and Randy Leago as they carry on the legacy of this beloved band.
Location: The Hollywood Bowl
Address: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
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