If you’re ever feeling sad, down or just generally bleh, can I recommend you go put on A Great Big World’s record, or better yet, just go to one of their shows. I was blown away by just how heartfelt, sincere and just plain happy these two young gentlemen are when they perform.
When the lights dimmed, Jordan Leser took to the stage to get the night started. With her rich, mellow alto tones, she sang of heartbreat, and of loss. She gave her performance to a very captivated audience, to the point that she said, “you’re a very attentive audience considering you’re not even her to see me. Thank you”. Her songs “Brother Moon” and her self-admitted ’happiest song’ about her Grandma were definitely the highlights of the set. Accompanied by only her piano, Miss Leser’s set was quite simply beautiful!
A little while later the lights dimmed once more and the “Circle of Life” from the Lion King started playing. As it the song finished, A Great Big World, together with their band, walked on stage and immediately got straight into it with “Rockstar”. I don’t really know what the “Circle of Life” was all about, but hey, it was pretty rad all the same.
There was the perfect balance of storytelling, band banter and performing. It was enlightening to hear how some of their songs came about and the stories behind their inspiration. Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino are both such sensational musicians and have talent that well justifies their successes. I mean, their falsetto voices!? Wow! But what makes the duo such amazing performers is their ability to convey their music with such positivity, enthusiasm and pure passion. I had a silly little grin on my face for the entirety of the night.
With songs like “Cheer Up”, “You’ll Be Okay” and their cover of “Got to Get You Into My Life” the hopeful nature of the repertoire is transparently clear. This is not even mentioning their song “Everyone is Gay” a song they penned in support of a website offering support for LGBTQ youth. It is such a positive and fun song, and their performance of it was actually hysterically funny and one of the highlights of the set.
In the middle of the set, they played their smash hit “Say Something”. What was really spectacular about this song was that it was just Ian Axel and his piano. No bells, no whistles, no other members of the band, just pure passion. There were moments where his voice broke on the high notes and it made it tear at your heartstrings even more. It was such a beautiful moment.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is certainly the happiest I’ve been at a gig in a long while. Every moment was filled with unexpected excitement and wow moments and is something I will not soon forget.
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