Wilson Phillips to perform at Beaver Creek

BEAVER CREEK, Colorado – The Beach Boys and the Mamas and the Papas are famous for producing popular, upbeat music. But members from these two bands have also created a talented offspring that believes they were destined to follow their parents’ musical footsteps. “We truly believe we were born to sing and be on stage together,” said Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips from the Mamas and the Papas. “We’re like family. We feel that synergy on stage, which is really great.” The female pop band Wilson Phillips, consisting of Chynna Phillips and the daughters of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, Wendy and Carnie Wilson, will perform at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek Thursday at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $85 and can be purchased online at vilarpac.org, over the phone at 888-920-2787 or in person at the Vilar Performing Arts Center box office in Beaver Creek and the Marketplace box office in Vail Village. Along with their own music, the trio will play songs from the Beach Boys, the Mamas and the Papas, Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young.”It’s an honor to be able to sing (our parents’) songs,” Phillips said. In January of next year, they plan to release a record of covers of songs originally sung by their parents. Wilson Phillips was recently featured in the movie “Bridesmaids,” earlier this year, which was the biggest revival of the group since they started singing together again years ago.”It truly put us on the map,” Phillips said. “It sort of made us feel like we were in the mainstream again.” Wearing their hearts on their sleevesThe three women love to tell stories, crack jokes and really bond with their crowd when they perform. There’s nothing worse than going to a show when the performer doesn’t connect with the audience, Phillips said. “We cheer each other on because we want to build each other up on stage,” Phillips said. “It’s a vulnerable place to be. You’re really wearing your heart on your sleeve.” “We get personal,” Carnie Wilson said. “It’s like a little love fest for a while.”At the beginning of the show, the audience is just a sea of strangers, Phillips said, but by the end they feel so bonded and connected to their fans. “It’s unique in the sense that there’s not a lot of girl groups that really get up there and sing very exposed, raw vocals and harmonies,” Wilson said. “It’s really, really intense vocals and immense concentration from the three of us. Our harmonies are intricate. It’s refreshing.” Aside from their famous parents, Wilson Phillips is most known for their hit single “Hold On” in 1990 that won the Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year. This famous song, along with the group’s other music, makes a Wilson Phillips show nostalgic for many people.”It takes them back to a place in their lives that was sentimental for them,” Phillips said. “They can forget about today’s worries for an hour and a half. It’s special to be able to give that gift.”The band feels so lucky to have heard their songs on the radio for years, Wilson said.”People who have been listening to our songs for years get to see us on stage finally,” she said. “Music brings out emotion in people. Music evokes feelings and makes you express yourself, whether it’s dancing or singing along, snapping your fingers or clapping. That’s what music does. It’s OK if a song moves you to tears; it can do that to you.” Wilson loves everything about being on stage, and it can often become emotional, she said. “It’s very invigorating. Seeing the people sing the words to the songs totally flips me out,” she said. “I have to separate my feelings because if I get into that mode I’ll just cry. It’s very meaningful.” Phillips said after playing her music on stage, she feels like she’s flying and that she has done something really spectacular and extraordinary. “It’s very empowering in the sense that you feel like you get to make a difference in the world,” she said. “You get out there and spread a little love and light, as corny as that sounds. It’s a very special thing. We don’t take it for granted.”Courtney Riley is an intern at the Vail Daily. Email comments about this story to criley@vaildaily.com.