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Apr. 09, 2007
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CONCERT REVIEW: Big talent, high sap content

Overstuffed show tests audience's stamina

By JASON BRACELIN
REVIEW-JOURNAL

JASON BRACELIN
MORE COLUMNS


REVIEW
Who: Josh Groban

When: Saturday

Where: MGM Grand Garden

Attendance: 12,000 (est.)

Grade: C


Josh Groban connects with fans during his concert performance Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden.
Photo by Ralph Fountain.

A Josh Groban gig is the musical equivalent of shopping at Costco. Everything comes in these huge, economy-sized packages: He's got that gigantic, triple-helping voice blanketed in an all-you-can-eat buffet of instrumentation provided by close to 30 backing musicians.

Oh, and don't forget the 12-pack of schmaltz, more syrupy than a case of Nyquil.

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    • An evening spent in Groban's presence is an exhausting one, his repertoire overstuffed with one crescendo after another, lots of loud, crashing cymbals, preening strings and so much melodrama that it feels like being trapped in an orchestral soap opera.

    "Some of you may or may not know that I love theater," Groban announced toward the end of his two-hour set Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden.

    No way!

    At 26, Groban's pretty much a Hallmark card come to life, his lyrics rife with generic, one-size-fits-all platitudes that seem as if they were cribbed from a sack of fortune cookies.

    He compares lovers to stars and says stuff like "I am not a hero / I am not an angel / I am just a man" with the straight face of a seasoned "Saturday Night Live" vet.

    His tunes are pop pep talks littered with maudlin self-help maxims that would make Dr. Phil blush.

    "You are loved, don't give up," he sang at the onset of the show, setting the stage for an evening of gooey over-romanticizing that was akin to wading through a tar pit of sentimentality.

    It was a relief then, when Groban turned to his nouveau classical pieces, sung in Italian, which stand out primarily because you can't understand what he's saying.

    Then the focus shifts to where it should, namely Groban's booming voice, which is a gorgeous thing to behold.

    Groban possesses one of pop music's most resonant, distinctive timbres, and he'd sound compelling reciting the ingredients to a tube of a toothpaste (perhaps he should try it sometime; it might make a song such as the terminally sappy "You Raise Me Up" a little easier to swallow).

    Groban's most effective tunes tend to be his most unadorned, when he favors understatement over ostentation, such as on the flickering piano ballad "Lullaby" or the tremulous slow burn of "Un Dia Llegara," with its touches of flamenco guitar.

    With so much New Age soul-searching going on, Groban's smart enough to leaven things with a self-deprecating, aw-shucks onstage demeanor that cuts though the pretense a bit.

    Clad in jeans and a black sport coat, he goofs on his inability to dance and graciously signs autographs for his many female admirers mid-show, enveloped in the ruffled, approachable air of a high school music teacher.

    No wonder your mom digs this dude so much.

    To his credit, Groban also knows when to step aside from time to time, such as when he made way for a fiery solo from violinist Lucia Micarelli, who stormed through Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" with such force that her bow frayed into tatters.

    But ultimately, Groban's over-emotiveness becomes downright draining -- "There's a storm in my heart," he howls -- and by show's end, you feel like an extra in some overwrought production for the Lifetime channel, waiting for the shaggy-haired director to mercifully yell, "Cut."

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    OneMoreJoshFan wrote on November 20, 2007 10:41 PM: In the future I suggest you simply stick with what you know best - Costco and bellying up to All-You-Can-Eat Buffets because you and your type really have no business at a Josh Groban concert to begin with.

    Thanks in advance. Enjoy.


    Kate Bagosy wrote on October 26, 2007 02:19 AM: OK Bubba...

    Did someone actually pay you to write that so-called "review"? And was your first draft in crayon? Or were you just looking for someone to rip into that day?

    FYI: while Josh was on tour he was #5 in the entire US for top ranked ticket sales. And now they can't keep his new Christmas CD/DVD on store shelves. (it's only Oct 26)

    Perhaps you'd prefer a Three Stooges Convention or a Soupy Sales Marathon, Retard...

    (PS - nice comments, Ladies! ROTFLMAOPMP!)


