Hallelujah for the Anaheim House of Blues!

“It’s a Hallelujah Party!” the Clara Ward Singers, a gospel choir originating from Philly, announce, stepping onto the Anaheim House of Blues stage. They emerge cloaked in a cloud of red: red sequined and feathered hats, red suits, red heels. The spotlights shine; they sparkle.

“This train is moving, all you’ve got to do is jump on,” they say, before bursting out into a deep, soulful song.

Within moments, the room is a blur. Everyone around us (teens, seniors, tots, tourists and locals) is on their feet, clapping, singing, waving napkins in the air. I have been to many a concert, and this by far is the earliest into a set I’ve EVER seen an entire audience on their feet.

I clasp my napkin in between my thumb and forefinger and create my own swaying helicopter.

“Can I get an Amen chorus?” the lead singer calls out at the conclusion of the fist song.

“Amen!” everyone shouts back.

It is Valentines day and my husband, Scott, and I have chose to start the morning with the 10 am famous Anaheim House of Blues Gospel Brunch. Located in Downtown Disney, the House of Blues is located in close proximity to Disneyland, the Anaheim Convention Center and the The Shops at Anaheim GardenWalk.

The House of Blues hosts two Gospel Brunches every Sunday, at 10am and 1 pm. Acts change, but the quality doesn’t. If you don’t catch one while you‘re in town, you’re REALLY missing out. Make your reservations early (you might want to open a browser right now). Our performance is sold out, and that’s not unusual.

Ok, so you’re wondering about the brunch part…

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know by now that I like to eat :)

You would also know by now that I was born and grew up in Virginia. I know my soul food. So does the House of Blues. They’ve got it all right:

Biscuits and sausage gravy, hickory smokes sausage and bacon, fried chicken, scrambled eggs, roast beef and ham carving station, cucumber salad, made-to-order omelet station (pictured below), French toast with strawberry topping, donuts, seasoned breakfast potatoes are just a sampling of menu items. And yes, I tried it all. For $10 extra, you can drink bottomless mimosas. (Other bargains include three hours of free parking in the Downtown Disney lot with ticket validation and 20% off House of Blues shop merchandise with ticket stub).

On the stage, the Clara Ward Singers have just finished their celebration boogie where they encourage audience members celebrating birthdays and anniversaries to do a little shimmy. If someone in your party is celebrating a special day--this is the place to take them!! They will get their due attention!

Now, the gospel singers are dancing and swaying to “This Little Light of Mine.” I’m singing along, when all of the sudden, Scott gets snatched from the seat beside me.

The Clara Wood Singers are moving through the audience, selecting random attendees to join them on the stage. As they move into their next song, “Thank You,” they pause to let each participant on the stage speak into the microphone and tell the audience what they are thankful for.

“Thank you for my wife of four months,” Scott says. Ok, I’m aware that this is a little sappy, but it made my Valentines day, well, that and the amazing voices of the Clara Ward Singers, the truly tasty soul food and the overall happy staff and ambience of the House of Blues.

Expect only Happy memories from the Anaheim House of Blues!