The Glade 4.0

A friend just asked me to go with him to a TransSiberian Orchestra Christmas concert. I don't know much about them, been checking out the web site, was wondering if anyone has ever been to one of their concerts. Good or Bad?

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

/inc Numbuk

Say yes and go see them. They will rock your world.

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"I've got twenty ways to tell you shut the f*ck up / nineteen of them are twenty-four bars long / the other one goes: SHUT THE F*CK UP" - Aesop Rock
"There is no God higher than truth." -- Gandhi
Formerly: Tulamian

love their music...

I have heard their concert is one that even if you have seen it, you can not do it justice when trying to describe the experience.

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Darksiege
Traveller, Calé, Whisperer
Lead me not into temptation; for I know a shortcut

This is an experience that is not to be missed.

[youtube]sR3CKEC3lbs[/youtube]

They are "safe rock" for the baby boomer crowd.

That said, they are comprised of actual metal rockers; mostly of Savatage fame. Al Pitrelli, one of the key people behind TSO was in Savatage, Blue Oyster Cult, Alice Cooper's band, and Megadeth.

They put on a good show. And it gets bigger and better each year. They make excellent use of lighting, lasers, props (like machines that create snowfall on the crowd) and now video.

If you enjoy Christmas music and some good hard rock, you will be glad you went. Also. if you take a date, your chances of scoring are very high.

I still enjoy TSO, but it's waned over the past few years. Likely in direct proportion to their popularity amongst non metal fans. That, and their last few albums have continued to play it very safe (so much so they practically follow their other albums' format line by line). But, if it works and grants them the success they have spent almost 30 years trying to achieve, then I am happy for them.

But, long story short, I've never met a person who went to a TSO concert that didn't come out very enthused.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

It's a high energy performance, high production value symphonic rock concert.

With a heavy dose of charming Christmas season narrative.

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"Aaaah! Emotions are weird!" - Amdee
"... Mirrorshades prevent the forces of normalcy from realizing that one is crazed and possibly dangerous. They are the symbol of the sun-staring visionary, the biker, the rocker, the policeman, and similar outlaws." - Bruce Sterling, preface to Mirrorshades

Seen them 4 years runnning now.

Incredible concert experience, but in line with what Numbuk says, the concert crowd feels like this is the first concert they have ever been to. The band (Chris Caffery, specifically) seems to have to prompt the crowd to react, and the typical show-offy bits only get a small portion of the crowd riled up.

All that aside, Oonagh and I absolutely love the show they put on every year straight so far, and we have no intentions of not going any time soon. Every year, they put on an explosive (literally and figuratively) show and it is not one to be missed.

As far as rock concerts go, they do it absolutely right. Worth every penny.

Do not miss! This is an order.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

There seem to be two TSO tours going on right now, simultaneously, playing different cities every play date. I wonder which one is the original and which one the hired second team.

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

I noticed that too, Michael, when I was checking out the web site. Are their 2 different TSO's?

The one I might be going to is in Chicago, on the 26th.

Midgen: the video is great! I think I would really like this!

Numbuk: "If you enjoy Christmas music and some good hard rock, you will be glad you went. Also. if you take a date, your chances of scoring are very high."

Maybe I should let my date know this so he can take someone else, this will be my first "date" since my divorce is almost final.

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

There is a West Coast troupe & an East Coast troupe from what I have read.

But..... it's almost final!!

I began dating my wife before her divorce was final. *shrug*

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

This.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Seconded. We just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. Coming up on 20 years together in March 2010.

Saw it in San Antonio a couple years ago and it was badass.

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It feels like all the people who want limited government really just want government limited to Republicans.
---The Daily Show

looks like I am going, excited to see how it will be!

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

If you don't enjoy it Kirra, I will eat my hat.

As for the two troupes, they split the original TSO singers/musicians in half so that neither side of the U.S. has a "better" performance than the other. For instance, the western half gets the guy who originally sang "Ornament and This Christmas Day," Johnny Lee Middleton (original TSO and savatage bassist), Al Pitrelli (original guitarist), and several other original singers from the albums. Just as I am sure the eastern half does.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

I do not want u to eat your hat, Numbuk, lol.
I've been watching YouTube and they look incredible!

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

I believe the vocallist you are referring to is Tommy Farese, and he does have an incredible voice.

Johnny Lee Middleton is on the East Coast troupe, if I remember correctly. (just saw them in November)

I would love to hear the other troupe, though. Much <3 for Chris Caffrey and Alex Skolnik, but I am sure Al Pitrelli tears it up just as well.

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This must be Thursday. I could never get the hang of Thursdays.

Well, Johnny Lee was there the last couple times I saw them (like 2004 - 2006ish). And yeah it was Tommy Farese. He had a fun sense of humor.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

Omg..TSO was incredible! Best show ever, I am gonna post some pics soon, we were sitting on side of stage but so close, one of the guitar players jumped up near us and said "howdy" lol. It was the main guy with long blond hair..I need to ck my program for his name. They played for 2.5 hours straight.

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Dream as if you'll live forever...
...Live as if you'll die tomorrow

Vivere Senza Rimpianti

Chris Caffery? He's awesome. He used to post regularly on the Savatage boards before they got rid of them. Ah well.

I'm glad you had a good time. I knew you would! It is very difficult not to enjoy them in concert. I don't think I've seen a concert with better stage production than they.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!

Hallelujah, Numbuk's hat is safe!

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The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself. B. Franklin

"A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone." -- Tyrion Lannister, A Game of Thrones

Good thing too. I really like my hat.

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Les Zombis et les Loups-Garous!