    Mikey Powell wrote on October 25, 2007 09:22 PM: One more thing, you're totally and utterly pathetic and by the other comments on here I'm DEFINATELY not the only one who thinks so. Also, when his 3rd album Awake first came out he had sold over 17 million records outselling THE BEATLES who had about 18 albums. If anyone says someone who outsells The Beatles is "overstuffed" needs to be put in a psych ward. Oh and to MitsyMoppins I totally agree with you!! I am totally in love with Josh, have been to three of his concerts and I'm 19(female). He draws in people from evry age because he is so incredible talented! :D


    Mikey Powell wrote on October 25, 2007 09:13 PM: Really, I just think you are ignorent. Josh is an incredibly talented person and if you can't handle his romantic songs then I feel sorry for you. He makes every woman swoon with his songs. Can you say you make any women swoon with your negative comments? I would also LOVE to hear you sing. When you have talent like Josh's then you can critisize him, but I'm guessing you don't so you really need to sit back, SHUT UP and just enjoy the music of one of the ONLY talented new singers out there. Oh, one more thing... GET OVER YOURSELF!!


    Joyce Bedford wrote on October 18, 2007 04:22 PM: Jason, Jason, Jason.


    Is your life so miserable and lonely that the only job you can get is criticizing others and their God given talent?

    I wish you well you sad, lonely little man.

    Misty, Mandy, Jenna, Sherrie and Marion, wonderful comments all.


    Joyce Bedford wrote on October 18, 2007 04:12 PM: Why oh why do all critics take themselves so bloody seriously? Is it because they don't have the degree of talent to produce something so amazing and powerful that all they can do is moan and criticize other far more talented individuals. Josh Groban is an 'international superstar'. Why? Well let's review shall we? AMAZING VOICE, TALENTED BEYOND BELIEF, HANDSOME, MULTI PLATINUM SALES, OH YES, MILLIONAIRE.. My goodness, I guess this guy has so much going for him that it takes a miserable little man like you, sad, and perhaps a little envious to try as you may to pull him down a peg or two. I mean, isn't that what you guys do for a living. You gave his performance a 'C". Are you kidding. For someone such as yourself to bemoan the extraordinary talents of others is a joke in itself. Have you looked in the mirror recently. Your little snide comments, although entertaining, will not live on in musical history, or in the hearts of JGs many fans. So get over it, you sad, strange little man.


    MistyMoppens wrote on October 01, 2007 02:07 AM: I've been to many JG concerts and usually at least 50% of his audience is in their teens to 20's and 30's age bracket. Most were very attractive young ladies totally besotted with Josh.

    THANKS FOR THE PIC, JASON. What an eyesore! Obviously jealousy, insecurity and sour grapes was what fueled your ugly, childish, totally clueless review.

    "Overstuffed"??? "High Sap Content"?? Look in the mirror, will ya? Because you, in my humble opinion, are a solid minus-3 on a "1 to 10" scale. You look like you haven't showered in a week. (too busy eating, I suppose...) You could stand to loose A LOT of weight.
    Greasy hair ~ what there is of it.

    You could pray for ~ and receive ~ a miracle from God but you will never be adored and lusted over the way Josh is. So get over it. He's an attractive man but it's his music the fans love. Find a way to live with it.

    It wouldn't surprise me if you were a flaming troll on the Internet in your spare time, Looser.


    MistyMoppens wrote on September 30, 2007 10:42 PM: I've attended many JG concerts and at least 50% of the audience is always young ladies in their teens, 20's, 30's who are clearly besides themselves with adoration (lust) for Josh. (most of them are extremely cute so you can't use the cop-out that they "must be hard-up dogs.")

    THANKS FOR POSTING YOUR PIC, JASON! ewwww... Even if you were to loose 100 lbs, take a shower, get more hair, pray for and receive a miracle you still couldn't come close to Josh in any way.

    Ignorant, jealous, insecure Jerk! Get a REAL job, Looser.


    Mandy wrote on August 31, 2007 08:57 PM: You need a life.


    jenna wrote on August 24, 2007 07:23 PM: You obviously don't know the first thing about music! he is a wonderful talent. if you have actually been to one of his concerts as you claim, you would know that he makes fun of the cheezy songs he sings.
    Grow a set of ears and get a life.You wouldn't know talent if it bit you on YOUR fat ass!! can you say JEALOUS????


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