By DONNA BALANCIA
Brian Wilson brought a wave of nostalgia to the first annual BeachLife Festival on Saturday night.
Wilson was seated at a white grand piano as Al Jardine, Matt Jardine and Blondie Chaplin teamed with the genius songwriter and the band to relive the Beach Boys sound.
With a setlist that included hits “Sail on Sailor,” “California Girls,” “God Only Knows” and “Good Vibrations,” the legends gave a chance for the new generation to experience the band that in the 1960s set the standard for all American music to follow.
Wilson, who has had health issues over the years, was brought on stage in a wheelchair, as word got around that he had a recent back operation.
It was the Saturday night showstopper to a day that had all the elements of a successful California festival: Great weather, great people, good food and beer and the beach.
The location in Redondo which was miraculously transformed from a gigantic barren parking lot that had been that way for many years, to a mini paradise on the water, was in itself a major success.
Crowne Plaza, fantastic inside and out, was the host hotel and employees and management alike stepped up their game to give best face not only the locals, but to those from out of the area who came to enjoy the music.
Musicians Jason Mraz and Raining Jane, Sugar Ray, Berlin and others helped float the first of what is expected to be at least a 6-year run of BeachLife Festival at the Redondo location.
Chevy Metal frontman Taylor Hawkins, better known as the drummer for the Foo Fighters underscored the range of acts at the first BeachLife Festival.
“We’re a Van Halen cover band playing on the same stage as Brian Wilson,” he said. The band that started playing the Mexican restaurant in the valley may be a cover band but got the crowd pumped with some classics.
Check out our photo gallery of musicians who brought the sound to the waterfront on the second of the three-day event.