Josh Groban covers Metallica in a musical-theater gem

Josh Groban and I talked of Metallica a few days ago. I mentioned plans to see the hard-rock legends’ opening at the Sphere the night before catching his return to the Colosseum.

“So you’re toggling with Metallica this weekend,” I said.

“Oh, man. OK. Great,” the crossover hitmaker said. “Maybe I’ll do a little orchestra ‘Enter Sandman.’ That’ll be fun. I’m quite sure they will be doing a heavy-metal ‘You Raise Me Up.’ We can exchange songs. That’ll be good.”

Groban laughed but he wasn’t totally joking.

Friday night at the return of his “Gems” residency, Groban asked the crowd, ‘How many of you were at Metallica last night?” I’m wondering who are the crossover Metallica-Josh Groban fans.”

The healthy response seemed to catch the headliner off guard.

Seated at the piano, Groban then said, “I’m such a fan of Metallica. Let me tell you something, I wake up in the morning with this voice, but I really wish …”

Then he played the “Enter Sandman” intro on the keys. A ripple of laughter went through the crowd.

“I can’t, I can’t do it,” he said, stopping abruptly. “If I tried to cover a Metallica song, it would probably be the worst decision I ever made. Not because they’re bad — they’re incredible. But I would have to put Metallica in a major key and turn it into a musical.”

Then he did just that.

“Exiiiit liiiight,” he sang. “Enter niiiiight! Taaake my hand! Off to nevah-nevah land! Ooooh!”

The crowd roared. Groban cut the number short, bluffing, “Good night, everyone!”

Groban did sing “You Raise Me Up,” backed by Las Vegas’ Gems Choir (better known as Keith Thompson Victory Choir, renamed for the “Gems” show) and 19 of the city’s top orchestral musicians. See below for that full list of singers and players.

Groban’s bandleader over the past 25 years is L.A.-based guitar virtuoso Tariqh Akoni.

Outside of “Sandman,” highlights included “Shape of My Heart,” his collaboration with Sting; “The Prayer,” long performed by Celine Dion in the room built for her; a cover of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” by Elton John, and a show-closing take of Adele’s “Skyfall,” under a shower of pyro.

Groban has performed myriad duets in a recording career dating a quarter century. Asking who his favorite duet partner is a “complicated” question. But his response has been made easier as his jazz-trumpet master father, Jack Groban, recorded with him on “Moon River.”

That performance ended the elder Groban’s 50-year retirement from performing. He is shown expertly working the horn on the Colosseum’s video screen.

“He’s going to be here for one of my shows,” the son said, clearly elated to bring the music to the audience. “Not playing, but he will be in the audience.”

And Metallica still has time to arrange a thrash-metal cover of “You Raise Me Up.” We can always dream big.

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John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.