The Beach Boys with John Stamos are bringing a California Christmas to Syracuse
The Beach Boys will bring a California Christmas to Syracuse
The Beach Boys are headed to Syracuse to bring some sunny holiday cheer to our wintery weather.
Since debuting their Christmas album in 1964, The Beach Boys have become a staple of the season. Their most notable song, “Little St. Nick,” gives a hot-rod update to Santa’s sleigh in three-part harmony.
Mike Love, original member and current frontman of The Beach Boys, said that performing the band’s Christmas hits brings back memories of playing music with his family.
“The Beach Boys got together as family, with my cousins Brian, Dennis, Carl [Wilson] and all our aunts and uncles,” Love said during a phone interview with The NewsHouse. “We literally would go Christmas caroling around the neighborhood at this time of year, but now we’re Christmas caroling around the country.”
While the holidays are an occasion to celebrate with loved ones, it can also be a difficult time for those who have lost someone close to them. To pay tribute to his cousins Dennis and Carl Wilson, Love said that a part of the concert features a video that shows all the original members of the band. In addition to Love singing lead, his son, Christian, will also perform with the band, performing many songs including “God Only Knows.”
“It’s always sad when your group members or family members pass on but the neat thing about music is that if somebody’s a great singer, they can do a song beautifully,” Love said. “You can replicate those songs.”
In recent years, Love’s leadership in the band has been called out by surviving original members Brian Wilson and Al Jardine. They renounced the use of The Beach Boys’ name after Love agreed to play at a fundraising event for former President Donald Trump in 2020. There have been multiple lawsuits filed by Love against the other band members, and the remaining original members have not toured together since 2012.
As for his politics, Love said he believes everybody has their own individual expression, and would never try to impose that on the audience.
“The one thing about politics, we don’t bring it up during the show. We don’t, because we realize that the audience is comprised of people that have every kind of preference,” Love said. “I think Beach Boys are known for positivity and harmony. And, that’s what we hope to do and continue to do.”
Despite the absence of Wilson and Jardine, John Stamos will be appearing on stage, drumming and singing with the band. The You actor is a long-time-fan-turned-friend of the band.
“We first met him when he was ‘Blackie’ on General Hospital,” Love said. “Then of course he became America’s favorite Uncle, ‘Uncle Jesse’ on Full House. We get recognized by people from Full House reruns and stuff.”
“He loves playing the drums, though. So, we like having him. He injects a lot of energy into the concerts.”
Fans of the ’90s show will remember when The Beach Boys made their second appearance on Full House to help Stamos’ character record a cover of their song “Forever” to sing to his on-screen wife, Becky, played by Laurie Lauglin. In real life, Love helped Stamos marry his wife, Caitlyn.
The Beach Boys will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater in downtown Syracuse. Tickets are available for $61-$240.
is an arts journalism and communications graduate student and a contributor for The NewsHouse.
