The Beach Boys were a three-peat at Shippensburg’s H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Oct. 25. They performed in 2008 and 2011 before returning for another completely sold out performance that rounded out the university’s homecoming celebrations.

Their popularity is not surprising. These Rock and Roll Hall of Famers have sold more than 100 million records, with 33 of their releases receiving platinum or gold awards from the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America).

Original founding member, Mike Love, and Bruce Johnston, who joined the band in 1965, led the seven-piece ensemble in well over 25 hit songs. Decades worth of immortal hits included “Surfin’ USA,” “Barbara Ann,” “California Girls” (covered in 1988 by David Lee Roth), “Kokomo” and Paul McCartney’s favorite song of all time, as stated in an interview, “God Only Knows.”

The stage was casual elegance. A projection screen on the back curtain added modern day mixed media to the concert, but some tropical plants on either side of it, subtly but effectively lit, maintained that ’60s vibe.

The screen had visuals on it throughout the show, including black-and-white photos and movie clips from the era, along with scenes throughout the years. At several points during the performance, Love would reference something on the screen, or make it a part of the song being performed.

A very special addition to the show iced that memory lane cake. In the fall of 1964 the band appeared on the season opening of “The Ed Sullivan Show,” the place to be seen in those days. The actual 1932 Ford “Deuce Coupe” from that 1964 performance made it to the Shippensburg stage Saturday, courtesy of the owner, a fan from New York.

Since their first hit, “Surfin’,” in 1961, the band has kept the beach vibe of the ’60s alive and taken it worldwide. That vibe was made even more real on Saturday, thanks to 500 vintage beach-related items on display in the Luhrs Center’s Orrstown Bank upper lobby.

These reminders of sun, sand and surf were courtesy of Bob Smith, associate dean of students at SU. He loaned his collection of vintage sand pails, shovels, toys and photographs for the event, bringing smiles to fans young and old who gathered in the display area.

The Beach Boys trademark sound is centered on tight, multi-layered harmonies and catchy chord progressions unusual for today, let alone back in the early days of rock and roll. Love mentioned the difficulty the band had learning the jazz-based harmonies to “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring,” a 1960 hit for The Four Freshman, which the Beach Boys performed Saturday.

The Beach Boys were founded by Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine, a close friend. Sadly, Carl and Dennis have both passed away, and Jardine no longer tours with the group.
View the Beach Boys photo gallery here.

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