LIVE REVIEW: The Beach Boys in Lowell, MA (06.10.25)
On Wednesday morning, news broke that the legendary, visionary co-founder of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, had died at the age of 82. Some described him as “troubled,” which is the oft-used euphemism for the mentally ill. Wilson suffered from schizoaffective disorder, which combines schizophrenia and bipolar symptoms. He was also diagnosed with dementia in early 2024. On Tuesday night, Middlesex Community College presented The Beach Boys with special guest John Stamos to a sold-out crowd at Lowell Memorial Auditorium as part of the College’s annual Celebrity Forum. The proceeds from the 26th Celebrity Forum directly support scholarships for students interested in pursuing a degree from Middlesex Community College.
The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Grammy winner, New York Times best-selling author, co-founder, lead singer, and chief lyricist of The Beach Boys. Love is also a 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee. The touring band includes Bruce Johnston, musical director Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, Jon Bolton, Keith Hubacher, Randy Leago, and John Wedemeyer. Actor John Stamos has appeared periodically with The Beach Boys for 40 years. Stamos first appeared with the band as a celebrity guest in 1985 during a Fourth of July concert at the Washington Monument. Mike Love joked that after that, “they couldn’t get rid of him.”
Lowell was the starting date of their “Sounds of Summer” tour. MCC’s President Phil Sisson spoke with 84-year-old Mike Love before the show began. Asked if he had any advice for new graduates, Love said, “Make sensible, wise lifestyle choices. And that can mean a bunch of things. Do only what’s healthy for you and positive for you.”
Despite being a fan of the band in my youth and throughout high school and College, I’d never seen The Beach Boys perform live. I missed most of the original members in the lineup. Tuesday night was a bit melancholy and full of nostalgia. The songs were accompanied by videos throughout the evening, many of which were black and white, reflecting the early days of the 1960s. Before the band came onstage, a video with old clips and movie clips featuring mentions and appearances (including Full House) got the crowd primed. As handsome, charming, and cool in person as you’d expect, John Stamos, wearing a white suit, started out playing guitar. At one point, I guess trying to relate to the locals, he said: “I’m addicted to this trial. I invited Karen Read here, but I don’t see her.” Stamos played “Forever,” a song I didn’t recognize or recall. It was his “hit” from his days on Full House with Jessie and the Rippers, his character’s band.
As with many older acts touring these days, there’s plenty of musical and vocal backup. Including Stamos, there are 10 band members and plenty of young people who can hit the high notes. Oftentimes, Mike Love sounded mumbly, too low and muffled. Hard to maintain vocals.
Early on, Brian Wilson stopped touring due to mental health issues, and guitarist Carl Wilson took over as de facto leader. Drummer Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983. Carl Wilson died of lung cancer in 1998. After his death, Mike Love was allowed to continue touring under the group’s name with keyboardist Bruce Johnston. In 1965, Johnston joined the band for live performances, filling in for Brian Wilson. He left to pursue solo projects and rejoined in 1978.
The Beach Boys are critically and commercially acclaimed. The band had 37 songs reach the U.S. Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, with four topping the chart. In 1988, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They played a lot of those hits on Tuesday.
“Be True to Your School” got people seated at tables down on the floor (sponsors and big donors) up and dancing. Christian Love sang lead on “Don’t Worry Baby,” sounding just like his dad used to sound. He also sang the devastatingly gorgeous “God Only Knows” as images of Brian Wilson filled the video screen. Drummer Jon Bolton joined the touring band in 2023 and adds energy, zest, and flair, whether twirling his drumsticks while playing and singing lead on “California Dreamin'” or putting on funny sunglasses and standing next to a bandmate striking a woodblock. They performed an upbeat cover of the Ramones’ “Rockaway Beach” and their lovely rendition of the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’.”
“In Your Room” featured some lovely harmonizing. My friend and I were sitting behind an excited group of Baby Boomer women clad in The Beach Boys t-shirts and wearing leis. Those women and the entire crowd were enjoying themselves. It’s hard not to with The Beach Boys, California surf, sun, and summer vibes going on. The end of the set included “Good Vibrations” and a slowed-down “Kokomo.” Everyone had “Fun, Fun, Fun.”
Featured image by: Mike Von Villas (September 2024)
