Imagine a sensory smorgasbord, a buffet of auditory and visual delicacies, a journey where fantasy becomes reality as you allow yourself to witness peace over persecution, joy over darkness, and imbibe in overwhelming pleasure. Words simply cannot describe the spectacular event know as a Trans Siberian Orchestra (TSO) show. This spectacular musical extravaganza brings utter amazement to the senses as they strive to maintain pace with the multitude of simultaneous events occurring on stage and all around the arena as guitars and violins wail, a dozen singers harmonize, dazzling lights blaze from all angles, fog pervades and fire erupts.
This event lives as the vision of legendary producer, lyricist, and composer, Paul O'Neill, who, in 1993, formed the band that blends classical and rock into a unique fusion, able to entertain fans of virtually all ages. O'Neill managed to form this unparalleled band as a marriage between his experience producing metal bands, Aerosmith and AC/DC, with his admiration for the progressive music of Yes and Pink Floyd, and his love for the beautiful R&B harmonies of the Four Tops and the Temptations. What emerged exists as one of music's top drawing live and top selling recorded acts.
Last night, I enjoyed the rare privilege of witnessing TSO live in Tampa performing a two part show in which they enacted Christmas Eve and Other Stories, a rock opera included in their Christmas trilogy, and then continued with a mixture of songs from the remainder of their albums, but primarily devoted to Christmas. Prior to the opening act, band leader and MC for the night, guitarist Chris Caffrey, handed local DJ, Mason Dixon, a check made payable to the Mason Dixon Charitable Foundation, for over $8,000, representing $1 for every ticket sold. To date, the band has donated over $10 million to local charities.
During the first part, narrator, Brian Hicks, wove an incredible tale of a young man, portrayed by heavy metal vocalist Ronny Munroe, who wanders into a bar on Christmas Eve where he encounters a mysterious old man who tells him a tale about the magical effect of Christmas day on the human race. The band interlaces theatrically embellished music along with the story, accompanied by an incredible assortment of lights, pyrotechnics, and moving, animated trusses and catwalks. With no intermission, only a brief introduction of the vocalists by Caffrey, the band immediately commenced the second half performing Christmas classics like "Christmas Canon", "Faith Noel" and "Carol of the Bells" with the unmistakable heavy metal touch that only TSO delivers.
O'Neill only allows the band to perform Christmas music only during November and December, so to encompass as many venues as possible, the group splits into two separate touring units thus enabling them to hit most major cities during the hectic holiday season. From now until Christmas, the split band will perform 4 shows day per day, an exhaustive schedule, particularly when the stage crew needs 15 hours just to set up the elaborate special effects. TSO merges back into one cohesive group for touring and performing the remainder of the year. With this wider span of calendar, TSO launches on another tour right after New Year's Day performing Beethoven's Last Night, enabling them to slightly slow the pace and hit many smaller cities and venues. I witnessed the east crew, featuring Caffrey and Night Ranger's Joel Hoekstra on guitar, David Z on bass, violinist Roddy Chong, and drummer, Jeff Plate, who has been with TSO since their formation in 1993, as well as a host of vocalists, and members of Tampa's local symphony orchestra.
Enjoy this clip from last night as TSP performs "Carol of the Bells"
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