Oftentimes, people talk about the magic of seeing movies in theaters on the big screen rather than at home. This is taken to a whole other level when it comes to “Whiplash in Concert.”
On September 13, “Whiplash in Concert” came to the Auditorium Theater in Chicago — and I was in the crowd. The idea is simple: Put the movie on the big screen while a live orchestra plays all the music. Yet, words cannot describe how special this experience was.
I got the chance to watch “La La Land in Concert” in April and was so impressed by how elevated the viewer experience felt. Beyond the incredible orchestra playing the score beautifully, the lights shifted to match the mood of the scene. Even as someone who has seen countless live productions, this was one of my favorites. I had high expectations for “Whiplash,” and they were more than exceeded.
The show tours with a conductor and a drummer. I was lucky enough to have Justin Hurwitz, the composer for both “La La Land” and “Whiplash,” conduct the show. With him came drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who absolutely killed it. He was perfectly on beat for every moment of the movie. Every single drum solo was in sync with the film, making the tension feel real.
Even after watching “La La Land,” I was still amazed each time the orchestra, or in this case, the 18-piece jazz big band, came in underscoring the movie. Even in scenes where the characters weren’t practicing or performing, the band played everything. It was especially cool in moments where the music extended either into a performance number or beyond one. The transitions were as smooth as in the film.
The final drum solo was one of the most impressive feats I have ever witnessed. Many of my friends who are drummers will attempt the solo and not even come close, but Nekrutman not only nailed it, but also did it with every sound being synchronized with Miles Teller’s performance in the movie.
Every time a show is announced for both “La La Land” and “Whiplash in Concert,” tickets sell out incredibly fast. Now that I have seen both in person, I understand why. They are truly magical experiences that completely change how the audience perceives the movies.