Live Review and Photos by Danielle Boise
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra joined Josh Groban for a wet evening at Chastain Park Amphitheatre on Sunday, Aug. 18 for a nearly sold old concert. In actuality, there really is no other way to see Josh Groban perform live, than that with an orchestra backing up his operatic voice. “One of the things I like about this place is that it feels a little like I’m getting to know you; that we are getting to know each other” Groban humbly stated.
“What a lovely venue you have here,” Groban cooed to the crowd as he joked with them. “This half is the mosh pit and this half is a chardonnay river,” referencing Chastain’s wine going attendees in a playful an animated manner. Groban was jovial in between songs and breath-taking during each song, as his voice has the ability to elicit chills as he hit those precious notes, bringing the audience to tears and their feet.
Groban had the ability to truly connect with the legion of fans who eagerly sat out in the rain to hear him perform songs like “Brave,” “False Alarms,” “February Song,” “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress,” and “Broken Vow.” An unexpected highlight of the night was the instrumental cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On.”
Groban was out on tour in support of his sixth studio album, All That Echoes, which came out Feb. 5 of this year, which combines both classical and pop elements to create this moment of pure bliss. Groban performed with a mixture of glee and heartache, and songs about love. “We’ve sung a lot about love tonight. One of the masters of writing about love is Stevie Wonder. He gets that it’s about the light and dark of love. This is a song off my new album, ‘I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever).'”
“I am so blessed. This is our last show of the summer tour. Thank you to everyone who made it so easy to come in here and perform for you.” For his encore, Groban sang the song that put him on the map, circa “Ally McBeal,” with “Awake” and ended on the tear inducing “You Raise Me Up.”
Josh Groban returns to the stage on Oct. 2 at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise, ID. If you get the chance to see Groban perform live, please do. This will be one show you will want to add your musical bucket list.
