We may be headed toward winter, but you can still enjoy the quintessential sounds of summer — The Beach Boys! Find out where to drive your “Little Deuce Coupe” to catch them live in concert, and let their waves of memorable music wash over you.

By Peg Cameron Gill

Head to Springfield on Saturday, Nov. 4 to catch “America’s Band” the Beach Boys in concert at O’Reilly Family Center. The concert starts at 5:30 PM, and you can get tickets here. 

The surfin’ singers will be joined by special guests Ha-Ha Tonka. 

“I Get Around,” written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, was released in May of 1964. It was the first of only four No. 1 singles that the group would have in their long and prolific career, the others being “Help Me Rhonda” (1965), “Good Vibrations” (1966), and “Kokomo” (1988).

Robert Linder, Unsplash

Their music was the soundtrack of summer for many – and it still is today. In 2022, when the documentary “American Masters – Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road” was released, Alexis Petridis, The Guardian’s head rock and pop critic, released his list of the 40 greatest Beach Boys’ songs in ranked order. 

Coming in at number one was “Good Vibrations (1966).” It was followed by 2. “Surf’s Up” (1971), 3. “Caroline”, (1966), 4. “Til I Die” (1971), 5. “Don’t Worry Baby” (1966, remastered 2001), 6. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” (1966), 7. “California Girls” (1965 Stereo), 8. “I Get Around” (1964 stereo, remastered), “God Only Knows” (1966, remastered 1999), and 10. “Please Let Me Wonder” (1965, remastered).

Of course, fans will remember that the Midwest got a shoutout in the Beach Boys’ classic hit “California Girls,” with the lyrics “…Midwest farmers’ daughters really make you feel alright…”

So grab your shades, surfboard, and swim trunks or swim suit – well, not literally – and enjoy the sounds of summer before the temps decline.

To read a fun play on the Beach Boys’ hit “Good Vibrations,” click here.

For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.