A Tale of Two Concerts — and Two Audiences *** Three Months Apart, with Two Founding Members of The Beach Boys + Set-Lists & Band Personnel

Note from Phil:

My friend Brian Anderson is a life-long, devoted fan of The Beach Boys. He knows the songs, the music, and their story. I hope you enjoy his review. Brian enjoys, differently, both a Greatest Hits show and a dive into underplayed and forgotten deep-cuts.

He gives us an eye & ear witness account. 

• Set-Lists. 
• Band Line-Ups
• Excellent Photography

My thanks to Brian. 

Wilson and Anderson.

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A Tale of Two Concerts — and Two Audiences

Three Months Apart, with Two Founding Members of The Beach Boys

______________________________________________________________________________

By Brian Anderson

In the past thirteen months, I have had the opportunity to see the Mike Love and Bruce Johnston-led Beach Boys twice, and Al Jardine’s newest endeavor, a tour with Brian Wilson’s band, re-named as The Pet Sounds Band, once. I really hadn’t planned on seeing The Beach Boys again, twice within a calendar year, but a good friend and concert buddy expressed interest after never having seen that incarnation with Mike and Bruce before. We joked that we only go to shows of artists that may not be around much longer (Brian Wilson, who he also saw at the Hollywood Bowl, three Monkees shows with both three and two members, and the Pink Floyd-related shows of the Roger Waters solo tour and Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets band, twice).

So we went to see the Mike/Bruce band in Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater on May 23, 2025, along with a large crowd ready for a night of classic Beach Boys tunes. Having seen the band ten months earlier in Green Bay, Wis., I noticed that Mike Love”s voice was weaker, but I’m not sure whether it was from age or if he perhaps had been under the weather. It wasn’t a major thing that lessened the enjoyment, because we all know that our remaining Beach Boys are not getting any younger. And for those who take the view that “it isn’t The Beach Boys if there are no Wilsons in the band,” the basic great thing about seeing the touring version is hearing the immortal music played live. This will not be the case for much longer, at least with original members.

The set list for the concert stuck pretty close to the one I'd heard the previous summer, with several band members taking lead vocals for various songs. Mike is still singing “Rockaway Beach‚” and “Pisces Brothers,” deviating from the band’s traditional hits catalog. My friend and I particularly enjoyed drummer Jon Bolton seemingly channeling the spirit of Dennis Wilson through the show, often times mirroring the video images of the middle Wilson son on the screen behind him. He also comes across as the one having the most fun onstage. This isn't to slight the other musicians, who certainly excel in re-creating the music that we all know by heart. But Bolton is a great addition to the live act.

One note: Yes, I know the phrase “if it’s too loud, you’re too old.” But I’ve noticed with the last couple of Beach Boys shows that the volume is an assault on the hearing that is not required for their music. It doesn’t have to be on the border between extremely loud and distorted to be good.

As I mentioned before, there was a large audience that night, although I don’t know the actual attendance. It was my first time sitting in the balcony at The Riverside, and it also appeared to be full almost to the back, so the main floor must’ve been quite full as well. The crowd was also obviously skewed towards the Baby Boomers who grew up with the music and made up the majority of the crowd. We did notice that a couple of young women — who had to be in their early 20’s sitting next to my friend — knew all the words to everything being sung. We took this as a pleasant realization that the appreciation of the music will carry on to another generation. And hopefully more.

• • • • • • 

I’m calling this review “ A Tale of Two Concerts — and Two Audiences” for a reason. I don’t want to take anything away from the crowds that attend and enjoy The Beach Boys gigs fronted by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston (after all, I’m one of these fans). What I noticed at the August 23, 2025 concert featuring Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band, was that it was a different, more “deep cuts” kind of crowd than I’ve experienced before. The show was held in the completely restored 100-plus-year-old Des Plaines Theater in Des Plaines, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. It has a capacity of around 1,000, and while it wasn’t full to the rafters, I was greatly encouraged with the number of die-hard Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fans that came out for a 3:00 p.m. show on a summer Saturday (there also was a show in nearby suburb St. Charles, Illinois, on Sunday). 

Set 1 started out with many Beach Boys standards, but also with a couple of songs that I have not heard played live before — “Sweet Sunday Kind of Love,” “Susie Cincinnati,” and “She”s Got Rhythm.” Also good to hear “I Can Hear Music.” It was heart-warming to see those from Brian Wilson’s touring band back at it, infusing their love for him into each tune. It should be noted that Brian passed away on June 11th, between the two concerts, and that it was not only billed as such, but multiple times referred to during the show as “A Tribute to Brian Wilson.” What better way to do that that play overlooked music of his that has not graced the live shows much (or at all) since 1977?

I am referring to the stated intention and the following through of playing The Beach Boys Love You album from start to finish (except for “Mona,” “Let Us Put Our Hearts Together,” and “Love Is a Woman”). This is where it was evident of the two different concert crowds — the one in Milwaukee who came for the comfort of the classic hits without any deviation (other than the Mike songs referenced above). What would they have done with The Beach Boys Love You Being played? But this audience in Des Plaines was here to see and hear the album played by a band that deeply cares for Brian’s music. How many times have I been to a Mike/Bruce Beach Boys concert where people are wearing a shirt that just said, “Ding Dang!” That would be none times. Their anticipation of this special event was satisfied as Set 2 kicked off following a short intermission, when the band kicked into “Let Us Go On This Way” to great cheers. When I purchased the album in 1977 — as a 14-year old — having no idea that an album was coming out, I will admit that I was not sure of what I was hearing. But after all this time, it was such a great feeling to have this music flowing through the assembled crowd to great delight. Everybody was singing and smiling and really taking it all in — something that I would venture to say that no one of was expecting just a few months ago. When they concluded this segment of the show, what could we do but give the band and Brian a standing ovation! 

