Wilson Phillips
Aug. 10, 2025
MGM Northfield Park, Northfield OH
By Rob McCune
No band, no instruments, no BS.
Wilson Phillips, the pop vocal trio who had their heyday in the early 1990s, took the stage at MGM Northfield Park in Ohio for a Sunday night singalong that energized the crowd with hit after hit – and not just their own.
Powered by their three-part harmonies, still flawless 35 years after their debut, sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips sang over pre-recorded music, which honestly felt unnecessary to a performance that would better stand alone. At one point in the show, the trio belted out an impromptu verse of “Happy Birthday” to a fan that proved their a’capella prowess.
The trio kicked off the night with “Release Me,” a song off their 1990 self-titled album that went to #1 on the Billboard 100. With the next song on the setlist, they made a statement: “The Dream Is Still Alive,” even “after all this time.” Their cover of Elton John’s “Daniel,” recorded for a tribute album to the songs of John and co-writer Bernie Taupin, slowed things down a bit before “Give It Up,” off their 1992 record “Shadows and Light” lit things up again.
The most touching part of the night came next with heartfelt tributes to their legendary parents. Coming just weeks after the world lost Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson and Carnie and Wendy Wilson buried their father, the emotional weight of “God Only Knows” was palpable. Taking the lead on this Beach Boys cover, Carnie Wilson added her own affectation, with a gaze heavenward, to the end: “God only knows what I’d be without you … daddy.”
Chynna Phillips also heralded her harmonic heritage, telling a story of how her parents, Michelle and John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas, wrote “California Dreaming,” a chart-topper in 1965 sparked by a verse that sprang from her dad’s imagination in the middle of the night: “All the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray. I went out for a walk, on a winter’s day.”
Though most powerful when their voices harmonize as one, each of the three women had their share of the spotlight on lead vocals. Wendy Wilson’s big moment came with “Impulsive,” another hit off the debut record that was rocked with reckless abandon.
Wilson Phillips also spent much of the night celebrating girl bands, with a medley that included The Go-Gos’ “We Got the Beat,” The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian,” the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe,” and TLC’s “Waterfalls.” Later, they did ABBA proud with a cover of “Dancing Queen.”
And yes, there was dancing, there were singalongs, and there was elation in the audience for all of this 90-minute set that ended in grand finale fashion with an encore of the band’s most popular and most enduring hit, “Hold On.”
That single’s seeming permanence in pop culture (it got a big boost from being featured in the 2011 hit comedy “Bridesmaids”) is in part due to the relatability of its message. As Chynna Phillips says: “We can all hold on for one more day, can’t we?”
Wilson Phillips has been holding on for 35 years, and shows no signs of letting go.
