My Night with Marc Broussard

His voice reminds me of one of the happiest days of my life.


Marc Broussard’s “The Beauty of Who You Are” is the song to which Edd and I shared our first dance as husband and wife. So last night when I went to Birmingham’s WorkPlay to see Broussard perform live I walked in eager to hear that song. But I was wondering also if he’d live up to the hype: several friends who are also fans had told me his voice is even more impressive live than on his albums. Broussard did not disappoint. 

As much as I hate the term “blue-eyed soul” if there really is such a thing this Louisiana boy is the epitome of it. Just check out Broussard’s cover of the soul classic “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know” if you don’t believe me.


He kicked off the intimate show with Rocksteady which is from his first major album Carenco (2004). This got the crowd excited and Broussard kept us that way the rest of the night with his high energy performances. Jamming out on his guitar, belting out lyrics with unbelievable power, and dancing across the stage, Broussard seemed determined to make sure we were all having as much fun as he and his band were. 


The show offered a nice mix of old and new songs, original tracks and covers. Songs from Carenco (such as “The Wanderer,” “Save Me,” and “Come Around,”) were true crowd pleasers and in Birmingham we aren’t afraid to sing along, clap our hands and even dance. 


This crooner also likes to romance the audience. His sultry voice warmed the room on tracks like “Our Big Mistake” and his rendition of “Come in from the Cold” (which is featured on his 2007 release S.O.S.: Save Our Soul, an album of mostly covers). And his rendition “Love and Happiness” (also on the 2007 album) would have made Al Green proud. Hugging their dates or their drinks to their chest, audience members swayed side to side slow dancing with their baby or their beer bottle, caught in his smooth sounds. During one song Broussard grabbed the iPhones and Flip cameras folks on the front row were holding up to capture the moment and began to serenade the devices so those fans would have something extra special by which to remember the show. 


The encore was an extra-special treat for me. Broussard came back to the stage and melted my heart with “The Beauty of Who You Are.” He then closed out the show with my other favorite track “Home.” Considering this song’s gospel flavor it’s no surprise he finished the performance dancing across the stage in that “I just caught the Holy Ghost” fashion many of of us grew up witnessing in church. 


If you live in Birmingham and you weren’t there, you missed a fantastic show. For the rest of you check here to see if Broussard will be in a city near you this month.