The band finished out Set 2 with three from Pet Sounds: “God Only Knows,” “Sloop John B,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” and then the set conclusion with “Good Vibrations.”

The band left the stage as we waited for the encore, and they were brought back by introducing each member (to great cheers). Everyone came back walking and waving to the crowd. All except Al Jardine, who at the age of 82 (he turned 83 eleven days later) came running back on stage. The encore concluded much as a Mike/Bruce show might, with four classics that are great singalongs for the crowd to wind up the event. This band was clearly enjoying being out on the road together again, and it showed. If you’re familiar with Brian’s solo tours and the whole SMiLE project, you are familiar with the names listed below. I only hope that these musicians stay connected with some sort of Beach Boys-related projects in the future.

One other thing about the crowd — after it was over, we chatted with a young couple who were part of the younger generation of music lovers who are in awe of Brian Wilson. Also sitting to my right were three young guys all wearing “SMiLE” t-shirts. Definitely a more Brian-centered crowd. Also, touching on something I wrote in the first review, the sound here was perfectly mixed to be able to hear the subtleties of each instrument and very enjoyable all mixed together at a non-overpowering level.

What follows are the set lists and band line-ups for both concerts as well as the personnel that brought us so much good music at these shows.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Beach Boys • The Riverside Theater

May 23, 2025

SET LIST:

Do It Again

Surfin' Safari

Catch a Wave

Don't Back Down

Rockaway Beach (Ramones cover)

Surfin' U.S.A.

Surfer Girl

Getcha Back

You're So Good to Me

Good to My Baby

When I Grow Up (to Be a Man)

Darlin'

Be True to Your School

In My Room

Don't Worry Baby

Little Deuce Coupe

409

Shut Down

Little Honda

I Get Around

INTERMISSION:

The Warmth of the Sun

Pisces Brothers (Mike Love song)

God Only Knows

California Girls

Then I Kissed Her

California Dreamin' (The Mamas & the Papas cover)

Sloop John B

Wouldn't It Be Nice

Help Me, Rhonda

Do You Wanna Dance? (Bobby Freeman cover)

Good Vibrations

ENCORE:

Kokomo

Barbara Ann (The Regents cover)

Fun, Fun, Fun

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Mike Love and Bruce Johnston's Touring Band:

Mike Love: Original member and frontman of the band.

Bruce Johnston: Longtime member since 1965, also part of the touring band.

Brian Eichenberger: Musical director and handles high harmony parts.

Christian Love: Son of Mike Love, a guitarist and vocalist.

Tim Bonhomme: Keyboardist and long-serving touring member.

Jon Bolton: Drummer and vocalist, known for his energetic performances.

Keith Hubacher: Bassist.

Randy Leago: Sax/flute player.

John Wedemeyer: Lead guitarist. 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

An Evening with Al Jardine and The Pet Sounds Band

The Des Plaines Theater • August 23, 2025

SET LIST:

California Girls

Do It Again

Surfer Girl

Don't Worry Baby

Little Deuce Coupe

I Get Around

In My Room

Darlin'

Dance, Dance, Dance Come Go

With Me Sweet Sunday Kind of Love

Susie Cincinnati

She's Got Rhythm

I Can Hear Music

Heroes and Villains

INTERMISSION:

From "The Beach Boys Love You" Album (1977):

*Let Us Go On This Way

*Roller Skating Child

*Johnny Carson

*The Night Was So Young

*Solar System

*Honkin' Down the Highway

*I'II Bet He's Nice

*Good Time

*Ding Dang

*I Wanna Pick You Up

*Airplane

God Only Knows

Sloop John B

Wouldn't It Be Nice

Good Vibrations

ENCORE:

Help Me, Rhonda

Barbara Ann

Surfin' U.S.A.

Fun, Fun, Fun

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Al Jardine: Founding Beach Boys member

The Pet Sounds Band (members of Brian Wilson’s band):

Al Jardine (Guitar, Vocals): Founding member of The Beach Boys, serving as the guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the band.

Matt Jardine (Vocals): Al’s son, a vocalist and percussionist who has performed with The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson’s band for decades.

Darian Sahanaja (Keyboard, Vocals): Longtime member of Brian Wilson’s band; also on the Beach Boys’ 50th Anniversary Tour.

Debbie Shair (Keyboard, Vocals): Keyboardist and long-time member of Brian Wilson’s band. Partner of Darian.

Rob Bonfiglio (Guitar, Vocals): A guitarist/music producer who has toured with Brian Wilson’s band, and is son-in-law to Brian, being married to Carnie Wilson.

Jim Laspesa: (Percussion, Vocals): Member of Brian Wilson’s band

Bob Lizik (Bass): Member of Brian Wilson’s band.

Mike D’Amico (Drums): Member of Brian Wilson’s band; also on the Beach Boys’ 50th Anniversary Tour.

Emeen Zarookian (Guitar, Vocals): A guitarist in the group.

Gary Griffin (Keyboards, Vocals): Toured with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys.

Paul Von Mertens (Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Harmonica, Vocals):

Toured with Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. 

 = = = = 

I’m just sitting here in the “Country Air”

     by my “Little Pad”

          eating my “Vegetables”

               while listening to my Wind Chimes.” 

“Aren’t You Glad”?

Brian Anderson

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