The Beach Boys
Belfast Waterfront
25th June, 2010

View: front-left

A tape of Surfin’ ushers the band on stage and they seamlessly join in, eventually taking over, and following with a six song medley of Catch A Wave, Hawaii, Lil Honda, Do It Again, Surf City and Surfin’ Safari. The band played for nearly two hours and every song was faultless, with perfect harmonies, faithful arrangements and pristine lead vocals. Mike Love is still every inch the show man, engaging and amusing. Bruce Johnston is like an overgrown teenager, jumping behind his keys, and Scott Totten’s guitar-playing is always on the money.

They’re not afraid to pull out lesser-known songs either, with a perfect Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring and pumping Bluebirds Over The Mountain, complete with quirky guitar solo. Likewise So Young was a treat and in the second half, Lil Deuce Coupe flipped the party switch. Mike kept the crowd going with California Girls, and Wouldn’t It Be Nice drew a major sing-along. Help Me Rhonda got the last sitters on their feet and a nearly punk Do You Wanna Dance tested the pacemakers. An encore took in Kokomo and a rocking Fun Fun Fun.

Reviewed by Mike MacLennan
<< Back to Issue 380

Login Here

Free Newsletter


Subscribe to
our email newsletter by emailing:

anna.bowen@
metropolis.co.uk