Beach Boys transport audiences back in time on their 50th anniversary tour

HOLMDEL, N.J. — Those who showed up to New Jersey’s PNC Bank Arts Center on Wednesday, June 27 to take in the 50th anniversary of The Beach Boys were treated to a three-hour evening that transported listeners to the bygone era of lazy afternoons on the beach, hot rods in the driveway and the eternal struggle between heroes and villains. The monumental achievement by the five (sort of) original members of the California band was inspiring. From Brian Wilson at the piano to Mike Love on lead vocals, the group worked precisely and professionally, willing to entertain and never crossing over into self-indulgence. Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks provided stellar vocals and smooth instruments to fill things out.

The Beach Boys have returned in style, even though it feels like they never left us in the first place.

Backed by a perfectly complementary band, the five guys launched the night right on time with no opening act. At 7:35 a.m., “Do It Again” started a setlist that would number north of 40 and include both hits and rarities. There were the obligatory (and damn fun) fan favorites, including “Surfin’ Safari,” “Catch a Wave” and “409,” plus sentimental tributes to the late Carl and Dennis Wilson (“Forever” and “God Only Knows”).

Several tracks were lifted off the band’s new album, That’s Why God Made the Radio, and the title song from that latest effort proved to be one of the night’s highlights.

Each member had the chance to showcase his enduring skill, whether it was Brian Wilson’s measured vocals on “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times” or Love’s transcendental meditation ode, “All This is That”.

Comparison is inevitable. Although each band member has retained his voice over the years, there’s no matching Jardine’s near-perfect vocals. He put the exclamation point on several quality songs, including the “get her out of my heart” on “Help Me, Rhonda”.

The Pet Sounds songs were present and appreciated, especially “Sloop John B,” which remains one of the best songs in the large catalog of The Beach Boys. “Heroes and Villains,” with all of its zany storytelling, continues to fascinate.

And just when it looked like the night would wind down, the songs kept coming. From “California Girls” to “Good Vibrations,” very few stones were left unturned. The crowd, which included a packed reserved section and even more packed general admission area, ate up the reunion like lemon meringue pie on a summer’s evening. The weather was cool, with not a cloud in the sky. Older audience members closed their eyes, clapping their hands to the songs they remembered from better days. Younger audience members swayed back and forth, taking in the harmonizing vocals as if everything were new again.

The Beach Boys are not theatrical in their performances. There’s no fireworks, no large pleas to the audience to clap along, no interruptions between songs. Love plays maestro for the night, guiding the band through the setlist, always having fun, but also making sure the dollar signs on the tickets are well-earned.

To see this group back on stage (the first time this complete grouping has occurred in two decades) is downright historic. It’s very easy to be transported by the music and find the positivity in the sunny lyrics and enjoyable beats. It’s even easier to spot the excellence of Brian Wilson’s songwriting and smoothly complex harmonies.

When the boys played their three-song encore — including “Kokomo,” “Barbara Ann” and “Fun, Fun, Fun” — it was apparent why the legacy has continued for five decades. With thousands up on their feet, mouthing the lyrics we know all so well, it became clear that The Beach Boys, in this solitary moment of time, had returned from the past. How beautiful to be witnesses to time travel.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Click here for more information on the band. The Beach Boys continue their 50th anniversary tour on June 29 (Darien Lakes, N.Y.), June 30 (Clarkston, Mich.) and July 1 (Milwaukee, Wisc.). Additional dates are scheduled throughout the summer.