Review and photos by Jeff McEvoy
(Miami, FL) On Friday, March 3, 2023, the much anticipated second Sixthman Beach Boys Cruise was ready to set sail with a full ship of 3,000 people. The Mike Love-owned Club Kokomo distillery, along with Norwegian Cruise Lines Sixthman put together a stellar lineup that left many people enjoying new artists they had never heard of before. Aside from the headlining Beach Boys (with special guests John Stamos and Mark McGrath), we were treated to the sounds of The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, singer/songwriter Jimmy Webb, Katrina of Katrina And The Waves, American Idol winner Kris Allen, a top-notch Beatles tribute band called RAIN, The Surfrajettes, Maggie Rose, The Neon Queen a tribute to ABBA, Morgan James, Brett Wiscons, Steve Everett, and Kristopher James.
The Isley Brothers kicked things off on the pool deck as many people just finished arriving. They had the cruise crowd pumped up with their hits “This Old Heart of Mine” Grammy winner “It’s Your Thing” and ended with a rousing version of SHOUT! I briefly stopped by the Atrium to catch newcomer Steve Everett from Nashville. His band plays bluesy soul-pop that has some catchy hooks that just want to make you move. From there I went to the Stardust Theater to watch the lyrical mastermind, Jimmy Webb, who performed “Wichita Lineman,” “The Worst That Could Happen,” “Up, Up And Away,” “By the Time I Get To Phoenix,” “Galveston,” and the mind-boggling “MacArthur Park.” Jimmy’s banter between songs blended perfectly with his piano playing and one guitarist accompaniment. What a treat!
I then made the move to the pool deck where Club Kokomo raised a glass of their spirits to all of the cruisers and welcomed America’s Band, The Beach Boys! Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, in return, raised their glasses and gave a toast to all the cruisers, thanking them for being there. The band kicked into “Do It Again,” with Mark McGrath alternating lyrics with Mike Love. The crowd was pumped as The Beach Boys continued for nearly ninety minutes delivering hit after hit. John Stamos gave a touching tribute to Bob Saget and then performed “Forever” much to the delight of the ladies in the crowd. Mark McGrath performed his Sugar Ray Hit “I Just Want To Fly” with the energy of a twenty-year-old. Cruiser Jennifer Hyatt of Rochester, NY, asked me “Why doesn’t Mark McGrath perform a separate set of his songs and then introduce The Beach Boys and sing with them?” According to sources, “It’s about timing and fitting all the different music into the cruise. Mark prefers to focus on The Beach Boys as he is a huge fan of their music.” Mark told me, “I love these guys, it’s an honor to share the stage with them. Their music is timeless.”
After all the music I had already heard, did I have room for more? I soon answered that question as I headed to the Stardust Theater to watch the Beatles tribute band, RAIN. I have seen many Beatle tributes throughout the years, including the original Broadway Beatlemania and these guys rank right up there as one of the best. They did the early years right up until the end, complete with costume changes. The videos between sets offered the audience a glimpse of history during those years. The Love family enjoyed it as many of them were in attendance.
DAY TWO
The following day was an opportunity for fans to get a photo with Mike and Bruce. There was an allotted time and the line snaked around for over two hours while people patiently waited for their photo with these two music icons. I made my way to the pool deck to watch the Canadian girl band, The Surfrajettes, pay homage to the surf instrumentalists of the past. Canadian-born Beach Boy keyboardist Tim Bonhomme and I watched the band sizzle onstage with their dedication to surf music. Then it was back to the Stardust Theater to watch “Kokomo Squares,” a takeoff on the old game show Hollywood Squares hosted by Jenny with the Blue Hair. It was a fun break to watch two audience members play tic tac toe with the entertainers which included Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, Mark McGrath, Katrina Leskanich, Shermy, Mims McGee, Kayla Taylor, Steve Landes, and Morgan James. It was an hour of laughs and a good way to break up the day.
I was able to pass through the Atrium where I could hear a cool version of “Leroy Brown” being sung by Vince Vaughn’s doppelgänger Brett Wiscons. I literally paused and listened to this one tall man, barefooted and with a guitar, belt out songs with a gritty, yet soulful, vocal. A great addition to the Sixthman lineup.
