There have been past years when I've gone to more concerts. 2022 was an especially good year, and hey, it's hard to top seeing Pulp last year in Glasgow. And it's not that this year has been bad, per se. Kraftwerk was pretty awesome after all.
Last night, though, was one of the best concerts I have been to in ages. So, thank you, Ben Platt.
I was aware of Ben Platt and Dear Evan Hansen thanks to RuPaul's Drag Race, but the first time I heard anything from him was when Van shared a song, Grow as You Go. Lovely song. But I still didn't know his stuff. The first movie I saw at the theaters after things closed for the pandemic was the film version of Dear Evan Hansen, and that did NOT make me a fan of either the musical (which is really icky if you stop to think about it) or of Platt (he may have won the Tony for the role on Broadway, but he was too old and did not know how to act on camera). I saw a streaming movie with him, and thought only mildly better of him. Not a fan for a while. No hate, just not a fan.
But I saw he was coming to the Greek, and I suggested it. And Van was resistant at first. Ah, but the album came out, and he and I listened to it. A lot. Andrew is going to be one of my top songs of this year. Love it. And I mentioned the concert again, and this time Van was eager to go.
Yes, Conrad was invited!
Conrad, alas, also came down with a cold. So he stayed home with Olive, and Van and I headed to the Greek Theatre. We got there early enough to enjoy a dinner of a lobster "po' boy" (a lobster roll, let's be real)
that was sold at concession prices and yet was actually kind of worth it. Tasty! We took our seats in time for the opening act,
and then let the night unfold.
Brandy Clark opened for Platt.
She duets with him on his new album on one song, and it's good. But I don't know her otherwise. Country/Broadway, and a great voice. The lesbians behind us LOVED her (we chatted with them about her). A worthy opener.
And then Platt came on.
Sparkly shirt.
Oh yes, he is VERY gay. And hooray for that! His set was terrific.
He brought out Laufey for one song
and Brandy Clark for another. He sang Andrew and some others that I've been enjoying. He did not do any Evan Hansen, and I am really very fine with that.
Verdict? A really great show, and one that (sorry) Conrad would have liked. A beautiful summer night for it, too.
Next up will be the Greek again, in September. This time it will be Thievery Corporation. We'll see how that is by comparison to Ben!
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