Arts & Entertainment

Beach Boys Still Catching a Wave After More Than 50 Years

The 1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees performed Sunday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

From strollers to walkers, all modes of transportation were evident Sunday night inside the Mohegan Sun Arena as three generations enjoyed a concert by one of America's most beloved groups, all to benefit a worthy cause.

The Beach Boys, who have been performing in various incarnations for more than half a century, headlined the show, sponsored by The REACH Foundation and the Ahmad Rashad Celebrity Golf Classic.

The Farmington-based REACH Foundation, founded in 2000 by Mark and Wendy Wilson, assists children in need - physically, socially and financially.

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Thousands of fans turned out to hear the great surf and hot rod songs that signified the innocence of the early 1960s - "Surfin' Safari," "Little Deuce Coupe," "California Girls" and "Good Vibrations," just to name a few.

Vocalist Mike Love, an original band member, and vocalist/keyboardist Bruce Johnston, who came on board in 1965, are the only longtime Beach Boys in the current lineup. They were augmented by five fine musicians, including Love's son Christian on guitar and drummer/vocalist John Cowsill of The Cowsills singing family of the early 1970s.

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In a 110-minute set, the group ripped through 38 numbers, including a three-song encore. A highlight was the surprise appearance of British songstress Lulu, who joined the band for "I Can Hear Music" and sang her huge #1 hit from 1967, "To Sir, With Love."

A touching tribute occurred when the band performed music and backing vocals only on "God Only Knows," opting to have a video clip of the late Carl Wilson serve as the main vocal.

The mostly-older crowd was relatively subdued through the first half of the show, but came to their feet in the second hour when the group performed hits like "Sloop John B," "Kokomo," "Help Me, Rhonda" and "Fun, Fun, Fun."

For the encore, the ensemble opted for a pair of lesser-known tunes ("Wild Honey" and "Goin' to the Beach") before closing with the Chuck Berry-influenced "Surfin' U.S.A."

Opening the show was the Kory Montgomery Band, a five-member outfit from Arkansas. The group made a tremendous impression in its brief 25-minute set, performing an inspired blend of blues, rock, jazz and funk highlighted by some amazing guitar work by Shawn Eckels.

The set list for the Beach Boys show was: Do It Again, Little Honda, Catch a Wave, Hawaii, Summer Means Fun, Surf City, Surfin' Safari, Surfer Girl, Getcha Back, Good to My Baby, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, When I Grow Up to Be a Man, Darlin', Be True to Your School, Don't Worry Baby, Little Deuce Coupe, 409, Shut Down, I Get Around, I Can Hear Music, To Sir With Love, Warmth of the Sun, Cool Head Warm Heart, God Only Knows, Sloop John B, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Dance Dance Dance, California Girls, Good Vibrations, Kokomo, Help Me Rhonda, Rock and Roll Music, Do You Wanna Dance, Barbara Ann, Fun Fun Fun, (encore) Wild Honey, Goin' to the Beach, Surfin' U.S.A.


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