The Trans-Siberian Orchestra; 24000 People; and Me
Do you ever feel like everybody is out of step but you, but then think they all can’t be wrong, so it must be you? For your consideration, I give to you the Trans-Siberian Orchestra which opened its Christmas Tour right here in Youngstown, Ohio, at the Chevy Center. For four performances, the TSO packed them in, selling out all performances. Given a capacity of 6100 seats, that means 24,400 people saw the TSO this past weekend, including yours truly.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with them, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra was formed in 1996 by some extremely talented musicians whose roots were in heavy metal rock and roll. Their goal was to broaden the appeal of heavy metal rock music to a larger audience by adding elements of classical, R&B, and pop music. They expanded the core of the band by including several keyboard guys, numerous guitarists and bass players, and vocalists, including a large contingent of back up singers. In addition, at each venue, they supplement the group with local classical musicians on violins and what not.
TSO’s claim to fame is a series of Christmas albums based on several themes, complete with narration. Their most famous original track is probably Christmas in Sarajevo, but you can hear portions of their music every holiday as TSO has rapidly replaced Mannheim Steamroller as the bumper of music of choice on everything from Rush Limbaugh to America Coast to Coast at three in the morning.
The show is a full blown experience with strobe lights, lasers, smoke machines, fireworks, artificial snow falling throughout the venue, and gas jets so hot you can feel them well into the audience. If you have asthma, fuggetaboutit. The smoke from the smoke machines is blowing continuously, both for effect and to allow the lasers to shine properly. We had to air out our clothes for 2 days.
Here is the problem. 24,000 people of all ages loved these guys, rocking to steeled up versions of Silent Night and Deck the Halls. Why did I hate it? I saw them several years ago at the Powers Auditorium, in an auditorium venue, and they were OK. I never bought one of their CD’s, or downloaded any of their music, but my son wanted to see them so we went along. I was pleasantly surprised at the moving narration that was the heart of the program, and somehow the music fit.
So this year, when some friends of ours asked us to go along with them to see them in an arena venue, we thought OK. We kind of enjoyed them the last time we saw them. Why not?
OH MY. It was crowded. It was loud. The $6.50/bottle beer was flowing, especially into a number of nearby women who kept shouting “Whooooooa!” The speakers, or should I say speaker banks, were hung from the ceiling with care in hopes that St. Nicholas...needed 50 supersized subwoofers to find the joint? We got there at 7:15, and the show started at 8:00 with someone shouting into the amplification system…HEEEELLLLOOOO YOUNGSTOWN. Then it began…boom…boom….boom….and three hours later at 11:00 they were still going strong. I could feel bass through my heart to my spine. The light show was blinding. My ears were ringing, and we were ill from the smoke.
Because we were with friends, and not wanting to be party poopers, we bravely stuck it out looking away from the stage and holding our ears. There was no intermission, so we continually moved our legs hoping not to get blood clots like in a long airplane ride. The lead guitarist kept coming over to a platform by where we were sitting, and I dutifully pointed my fingers back at him in time with the music to show my appreciation. And when my wife finally got too ill from the smoke to stay any longer, our friends, who are more Republican than me, walked out with us….and asked why we hung around for so long. They were ready to go after the first hour and a half.
These guys are as good as musicians as I have seen. Every person on that stage was as good as it gets. And I feel bad that I couldn't appreciate their musicianship and join the huddled masses in appreciating what was a well done, entertaining event.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with them, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra was formed in 1996 by some extremely talented musicians whose roots were in heavy metal rock and roll. Their goal was to broaden the appeal of heavy metal rock music to a larger audience by adding elements of classical, R&B, and pop music. They expanded the core of the band by including several keyboard guys, numerous guitarists and bass players, and vocalists, including a large contingent of back up singers. In addition, at each venue, they supplement the group with local classical musicians on violins and what not.
TSO’s claim to fame is a series of Christmas albums based on several themes, complete with narration. Their most famous original track is probably Christmas in Sarajevo, but you can hear portions of their music every holiday as TSO has rapidly replaced Mannheim Steamroller as the bumper of music of choice on everything from Rush Limbaugh to America Coast to Coast at three in the morning.
The show is a full blown experience with strobe lights, lasers, smoke machines, fireworks, artificial snow falling throughout the venue, and gas jets so hot you can feel them well into the audience. If you have asthma, fuggetaboutit. The smoke from the smoke machines is blowing continuously, both for effect and to allow the lasers to shine properly. We had to air out our clothes for 2 days.
Here is the problem. 24,000 people of all ages loved these guys, rocking to steeled up versions of Silent Night and Deck the Halls. Why did I hate it? I saw them several years ago at the Powers Auditorium, in an auditorium venue, and they were OK. I never bought one of their CD’s, or downloaded any of their music, but my son wanted to see them so we went along. I was pleasantly surprised at the moving narration that was the heart of the program, and somehow the music fit.
So this year, when some friends of ours asked us to go along with them to see them in an arena venue, we thought OK. We kind of enjoyed them the last time we saw them. Why not?
OH MY. It was crowded. It was loud. The $6.50/bottle beer was flowing, especially into a number of nearby women who kept shouting “Whooooooa!” The speakers, or should I say speaker banks, were hung from the ceiling with care in hopes that St. Nicholas...needed 50 supersized subwoofers to find the joint? We got there at 7:15, and the show started at 8:00 with someone shouting into the amplification system…HEEEELLLLOOOO YOUNGSTOWN. Then it began…boom…boom….boom….and three hours later at 11:00 they were still going strong. I could feel bass through my heart to my spine. The light show was blinding. My ears were ringing, and we were ill from the smoke.
Because we were with friends, and not wanting to be party poopers, we bravely stuck it out looking away from the stage and holding our ears. There was no intermission, so we continually moved our legs hoping not to get blood clots like in a long airplane ride. The lead guitarist kept coming over to a platform by where we were sitting, and I dutifully pointed my fingers back at him in time with the music to show my appreciation. And when my wife finally got too ill from the smoke to stay any longer, our friends, who are more Republican than me, walked out with us….and asked why we hung around for so long. They were ready to go after the first hour and a half.
These guys are as good as musicians as I have seen. Every person on that stage was as good as it gets. And I feel bad that I couldn't appreciate their musicianship and join the huddled masses in appreciating what was a well done, entertaining event.
We rested our senses yesterday, and did some shopping late yesterday afternoon. On the CD player at the store, you guessed it, TSO. But you know what? Toned down to a tolerable decibel, the music was OK. Actually, it was pretty darned good. Maybe I will give them "a go" again if they come back, but buy the cheap seats in the back of the hall, and try to enjoy the music. Then again, I just may put on my Charlie Brown Christmas Album, and listen to some low key jazz. Rock On!!!!!!
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