“‘ Little Saint Nick ’ is very fun , but we did a Christmas song a few years back for ‘ Reason for the Season ,’ which will be one of the songs on the tour in December . It ’ s not just about the presents and commerce and gifts ; it ’ s about the birth of Jesus and is a more religious number . We all harmonized together on it . It ’ s kind of a more modern incarnation of what The Beach Boys did with the five guys .”

- Mike Love , Beach Boys Member

millions of people .”

After taking a mandatory pause for the COVID-19 pandemic , the group has been back in touring mode since mid-July . “ We just hated it that we couldn ’ t go out and perform for a couple of years ,” Love said . “ I ’ ve never performed so many honey-do items before in my life . It ’ s fantastic to be back touring . It ’ s great to do live music for great people . It ’ s really been great to be doing what we ’ ve done for decades , which is performing and recreating those songs that were such big hits .”

Ottumwa ’ s show Dec . 14 will be no exception . In addition to numbers from the 1960s holiday album , the show will feature more recent music Love recorded with his children , Ambha , Brian , Christian and Hayleigh Love , on “ Reason for the Season .”

“‘ Little Saint Nick ’ is very fun , but we did a Christmas song a few years back for ‘ Reason for the Season ,’ which will be one of the songs on the tour in December ,” Love said . “ It ’ s not just about the presents and commerce and gifts ; it ’ s about the birth of Jesus and is a more religious number . We all harmonized together on it . It ’ s kind of a more modern incarnation of what The Beach Boys did

with the five guys .”

The show won ’ t just be holiday music , either . It will also include several of the hits the group has had in its 60 years . “ We traditionally like to do an hour of music , followed by an intermission , and then another hour of music , so we have plenty of time to do a variety of songs ,” Love said . “ Our intention is to do all the hits that we ’ re known for along with six to eight holiday songs ,” including “ Little Saint Nick ” and “ Reason for the Season ” and several other Christmastime songs .

“ It ’ ll be a pretty comprehensive show . It ’ ll be a lot of music .”

MercyOne Ottumwa Clinic is now providing primary care to patients age newborn and older . Call 641-683-0800 to schedule an appointment today to establish care with one of our providers .

8 Southeast Iowa Holiday 2021