Mohegan Sun and I have been on the same page all month. Four out of the last five concerts I saw were there: three in the Arena, one in the Wolf Den. The timing was perfect as I had the entire month available to go to as many concerts as I could handle. We will be emerging into the holiday seasons soon and the stores have already started celebrating HalloThanksMass. Time will be tighter and not as readily available. So, let's celebrate this month with my final September concert: The Beach Boys.
The Beach Boys Endless Summer Gold was a tumultuous stream of non-stop songs that put us on the beach in the ‘60s, even if the snow was drifting outside our windows. The electricity of this music emanating from the stage kept the floor of the Arena dancing and jumping throughout the two hour show. As I looked around, I had to concede that much of the audience was older than I wish to admit, but the sparks we were still able to shoot out and the energy we absorbed and utilized to get past physical difficulties and romp around as though we were pre-teen once more brings tears to the eyes.
I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING ...
WE WERE CRYING BECAUSE IT HURT, AND FELT RELIEF WHEN WE COULD SIT DOWN AGAIN?
Nevertheless, it was a recreation of our own endless summers.
Opening with their string of beach and surf songs (Surfin' Safari, Surfer Girl, Surfin' USA, etc.) they are strong with the high and low harmonies and speed of tempo (excluding the romantic Surfer Girl) that we danced and drove around to. The next section was of car tunes (409, Little Deuce Coupe, I Get Around, etc.) and did not deliver the same. It became slower and deeper in tone, losing the falsetto tops that scream BEACH BOYS. At first this seemed accidental with Mike Love and Bruce Johnston seeming to want to pick up the pace, but with the car section continuing, it started to appear that the drag was purposeful.
The members of the Johnson/Love group are each amazing in voice and musicianship. Almost all (including drummer John Bolton) take over lead vocals at some time.
In 2024 we have:
Brian Eichenberger - guitar
Christian Love - guitar
Tim Bonhomme - keyboards
Keith Hubacher - bass
Randy Leago - sax and other horns
John Bolton - drums (John is obviously a lover of the Muppet character Animal. He has a stuffed replica sitting on his percussion set and his likeness to Animal's technique of just get wild and funky also brings memories of Keith Moon)
John Wedemeyer - guitar
Of course, Bruce Johnston is still the mainstay on keyboards with Mike Love picking up the majority of vocals.
Unlike last year's show, the emphasis was not on the original members' tributes. The names Dennis Wilson, Brian Wilson and Al Jardine were never mentioned. Carl Wilson's name and video tributes were, however, and his tingling, emotional hit 'God Only Knows' was performed by Christian Love. A simple "We miss you, Carl." adorned the back video screen when the song was completed. Carl's personal legacy has always been held up in esteem, so add in his talent quotient and it follows that his loss still stings his friends, co-workers and fans.
The show goes out with rapid fire non-stop wild singing and dancing top songs!
California Girls
Kokomo
Good Vibrations
Fun, Fun, Fun
The albums Endless Summer and Pet Sounds were featured, but there were songs aplenty from the early, mid and late sixties.
The Beach Boys bow, wave and look satisfied and exhausted as they leave the stage. No encores. The fire-cracker stream of songs ended on such a high that we are all satisfied and ready to breath, walk out slowly smiling and wrapped in the wealth of nostalgic blankets.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
This video (sent in by FH Reader Mike Wolstein) tied in so perfectly with Shelley’s review that I just HAD to run it!!!
