New Judson’s Live cranks up the swank on Orlando’s music scene
Judson’s Live opened its doors for its first public concert Tuesday night, and it felt like the big deal that it is for Orlando. The newest space at the downtown Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts gives music lovers a new option in a beautiful environment with a buzzy, big-city feel.
“Welcome to Judson’s Live,” proclaimed Kathleen Parks of Twisted Pine, the grand-opening band. “This is a very special occasion for us.”
It felt like a special occasion for guests, as well, who were lined up in the new Judson’s lobby before the venue’s doors opened. Modeled after music rooms found in other major cities, an evening at Judson’s Live is also a food-and-beverage experience.
There’s a one-drink minimum attached to each ticket. (Those who don’t drink alcohol will be accommodated; a mocktail menu is on the way.) I tried a couple of classics: A boulevardier ($18) that beautifully balanced the bitter and the sweet, and a French 75 ($18), delightfully citrusy through the bubbles.
The food also was pleasing. A generous portion of mildly spiced beef barbacoa croquettes ($16) was complemented by a crunchy vegetable slaw, while roasted shishito peppers ($14), a vegan option — more of those are planned — were given an extra dollop of flavor with a smoked paprika creme and a welcome bit of crunchy texture in crispy quinoa.
Dessert ($11) was a cakelike chocolatey “waffle” — with just enough chocolate taste matched by a light maple-bourbon cream and Bailey’s ganache.
You basically can make a meal of the evening.
There were a few firstnight hiccups: The wrong drink ended up at the table next to mine, and servers were apologizing for the wait for drinks and food. Timing — an obvious struggle for the staff when guests arrive nearly all at once and want to be served before the show — will no doubt be worked on: I ordered food at 6:20, and it didn’t arrive until just as the music started at 7.
You can continue to order food and drink during the 50-minute music set, and those orders arrived more quickly. My server was unobtrusive and didn’t distract from the fine fiddling onstage. But a thought: At one table next to me, there was a whole to-do with a credit card machine just as Twisted Pine members were skillfully delivering one of their toe-tapping instrumental breaks. At another, the server took the credit card, processed it elsewhere and then returned to the table for a signature.
While I’m a big fan of tableside credit card machines generally, in this case, it actually improves the guest experience to run the cards out of sight — so the guests can focus on the music. And Twisted Pine was worth focusing on, with a rollicking country sound that veered engagingly into indie pop and rockabilly. Parks aptly described the Boston-based quartet as a “bluegrass band that does everything else.”
Twisted Pine is the sort of group you might hear at Timucua, which has been bringing uniquely interesting musical acts to Orlando for years. The vibe at Timucua, though, is different. With its concert hall carved out of a family’s living room and a standing invitation to bring a bottle of wine to share with other attendees, Timucua feels homey, a little underground. It’s special in its own way.
Orlando is plenty big enough and has more than enough music lovers to support both venues. And the city is richer for it.
I’ll leave you with a description of Judson’s Live from Twisted Pine’s Chris Sartori because he used a wonderfully specific word I had jotted down in my notebook just before he said it.
“Very nice joint here,” he said. “Very swanky.”
Judson’s Live offers shows multiple nights each week. For more information, go to drphillipscenter.org/judsonslive.