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It was hot and steamy on Thursday night in Stamford. Summer, in a word. And no band says that better than the Beach Boys. The band had the crowd rocking and singing along to their iconic songs.
Bruce Johnston followed the rest of the Beach Boys to the stage in Columbus Park Wednesday night, wearing a baseball cap advertising the band. "It sure is nice to be part of someone's smile in the middle of the summer," Johnston said, before climbing to the stage and taking his place behind the keyboard.
Johnston and the rest of the Beach Boysmost of the band's members have changed over the yearsplayed for a packed crowd in the seventh and final concert of Stamford's Alive@Five series. The band played California-inspired classics like "Good Vibrations", "Don't Worry Baby", and of course, "California Girls." The seven-member band includes original member Mike Love and Johnston, who has been a member since 1965.
Stamford resident George Galgano arrived at the park at 1:30 p.m. to secure his place in the front row of the audience. He said he grew up listening to the Beach Boys. "I'm 59 years old, so you can figure that one out," he said.
Galgano said his favorite Beach Boys song is "Fun, Fun, Fun." "My wife used to drive a T-bird and she got caught by the police. And she was having fun until she got caught by the police and her dad took the T-Bird away," he said with a laugh, comparing his wife Lynn's life to the song's lyrics.
Joseph DeMartino works near Columbus Park and has attended many Alive@ Five concerts. "There's great weather, a great atmosphere, great people-watching," said DeMartino, a Fairfield resident. "It's a great marketing tool for Stamford as a town. It shows growth."
John Maranelli, a Stamford resident, came to the show with his wife, Cindi. He had to wait until the group's encore to hear one of his favorite songs, "Kokomo." But he was more than satisfied with what he heard. "We grew up with this band and they sound exactly the same," he said.
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