WOMEN OF THE BEACH BOYS PANEL
Moderated by John Stamos with Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford (former wife of Brian Wilson) Jacquelyne Love, and Beach Boys road manager Tara Ricart. According to Jacquelyne, “Marilyn and I are great friends, more like sisters. We really enjoyed each other; I love listening and learning from her stories.” And stories Marilyn did tell! It was great learning about the early days of The Beach Boys from her perspective. She mentioned Brian sleeping on her couch and how much her parents loved him. Marilyn cracked everyone up with “Brian had his choice of Rovell sisters, Diane, Barbee and me. I was just the lucky one he chose.” She spoke of the fun times going to recording sessions and hanging out with the guys. She did reiterate that Brian did not have a nervous breakdown, that he was literally depressed.
The subject of the sandbox came up as well as his lazing around in his robe and lying in bed. She said Brian couldn’t cope with the disappointment of Pet Sounds and it spiraled downhill from there, emphasizing his drug use and depression. She talked about the hangers-on and users in Brian’s life and how they abused him. Marilyn praised Mike for his work with The Beach Boys, not only for his songwriting but also for being a great frontman and advocate for the group. She is happy to see The Beach Boys continue to have success and hopes that the music will live on long after the originals are gone.
Jacquelyne spoke of Mike’s constant writing, to which Marilyn agreed, as he has a pad of paper and pen with him wherever he goes. She also discussed how they met and how they continue to flourish in their love for one another. Jacquelyne discussed Mike’s strong work ethic, describing how often he wants to tour, where they will tour, and what songs will fit with each venue and location. She once told me that “Mike gets antsy around the house; he must be on the go. Three weeks at home and he goes stir crazy!”
Tara talked about her role as “Chief Cat Herder, Professional Fire Putter Outer, Multitasker Extraordinaire – all while wearing heels!” It may seem like a glamorous, fun job but it’s not as easy as it sounds. Tara is pulled in many different directions and her main goal is to ensure that she has nine members of the band onstage at the right time. After that, she can breathe for a quick moment until the after-show madness begins. She said that she knows that her job is demanding but she makes sure the audience is taken care of and leaves them with her infectious smile.
After a quick bite [there is always plenty of food on a cruise ship], it was off to the Atrium to see Katrina. She played a variety of music from The Bangles to Belinda Carlisle and her big hit “Walking On Sunshine.” I heard plenty of people singing that song around the ship! My favorite quote from her was “In 1986, I opened for The Beach Boys on a summer tour. Coming on this cruise, I anticipated a heartwarming reunion. I saw Bruce walking towards me and as I was getting closer, he said “Christina! So good to see you!” So much for the heartwarming reunion!” We all laughed, and she didn’t seem to mind, as she continued to crank out her music. Back to the pool deck where I joined my Beach Boys family to watch the incredible Temptations. They never cease to amaze me as they crank out all their Motown hits, too many to list, and adding some fresh, new material. All while harmonizing and grooving with their famous choreography. The night ended with another stop in the Atrium with Soundcheck newcomer, Neon Queen. These three women sang the hits of ABBA, accompanied by a percussionist and bass player. They electrified the crowd with their lights and sound. As the night ended, I was reminded that all this music is so good “BUT” … Debbie Leggett of Virden, Illinois, told me “It would be fun to see others too, such as Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, and Tommy James.” Who knows, maybe next year?
DAY THREE
As we awoke on day three, we headed into the man-made island created exclusively for Norwegian Cruise Lines in Harvest Caye, Belize. What a beautiful island. Complete with plenty of sand, food, and drinks. After wading into the warm tropical ocean, my wife and I came upon a volleyball game. I noticed the game was in break and I recognized one of the players. As I approached him, he put a finger to his lips for me not to mention his name. So, I whispered to him “Who is winning? Team Love or Vince Vaughn?” He looked at me puzzled and said “Vince Vaughn?” And I replied, “Yeah, that Brett Wiscons guy looks like Vince Vaughn!” At that point, Christian and I cracked up and he said, “Team Love, of course!” I also spotted Scott and Alyssia Totten enjoying a stroll on the island, taking in the atmosphere. Two little guys were on the hunt looking for coconut drinks. They belonged to Brian and Chaye Eichenberger, who were also enjoying the day. Keith Hubacher became the butterfly whisperer after walking through the butterfly exhibit.
