NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
Everyone has a significant other that adores the handsome operatic crooner Josh Groban. With his boyish good looks, dazzling smile and smooth voice, I can see why. Yeah, it’s may not be cool to enjoy what’s considered “old people music” but you can’t deny the fact that he’s been immensely successful and has developed quite the following. The last time I saw him, my wife and I were lucky enough to catch him at an intimate private event in a cocktail bar at the Time Warner Center in NYC. On Friday, July 1st, he stopped by the Darien Lake Amphitheatre as part of the tour supporting his last record “Harmony” released in August 2020.
The first opener was singer/songwriter Eleri Ward, who describes herself as someone who “does indie folk covers of Steven Sondheim songs”. She has a lovely voice and was a nice way to start the evening.
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Next up was the absolutely fantastic New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Led by Ben Jaffe, son of the original founder of the band, Allan Jaffe, they really got a groove on for the crowd. I would love to see them headline a tour.
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We knew Josh Groban was taking the stage by the roar of the crowd. The stage was crowded with a full backing band including strings, drums, percussion, harp, guitar, bass and piano, as well as a choral group! He jumped right into it with a cover of Sinatra’s “The World We Knew”. In between songs, Groban joked around with the audience so easily that it seems to me he might have the makings of a stand-up comedian as well! About halfway through the set, acclaimed violinist Lucia Micarelli, who has played with Groban on previous tours, took the stage. After a violin solo, she played on “Cinema Paradiso” and “Alla luce del sole” before performing an amazing duet of Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” with Groban (see video here).
I haven’t seen a full concert with Josh Groban before so I may be the only one in the dark but towards the end of his cover of Peter Gabriel’s “The Book of Love”, he ran over and started playing drums. Holy crap but he can play! Crooner, piano player, drummer and comedian! This man is talented!! This is why he has such a devoted fan base. One man had even made his own Josh Groban t-shirt with many different photos of Groban, who called him forward for the cameras! I had a great time at this show and all the young people should wish they could be so uncool.
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They all ROCK. Thanks for the fun review!!!!