Huntsville’s Music Scene

Written by Judy Allison www.huntsvillemusicscene.com judy@huntsvillemusicscene.com | Photos by Andi Rice www.instagram.com/riceandi

Have You Ever Been Experienced?

What does Jimi Hendrix have to do with Josh Groban and NASA?

“If you can just get your mind together Then come on across to me We’ll hold hands and then we’ll watch the sunrise From the bottom of the sea

But first, are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced? Well, I have”

—Jimi Hendrix

July 28, 2022, I was sitting in The Orion Amphitheater awaiting the experience of my first Josh Groban concert. Just days before, NASA revealed the James Webb Telescope’s first images of our unseen universe that inspired many a desktop wallpaper. Now, since Huntsville is home to NASA and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, we all have a better-than-Kevin-Bacon’s chance to have a friend who is a rocket scientist. There is a connection with the James Webb Telescope here through UAH, NASA, to the amazing universe and of course, humans who are made of stardust live here, too. Huntsville is a place for stars.

So, the concert right? This one came with a warning: “Special effects such as strobelighting, pyrotechnics, smoke, and/or lasers will be used during this performance.” Not something I expected from Josh Groban. I wonder what that will be like.

First up, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band brought their sexy groove right out the gate with the “St. Louis Blues” tune as an opener. What a blast they are! So much fun energy! Shortly after their intro and before the next song, an older gentleman rushed the stage and started talking to the very surprised and happy saxophone player front-man,Clint Maedgen. There was a long awkward pause in the show, then the jazz star announced, “Ladies and gentleman, my high school band director is here in the audience today and he is the reason I am on this stage tonight! Let’s give him a hand!” There was a loud roar of applause as we gave props to this happy fella rushing back to his seat in the floor center. What a moment to live to see! This experience elevated us to a new level of appreciation for music instructors and mentors. The whole PHJB set was absolutely fantastic and fun!

What came next in this show was absolutely stunning. Josh Groban’s first song was a pensive and gorgeous rendition of Sting’s “Shape of My Heart” with strings and percussion that made this song magical. I thought it would be difficult to keep that level of epic-ness throughout the night. However, as the sun set behind us, his stage performance and light show began illuminating like the stars in the sky. Very early on, Josh’s quick wit and his joyful and humorous disposition created a feeling in which I felt was very intimate, even in a crowd of close to 6000 people. He loudly boasted, “Huntsville! This is one of the most stunning amphitheaters in America!” And yet my friend and I felt like he was sitting in our living room with us, talking about how hard these past two years have been, bringing us to tears and turning that around to laughter and inspiration. It was very clear that Mr. Groban wanted to inspire us to keep seeking and walking toward the light. He sees the silver lining.

This night was the perfect weave of intimacy and gorgeous, breath-taking awe with each sway of the moment from one song to the next. Remember the warning of pyrotechnics and lighting? There were no canons or disco-strobes. Josh Groban’s show was an EXPERIENCE, crafted with cloud-like fog, lighting that elevated and enhanced the dramatic as if we were in the clouds with him and then gently lowered us back to reality like the natural ebb and flow of life.

Then the encore. How could this night get any better? Gentle piano and strings intro into one of the most beloved anthems from the musical, Man of La Mancha, “The Impossible Dream.” If you could be physically embraced by a song, this song would be that bear hug to lift you out of the mire. As the song neared the climax, “...to reach the unreachable star,” those lighting effects turned the whole amphitheater into the night sky and it was as if we became the stars in the sky. We became part of the song and the performance, we were in the clouds with Josh Groban and his orchestra. What a moment! It was literally breath-taking! Magnificent!

This, my friends, is why I love live music. This was an experience that could only be shared in those moments right then. I will forever remember that feeling of this summer, the beauty of the universe shared with us through James Webb Telescope and a finalé that put us right there in the stars.

Jimi Hendrix said: “trumpets and violins I can hear in distance, I think they’re calling our names. Maybe now you can’t hear them, but you will, if you just take hold of my hand.

Oh, but are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced? Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful…”

Be beautiful and go experience beautiful music.