After having some drinks at the swim-up pool with our friends Andrew and Karen Lewand, we headed back to the ship as it was Question and Answer time with Mike and Bruce. John Stamos moderated this event where selected cruisers asked Mike and Bruce general questions on any topic. Bruce mentioned “The Warmth of the Sun” as one of his favorite songs. Mike talked about his input into the early Beach Boys recordings and credited Scott Totten with keeping the songs going at the right tempo and in the correct key during concerts. Afterward, everyone donned their favorite Mardi Gras clothes and Mike Love and Otis Williams led a Mardi Gras parade to the pool deck. That kicked off the opening for the Righteous Brothers.
Bill Medley and Bucky Heard knocked the socks off the crowd with their catalog of hits. Bill paid homage to departed member Bobby Hatfield with a soulful rendition of “Unchained Melody.” I saw people wiping tears away from their eyes. It was so moving. Bill brought his daughter, McKenna, out for one of my wife’s favorite songs, “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life.” She then did a slow-paced version of “California Dreamin’,” which was quite dreamy. Bill and Bucky finished with the audience participation version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” which left the audience smiling. We ventured to the Atrium to listen to Soundcheck artist Maggie Rose. Her songwriting and country pop, soul funk vocal just seems to hit home and you’re left feeling good. That’s how we were feeling when we ended the night at Karaoke. Much to our surprise Christian Love performed the David Bowie classic “Let’s Dance” to the delight of the crowd. What a great way to end the day.
DAY FOUR
When we awoke the next day, we were docked in Costa Maya, Mexico. This is a quaint resort town where we walked around and did some shopping. We ran into Randy and Joni Leago who were enjoying the sun and the company of fellow cruisers Gordon and Marie Soderholm. We then headed back on board to get ready for our second Beach Boys concert. The surprise start to the concert was a shortened version of “Summer in Paradise!” Another highlight was the debut of Christian Love’s song “Sum, Sum, Summer,” which fit easily into The Beach Boys’ sound and was a pleasant addition to the setlist. “Surfer Girl” was extra special as Mike danced with his granddaughter and as he put her down, her Aunt Ambha scooped her up and finished dancing with her making it three generations of Loves on the Beach Boys stage. The Love family musical talent continued as Ambha wooed the crowd with her rendition of “The Warmth of the Sun.” Christian also sang a powerful version of “Sail on Sailor” with a soaring guitar lead by Scott, pumping the crowd up for Mark McGrath. Mark upped the intensity with his hit “Every Morning.” Arms were swaying back and forth, fists pumping and there was lots of jumping. John Stamos once again devoted “Forever” to his good friend Bob Saget, only to leave the ladies, like Diane Pearce of Fresno, CA, swooning. After a rhythm section pounding of “Fun, Fun, Fun” led by John Cowsill and Keith Hubacher, the over ninety-minute set was finished, but the music wasn’t over. The Temptations were back on the pool deck. Their capes flapping in the wind and blowing in their faces didn’t deter them from delivering their hits. A quick stop at the Stardust for Neon Queen and then the Atrium for Katrina led us back to karaoke. We saw the Love family come in to participate in some bowling and dancing. Once again, accommodated the fans by posing for pictures, and they also enjoyed themselves as a family.
The final full day of the cruise was melancholy as you just didn’t want it to end. Mike and Bruce did another photo session in the morning for those who didn’t get one prior to that. I relaxed on the pool deck enjoying the sounds of Morgan James who has quite a vocal range. Morgan performed on Broadway in a myriad of musicals and her performance showed it. I then made it to the Stardust Theater for Beach Boys’ Friends and Family Feud, based on the tv game show. Hosted by Jenny with the Blue Hair, two audience members joined the team of Love vs. Johnston. Bruce’s team won. We won’t discuss Christian’s answers in the money round. Let’s just say “You had to be there.” This added to the entertainment value of the cruise, just watching these guys be human.
