On May 25, 2024, The Music of The Beach Boys brought by Al Jardine, Carnie and Wendy Wilson, and Matt Jardine was the kickoff show for the season for Scera Shell Outdoor Theater in Orem!
It was my first time at this venue. I was so impressed with the kindness of the staff there. My husband was equally as impressed with their reasonable concession prices! Venue workers all adorned leis. There was a vintage Volkswagen Beetle with surfboards, and beach balls were scattered throughout the area. This made for a perfect setting to welcome one of the founding members of The Beach Boys and many of his friends and family who all played their own role in The Beach Boys in different seasons of the iconic, legendary band!
It wasn’t really a concert, at least not in the traditional sense. September 19th at the Sandy Amphitheater was more of a musical celebration devoted to Brian Wilson while he primarily sat and soaked in the experience. It certainly wasn’t for everybody. Those who went expecting to experience the Mike Love incarnation of the Beach Boys sporting Bahama shirts while playing their pop classics like, “Be True to Your School” may have left disappointed. Yet from the moment Brian Wilson scuffled onto the stage with the support of his walker and took his seat at the piano where he played a few notes and struggled to sing along to his amazing band, those who went to celebrate the harmonies and instrumental creativity Brian has given the world through his extraordinary gifts were given a special treat, a moment never to be forgotten.
True, the show opened up with a few classics such as, “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” and “Help Me, Rhonda,” but a bulk of the concert was devoted to some of the lesser known songs from the Beach Boys late 60’s material that at the time of their original release failed to gain widespread appreciation by an American audience. The band performed “Darlin’” from the 1967 album Wild Honey before turning to four straight songs from the 1968 album Friends.
Despite Brian’s physical difficulties, performing these live renditions truly showcased his incredible brilliance. Hearing the music live leaves little doubt as to why Wilson is rightfully considered one of the greatest musical geniuses of the modern era.
This was the Brian Wilson “Something Great From 68 Tour,” yet the band treated Sandy to a rare performance of “Salt Lake City,” which was obviously, given the setting, a fun experience. Unfortunately, some of those expecting a Mike Love type Beach Boys concert left early while the band explored the lesser known music primarily from the 1971 album Surf’s Up, including, “Feel Flows,” “Long Promised Road,” “Till I Die,” “Lookin’ at Tomorrow,” and of course, the album’s title track. These songs were clearly not the Beach Boys’ material some came to experience, but for devoted fans, the setlist truly showcased some of Brian’s finest material.
