The world’s favorite down-to-earth crooner with the golden voice Josh Groban stepped onto the Hollywood Bowl stage Friday night and handed us the Golden Ticket with opening notes of “Pure Imagination”, that dreamy classic from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Ever the theatrical candy man, multi-award recording artist, Broadway star, and all-around social-media darling, Groban arrived in a purple double-breasted suit, looking every bit like he’d just walked out of Wonka’s workshop to sprinkle us with sung confections.
For an hour and a half, he served up one sweet after another – timeless covers and beloved originals alike – each note a treat that melted somewhere between nostalgia and awe. And all of it backed by the glorious swells of the LA Philharmonic conducted by the most joyful conductor around, Thomas Wilkins.
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True to his reputation, Groban’s sense of humor and laid-back charm anchored the evening. He joked around often self-deprecating in all the right ways, spun relatable tales that made us feel included in his world, and then lulled us into rapt attention with the pure, unadorned beauty of his voice.
He navigated through gems: “The World We Knew” (Sinatra), Adele’s moody, cinematic “Skyfall,” and then leaned into his own catalog with heartfelt renditions of fan-favorites like “February Song,” “Granted,” and “Be Alright.”
A particularly moving high point came when he brought out the LACHSA Vocal Jazz ensemble (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts) to join him on “Angels” (originally performed by Robbie Robertson). The students’ soaring harmonies layered beautifully over Groban’s golden tone, turning the song into something both intimate and transcendent.
Later, he summoned his back-up singers to lift Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to spine-tingling heights. Those harmonies sent chills soaring across the Bowl.
As his pitch-perfect voice soared over the orchestra, Groban’s warmth made time fly. We laughed, we smiled, and we collectively marveled at what felt like the purest of vocal experiences.
For his second encore, he summoned “The Impossible Dream” from The Man of La Mancha; a fitting and stirring close for a world that sometimes feels aflame, holding fast to hope with all the bravery we can muster.
And let’s be real: is there any voice more right than his to usher us toward a better tomorrow?
Josh Groban performed with the LA Philharmonic on Sept 5th and 6th at the Hollywood Bowl.
For information about upcoming shows and tickets, visit www.hollywoodbowl.com.
