With hundreds of people out of their seats and dancing Tuesday night, the Barrymore Theatre was uplifted and roaring with cheer as purple, red and blue lights outlined the stage. Andy Grammer was performing on his “The Good Parts Tour,” which is raising money for breast cancer awareness in honor of his mother who passed away 10 years ago.
The concert opened with Josie Dunne, welcoming Madison to her first tour. While she sang true to her heart — there were songs about her first heartbreak and the “good boys” in her life — it was apparent her storytelling allowed the audience to actually connect with her beautiful words.
Next up was Josh Splithoff, who began his set with a calming song about love. He later dedicated Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” to his mother, leaving the crowd in a feel-good mood.
Andy Grammer finally took the stage by opening with “Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah).” This first song instantly got me excited, as it allowed me to let go of any outside worries and enjoy the fact that it really is “good to be alive right about now.”
Grammer continued on with his hit songs “Honey, I’m Good.” and “Fine By Me,” keeping the audience singing along and filled with spirit. While jamming out along to his music, I noticed how Grammer is admirable in the sense that he has a genuine explanation for each of his songs.
For example, he described how the song “Spaceship” is dedicated to his 14-month-old daughter. His heartwarming songs continued to amaze me, and he also impressed the audience with his poetry skills.
He recited a poem on how his dad doesn’t care about his fame and wealth, yet he cares so deeply to the hospitalized children Grammer performs for and the meaning behind each song. In concurrence with Grammer’s father, I realized that the messages behind his songs are of much more vitality than anything else.
Along with his authentic music, Grammer’s six backup dancers were so clearly having the time of their lives onstage, making the audience feel the exact same. The dancers jumped and danced along to his songs — freestyling at times — and even had solos throughout the concert.
Though I was at the show by myself, I felt so connected to the performers with their enthusiasm and welcoming approaches. I had a huge smile on my face and positive thoughts in my mind after leaving the Barrymore, as I was able to understand each lyric that was sung and connect to the unbelievable passion onstage.
