The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a rock'n'roll orchestra, engineered by Savatage's lead singer and keyboard player, Jon Oliva, and by the band's partner and producer Paul O'Neill. It's first release was the 1996 single Christmas Eve/ Sarajevo 12/24, a song that had already appeared on Savatage's Dead Winter Dead album, in 1995. With it's mix of songs inspired in Christmas, played with a heavy metal approach, the band has sold over 7 million copies of their first four releases and, up to 2008, they have played to over 5 million people, in more than 80 cities.
Since 1999, TSO plays in the USA and some cities of Canada. Its success in North America is so huge that there are two bands: one for the East coast, and another one for the West coast, each one with their own staff and equipment. Therefore, it isn't any surprise how amazing their gigs are. And after ten years of touring, their stage design and crew structure is monstrous: ten trucks, that carry the musicians, roadies, equipment and generators. Four of them carry generators, such is the amount of electrical power they demand. To get their lightning set up correctly, it takes almost 15 hours, hence everything is in sync with the music.
The concert that took place in Michigan, at The Palace of Auburn Hills (Dec, 27th), home of NBA's Detroit Pistons, was one of the lasts on this Winter Tour, which promoted their latest release Night Castle (2009). Despite the crisis over the country, almost every concert on this tour was sold-out and, on every concert, a dollar of each ticket sold is donated to charity. On that night, there were 2 checks, with the amount of 11 thousand dollars, donated to charity institutions in the city of Detroit.
With the gymnasium packed, the show begins exactly at 7 PM. The first part lasts about 90 minutes, during which is presented the Christmas Story that the band is so famous for. The songs are intercalated with narrations by Bryan Hicks, a black actor with a powerful and soulful voice, with vast experience in musicals and TV. Actually, every musician that takes part in TSO, either from the east or west band, have a solid career, having participated in shows like Cats, Les Miserables and Chicago, and others are known among rock/metal fans, like guitarist Al Pitrelli (ex-Savatage, ex-Megadeth) and Jeff Scott Soto (ex-Journey, Talisman and Yngwie Malmsteen), both from the West coast. Those who are Savatage fans get the feeling of nostalgia when watching the East coast band: on guitars Chris Caffery and Alex Skolnick, Johnny Lee Middleton on bass and Jeff Plate on drums. Jon Oliva performs in some opportunities, but unfortunately it didn't happen on this night. There are 24 musicians on stage, and the string session (made of seven people), are local musicians - in every city, different but equally talented people.
The Christmas story told is the one from the album Christmas Eve And Other Stories (1996): On a snow blessed Christmas Eve a young man found himself alone in the back of an old city bar in the rundown section of town. Using his solitary drink as something of a moat between himself and the rest of the world, he was surprised when an elderly gentleman asked to join him at his table. Reluctantly, he nodded his permission but within minutes he found himself engrossed in a story that the old man related to him; a story about another Christmas Eve when the Lord looked down from above at all his children. It had been nearly two thousand years since the birth of His son and turning to His youngest Angel the Lord said, "Go down to the Earth and bring back to me the one thing that best represents everything good that has been done in the name of this day."
Beautiful songs were presented: An Angel Came Down sung by Rob Evan; The Prince Of Peace and Good King Joy by the fabulous Jay Pierce; This Christmas Day by James Lewis and Old City Bar by the young Steve Broderick, accompanied only by Alex Skolnick's acoustic guitar. The instrumental songs aren't less exciting: O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night, A Mad Russian's Christmas, First Snow and Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24.
Stage presence is something that TSO does not lack: even though they wear tuxedos - and the ladies, dresses, they all have a great time on stage, interacting with each other with even some choreographies. Chris Caffery and the gorgeous violin player Anna Phoebe are the ones that rock the most.
During the second part of the concert, we had a lot of instrumental songs, such as Toccata - Carpimus Noctem, Moonlight And Madness, Wizards In Winter, The Mountain (with great pyro on stage) and Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness), when Chris Caffery and Anna Phoebe go to a platform that comes up, over the audience, one of the many highlights of the night. Another one is a truly emotional renditions of Savatage's Believe, by singer Tim Hockenberry.
Technically speaking, the sound quality is impeccable during the whole concert (even though it could be a bit louder), and the lightning is spectacular, or should I say, essential: the synchronism with the songs is perfect and makes every bit of the show even more interesting. A friend said to me that they should sell not only ear plugs in the venue, but also sunglasses!
There were three hours of spectacle that left the audience with a huge grin: that's why people keep coming back, every year. Too bad that the TSO can't travel out of North America with their full gear to countries in Europe or South America, for example. To maintain the performance quality - both visual and sound wise - would cost too much. But if you have the opportunity to travel to the USA and watch one of their concerts, be sure of one thing: you won't regret it.
