Wilson Phillips–Carnie and Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips–have nine children among them.
Back-to-School Night must be very interesting.
The trio’s slightly off-color stage patter during Saturday’s Christmas In Harmony show at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown at times sounded more like reality TV than a holiday special. Maybe that’s because the ladies are in a reality show, Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On, on the TV Guide Channel.
And how many Christmas singers can boast of posing for Playboy, as Carnie can?
Hey Santa, a little naughty is nice every now and then, right?
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The show featured plenty of shimmery holiday tunes such as Little Drummer Boy, Silver Bells, Silent Night, Winter Wonderland and I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day. (If they sang the Wilson sisters’ Hey Santa!, if must have sledded by us.)
There were Wilson Phillips favorites, too, including Hold On, Release Me, You’re In Love, You Won’t See Me Cry and Give It Up. The band included keyboard player Kiki Ebsen, daughter of the late Beverly Hillbillies star Buddy Ebsen, and Carnie’s husband, guitarist/songwriter Rob Bonfiglio, whose Warm Lovin’ Christmastime was on the set list.
While their hits were fun, the trio’s covers were the true highlights of the evening. The women are working on an album tribute to their famous parents (Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys; John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas) called Dedicated, and they performed lovely versions of California Dreamin’, In My Room and Fun, Fun, Fun (which, curiously, boasted Chynna on lead vocal).
Other covers included Elton John’s Daniel from the 1991 tribute album Two Rooms, Tim Hardin’s Reason to Believe and an exuberant rendition of Abba’s Dancing Queen.
The latter song would be an apt nickname for Chynna, a past contestant on Dancing With the Stars. Chynna’s non-stop gyrations on Saturday held things together during those occasional moments when the harmonies were not spot-on. We don’t know how her kids are doing in school, but mom gets an A for showmanship.
