Published on November 21st, 2017 | by Darren Paltrowitz
0Mike Love Hosts An “Unleash The Love” Album Release Event At New York’s The Wooly
As the leader of The Beach Boys for over 50 years, few musicians have accomplished what Mike Love has. He has sold tens of millions of albums, he has headlined stadiums and festivals around the world, and he has recorded songs that have remained radio staples for decades. With accomplishments like those, it is surprising as to why Mike Love — also the uncle of NBA star Kevin Love and brother to NBA legend Stan Love — would be recording a new album in 2017.
Unleash The Love is the first new full-length studio release from Love since 1981’s Looking Back With Love. Unleash is a double album with 25 tracks, mixing together Love-penned originals and newly-re-recorded Beach Boys classics. Special guests include Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath, long-time Beach Boys ally John Stamos, indie-pop group AJR, and saxophonist Dave Koz; daughter Ambha Love makes an appearance on vocals as does Beach Boys guitarist Carl Wilson in posthumous fashion.
On November 20, 2017 at upscale New York City cocktail lounge The Wooly, BMG hosted a party for Mike Love in celebration of the November 17, 2017 release of Unleash The Love. Unlike your average album release event, Love — who recently announced a Beach Boys winter tour of theaters across the United States — brought along a full band to play for more than a half-hour. In addition to long-time Beach Boys vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Bruce Johnston, Love’s backing band included guitarist Jeffrey Foskett, sons Brian and Christian, and drummer John Cowsill. The aforementioned John Stamos was also present for most of Love’s set, alternating between guitar and drum duties, also commending Love on-mic for Unleash The Love being Love’s most creative project in many years.
Below are photos from this rare intimate Beach Boys-related event at The Wooly, some of which courtesy of photographer Joseph Hasan.
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