The Beach Boys will be enjoying an endless summer as frontman Mike Love can sing “I Get Around” with as much conviction as he managed as a son of Southern California harmonizing with his cousins, the Wilson brothers, in the ’60s. Dennis and Carl Wilson are gone now, and, although Brian Wilson returned to live performing after decades in seclusion, it’s Love and Bruce Johnston (who joined the band in 1965) that continue to keep the spirit of surf music alive for audiences filled with multiple generations of fans. And as long there is demand, according to Love, the Beach Boys will deliver.
Love took lead vocals when the Beach Boys recorded the demo for “Surfin’” in 1961. His singing style began to gel with the band’s first single for Capitol Records, “Surfin’ Safari,” and with “Surfin’ U.S.A” the band had their first Top Ten hit and credit for starting the surf music craze. The hits kept coming throughout the decade and the band experienced a resurgence of popularity in the ’70s, and although they returned to the charts with “Kokomo” in 1988, they’ve enjoyed more success as a live act over the last few decades.
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2, starting at $45 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000
