James Olsen can still recall the first time he saw The Beach Boys perform as a teenager in the 1980s in Michigan.
Now, all those years later, he’s ready to sing along with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “California Girls” and so many more of the memorable hits.
This time, however, he doesn’t have to go too far to see the legendary act since The Beach Boys are making a stop at the Crown Theatre in Fayetteville.
“I love just the simplicity of it. Most of them are three-chord progression songs and upbeat. They are just fun,” Olsen said. “It’s hard to get songs that people like and they just have dozens and dozens.”
Olsen just recently downloaded The Beach Boys 50 greatest hits when the very next day he heard about the fact that the band was coming to Fayetteville.
“I thought, ‘You gotta be kidding me. What are the chances?’” he said. “I took that as a sign to revisit The Beach Boys in person after 36 years.”
The band is scheduled to appear in just a little over a week at the Crown Theatre on Nov. 9. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and should last about two hours.
Of course at the Crown Theatre concessions will be open for those seeing the show and will include tropical drink specials as an homage to The Beach Boys.
“I’ve definitely heard some buzz about this show out in the community,” Madeleine Eversole, the Director of Marketing for the Crown Complex, said. “Anyone who’s enjoyed hearing these songs over the years should take the opportunity to come see the band perform live.”
Eversole and other members of the Crown Complex have been getting a lot of good feedback, she says, from playing the band’s music at local events trying to drum up some publicity for the upcoming show.
“People love these shows,” she said.
While not all the original members of The Beach Boys still tour and travel, the show will include original member Mike Love as well as Bruce Johnson. Eversole expects a good turn out with more than 70% of the seats already sold for the upcoming show. Tickets start at $31.
“The Beach Boys have so many hits and it’s going to be so much fun to see them perform live!” Eversole said.
For Olsen, he says he hopes they still sound like The Beach Boys after all these years.
“I have been on a kick of seeing bands over again this year,” Olsen said. “The year of 2023 has been it.”
The Crown will also host upcoming shows for Gladys Knight, Josh Turner, Air Supply, Leanne Morgan and John Mellencamp.
For more information about this or any upcoming shows visit www.crowncomplexnc.com.