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Bruce
Johnston & Mike Love
© The Press Office
Mike
Love still "Getting Around"
© 2003 Natalie Chambliss - Southeast Concerts
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Despite a brief rain shower during the first 15 minutes, Mike
Love and the Beach Boys brought everyone to their feet during
the legendary group's performance Friday night with the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra. Although the weather was not "California
Sunny", the group's unique sound and classic songs took
everyone along for a wonderful trip to the beach... and the
weather was soon forgotten.
Still touring 40 years later, founding member Mike Love is able
to deliver the songs he co-wrote with an energy most musicians
of today lack. His stage presence and unmistakable voice were
in tip-top shape as he led the band through the best of the
Beach Boys' catalog.
Grammy-winning songwriter Bruce Johnston, with the group since
1965, still lends his essential vocal and keyboard talents as
well. The rest of the band, including Adrian Jones, Mike Kowalski,
Chris Farmer, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, and Scott Totten,
were absolutely stellar and performed these classics with a
refreshing liveliness.
After a brief intermission, the band was joined onstage by the
wonderful Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. This combination proved
to be one of the best pairings of recent memory, with the eloquent
sounds of the Beach Boys' vocals complemented perfectly by the
orchestra.
Highlights
of the night inlcuded a great classic set of doo-wop covers,
an especially rousing version of "Little Deuce Coup",
and the still lyrically-inventive "Good Vibrations"
and "Kokomo".
Four
decades later, the Beach Boys still have it. Although the group's
lineup has changed over the years, the songs remain as invigorating
as ever when performed live. This is due to the excellence of
the songs, both musically and lyrically, as well as to the quality
of musicians gathered on stage.
Although
Atlanta is a long way from the sunny shores of California, seeing
the Beach Boys perform took me on a trip to my own private beach
anyway. Such a great performance by a legendary group... I still
think there was sand between my toes Friday night!
For
more information on the Beach Boys, visit the band's site at
www.BeachBoysBandcom
For
more information on the spectacular Classic Chastain Series
or the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, please visit ClassicChastain.org
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