After that, it was a quick jaunt to the Atrium to check out Kristopher James. What a powerful voice! Filled with soul, plenty of grit, and runs he keeps you hanging on to what is happening next in his songs. Alas, I had to leave early to check out the John Stamos photo line. Again, this line snaked its way around the ship as people wanted to meet “Blacky Parrish” or “Uncle Jesse.” John didn’t disappoint as he stood for nearly three hours taking pictures and signing autographs. Fellow Cruiser and everyone’s friend, David Jaeger of Waynesboro, VA happily exclaimed, “John is my buddy! He loves children and people with disabilities, and he is always nice to us!! He let me sing with The Beach Boys last night!!!”
I then quickly dashed to the Theater where Mark McGrath hosted the Songwriters in the Round. This panel consisted of Kris Allen, Maggie Rose, Mike Love, Jimmy Webb, and Bruce Johnston. Kris and Maggie both spoke of their Nashville history and what inspires them in their writing. Mike spoke of how he and Brian would come up with songs. He even called himself “Mr. Procrastination” as he knew he had to get lyrics written for Brian but would wait until the last minute. Mike discussed how he and Terry Melcher reworked “Kokomo” from John Phillips and turned it into a number-one hit. Bruce explained the meaning of his Grammy Award-winning “I Write the Songs” as a ‘conversation with God.’ Bruce also explained the song “Disney Girls” and how life used to be. And Jimmy Webb? Well, we never found out why the cake was left out in the rain, and we’ll never have that recipe again … Oh NO! What a treat it was to hear these guys explain their songwriting skills, which basically is write, write some more, eat, write, sleep, write. Driving in the car … dictates! After dinner, it was off to see The Righteous Brothers perform. Bucky Heard has an unbelievable range and did a small opera piece. Bill & Bucky continued with the hits and left the crowd smiling and happily singing. I made one more stop in the Atrium to watch my Beach Boys band friends Christian and Timmy join Brett Wiscons onstage. Christian sang “The Joker” by Steve Miller while Brett strummed his guitar and stomped his bare feet around the stage. Timmy tickled the keys in a long solo much to the delight of the crowd. Brett closed out the set with a sing-along of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away.” And yes, the lyrics were changed to, “Give me The Beach Boys that freed my soul, I wanna get lost in your rock n roll and drift away …” Such a great way to end the evening.
One of the joys of being on this cruise was the accessibility to the performers that the fans had. I saw many members of the different bands signing autographs and taking pictures. I’m not one to do that BUT when Bill Medley asks would you like a picture? You take a picture! I even saw performers taking pictures with the other artists! Deborah Sizemore of La Porte, Indiana, told me her highlights of the cruise were interacting with other Beach Boys fans. She loved that she could get her picture with many of the artists and that they were so accommodating. She did wish that Mike and Bruce were more accessible, but I guess she wasn’t in the right places at the right time. According to Jacquelyne, the Love family was joined by six of their children along with their significant others and their granddaughter. Along with very close family friends, they carved out time for family dinners and spent the land days on the beach enjoying the sun, and water and creating new memories. I will admit, everywhere I looked I saw a member of the Love family on board, and they were very courteous to all who approached.
I was asked by many how the entertainers were chosen. I was told it’s a collaborative effort between Mike, Jacquelyne, and Sixthman and their agents. Mike makes personal calls to invite some of the artists, but Mike makes the final decision. I heard many comments on who they should select next year if there is another cruise. Jen and Chelsea who were on their eighteenth cruise together said this one was the best! They said Edwin McCain would be a great artist to join as they’ve seen him on another cruise. Wilson Phillips, the Nelsons, and Dion were other names I heard other cruisers mention. If The Beach Boys continue to play, it doesn’t matter to me who else is performing.
Jacquelyne told me, “There were many unforgettable moments. We loved spending time with our family and fans. Mike loved performing with Mark and John together onstage, and the energy was electrifying and unforgettable. We also enjoyed hanging out with The Temptations, Bill Medley, and sharing stories and meals together. We loved listening to our Soundcheck artists perform, and meeting and hanging with Maggie Rose was very special.”
Many thanks to Mike and Jacquelyne for putting this together again. One can only hope that this will happen again next year. If it doesn’t then many of us ‘cruisers’ thank you for creating a lifetime of friendships and memories. As my late father, Blair, would say to me, “It’s all about the music, as music speaks louder than words.”
©2023 Jeff McEvoy/All Rights Reserved