Review by Markus Hamence – Al Jardine & The Pet Sounds Band. Performance date: Saturday 27 June 2026. Thebarton Theatre, Torrensville, South Australia.
No mistake, this performance was a celebration of an incredible and vast legacy. At Thebarton Theatre, at 83 Al Jardine delivered enviable youthful energy, bringing with him not simply a catalogue of songs, but a living connection to one of popular music’s most cherished songbooks. The founding member of The Beach Boys remains an engaging and warm presence, carrying decades of musical history with an ease that never felt nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake.
Backed by the exceptional Pet Sounds Band and the incomparable Darian Sahanaja, and featuring musicians synonymous with the late Brian Wilson‘s touring ensemble, Jardine guided audiences through a sun-drenched journey of harmony, melody and memory. Opening with the instantly recognisable ‘California Girls’, the evening quickly became a communal singalong, with ‘Do It Again’, ‘I Get Around’, ‘Surfer Girl’ and ‘Darlin’ reminding everyone why The Beach Boys’ music remains timeless.
“Thebarton Theatre traded winter for California sunshine as Al Jardine delivered an evening overflowing with harmony, nostalgia and timeless musical joy.”
Markus Hamence
Yet this was far more than a greatest hits package. Jardine’s affection for the deeper corners of The Beach Boys catalogue was evident, with selections from the much-loved but often overlooked Love You album sitting comfortably alongside masterpieces from Pet Sounds. Songs such as ‘Heroes and Villains’, ‘God Only Knows’, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ and ‘Sloop John B’ were delivered with reverence and precision, while Al’s son Matt Jardine‘s soaring vocals offered a striking reminder of Brian Wilson’s enduring influence.
The Pet Sounds Band proved to be far more than a backing ensemble. Under the musical direction of Darian, the arrangements retained the lush complexity and layered beauty that defined The Beach Boys’ studio recordings, while still allowing the performance to breathe as a live experience. Harmonies shimmered, instrumentation sparkled and every song carried the unmistakable sense of joy that has always sat at the heart of this music.
“More than a concert, it was a celebration of one of popular music’s most treasured catalogues, performed with warmth, authenticity and heart.”
Markus Hamence
By the time ‘Help Me, Rhonda’, ‘Surfin’ U.S.A.’ and ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ closed out the evening, Thebarton Theatre had transformed into a collective celebration of endless summers, youthful optimism and extraordinary songwriting.
Al Jardine’s Adelaide appearance was not simply a concert. It was a reminder that great songs never age, they simply find new generations ready to sing along.
Wrap-up quote: For two glorious hours, Thebarton Theatre traded winter for California sunshine as Al Jardine proved that The Beach Boys’ harmonies still possess the power to transport, uplift and unite.
