TSO

[Dude]

So I'm still high as a kite aftert the annual Trans-Siberian Orchestra show tonight.

My wife and I have gone the past 5 years, and every year we walk out of that place grinning ear to ear. It is AMAZING.

I don't know who in here is familiar with the music, but basically it is the members of the metal band Savatage who formed TSO (along with a few others). It started with a first CD--a christmas story called "Christmas Eve & Other Stories", in which the most popular song is played religiously during the holidays. I'm sure even if you aren't exactly familiar with TSO, you've heard the tune. You would recognize "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" immediately. After the first disc, 2 more Christmas themed CDs and now 2 non Christmas projects have been created as well. The first is called "Beethoven's Last Night", which has some neat Beethoven music converted to a metal sound, all behind a story, of course. A new project is being recorded as well, for release next year.

Anyway, the live show is fantastic. The lasers/lights get better every year and the pyrotechnics this year were astounding.

Did I mention hot girls too?

At any rate--has anyone else heard of them and/or been to a show?

 

[El Pistolero]

They're playing down here in a couple of weeks. Didn't realize is was an xmas thing tho...they're pumping them as classical/rock fusion.

 

[homebrewer_99]

They're in Moline, IL on Dec 30.

 

[cowain]

I've not heard much of their stuff, but here's something everyone should like.

http://x702.putfile.com/videos/b4-32009062867.wmv

It's a 3 minute video, so those with slow connections beware. I don't want to ruin it so the only preview you get is that TSO music is a big part of it.

P.S. It is not nasty or anything.

 

[Toilet Rocker]

I've been a huge fan of theirs for years. I was disappointed that they never took Beethoven's on the road. The stage show was amazing. I didn't realize Alex Skolnick was part of TSO until I heard the guitar work live at the Beacon. You cannot mistake him. There are two TSOs, aren't there? Each tours a half of the country?

 

[Dude]

They're playing down here in a couple of weeks. Didn't realize is was an xmas thing tho...they're pumping them as classical/rock fusion.

Oh yeah--they whole first hour or so of the show is the entire "Christmas Eve & Other Stories" show, then the last hour and a half they rock out. You'll hear bits of Zeppelin, Styx, an AWESOME version of Carmina Burana (Carl Orff), a bunch of the Beethoven stuff, and lots of the Christmas stuff from the other CDs. If you have a chance to go it is well worth the money. My wife and I already decided next year we'll go in Richmond too.

I've been a huge fan of theirs for years. I was disappointed that they never took Beethoven's on the road. The stage show was amazing. I didn't realize Alex Skolnick was part of TSO until I heard the guitar work live at the Beacon. You cannot mistake him. There are two TSOs, aren't there? Each tours a half of the country?

Oh yeah! Alex is awesome. He is on the east coast tour which we saw.
I loved the west coast tour (we saw that once when we lived in Omaha) with Al Pitrelli too, but both shows are pretty much the exact same.
They've been promising to take Beethoven on the road for years--we'll see!

 

[Orfy]

ORRELSE, have you seen this.

http://members.cox.net/transam57/lights.wmv

 

[user 574]

Sounds intriguing and might check this out ORRELSE but I'm now officially confused in looking at their tour dates. I see them in Tucson AND Detroit Dec 11th. There were a lot of dates on their schedule that showed them in 2 cities per day. Have they cloned?

EDIT - Read elsewhere that there are two touring groups. Nevermind...

 

[homebrewer_99]

They're a FRANCHISE BAND like Bad Company, Foghat, and many more are. They've had so many members that there can be 2 bands touring at the same time.

If you're watching in Detriot and wonder why/how they're playing in Tucson the same night...now you know.

 

[Dude]

My sister saw TSO in Chicago before the Holidays, as did a buddy in Cinci and they both raved. She said they made it snow inside the Allstate arena!

Yeah....believe it or not it is soap bubbles. I came out of there all freaking sticky. No kidding. Cool effect though.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I just got back from the TSO concert this afternoon. Fantastic music and light show. I was impressed.

14th row, 5 seats off center...and there wasn't a 13th row!

No soap bubbles. It was an artificial snow. Great effect.

 

[Rhoobarb]

... No soap bubbles. It was an artificial snow. Great effect.

Yeah, that's what my sis said! I have a copy of their 1st CD. I'll probably see them next year; she plans to take me!

 

[Dude]

Yeah, that's what my sis said! I have a copy of their 1st CD. I'll probably see them next year; she plans to take me!

Dude, grab the third disc. And I wish music sharing was legal, I wish you could hear a few of the Beethoven songs. It is awesome hearing the 9th Symphony kicked up a couple notches!!!!!!

 

[El Pistolero]

Dude, grab the third disc. And I wish music sharing was legal, I wish you could hear a few of the Beethoven songs. It is awesome hearing the 9th Symphony kicked up a couple notches!!!!!!

I grabbed the first one, and wasn't all that impressed. Is the third one all Ludwig?

 

[Dude]

I grabbed the first one, and wasn't all that impressed. Is the third one all Ludwig?

They have 4 CDs. 3 are Christmas based, 1 is the beethoven music. The third x-mas disc (The Lost Christmas Eve) is good. That's the disc that has the song Wizards of Winter" on the links in this thread and on the Miller commercial.
Not all of the Beethoven CD is Beethoven music though--in fact most of it is pretty lame. However it has 3-4 songs that kick ass--especially live.

 

[Toilet Rocker]

I'm at the other end here. I like Beethoven's the best. They all essentially have a "Broadway" big production feel, but I like the story behind Beethoven's best. I like hearing the reinterpretation of the maestro's works woven with this storyline. Imagine a real missing 10th??

 

[Dude]

I'm at the other end here. I like Beethoven's the best. They all essentially have a "Broadway" big production feel, but I like the story behind Beethoven's best. I like hearing the reinterpretation of the maestro's works woven with this storyline. Imagine a real missing 10th??

Yeah, the story is cool but some of the songs are pretty bleccchhh.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I experienced Beethoven's 9th Symphony performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra once.

Just 2 nights later I was in the same auditorium and saw the Scorpions.

 

[El Pistolero]

I experienced Beethoven's 9th Symphony performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra once.

Just 2 nights later I was in the same auditorium and saw the Scorpions.

So which was better?

 

[Dude]

Well, I'm headed to the Hampton Coliseum tomorrow night for the 2006 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Show. I am so freaking psyched. This will be the 6th straight year we've seen them.

This year should be great though--SWMBO works until 6 PM and a buddy of mine is going with us--so he and I are starting off the night by getting buzzed at Hooters before the show. Should be ugly by about 9 PM, seeing they also serve beer at the Coliseum.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Just visited the website - they sound very talented! Though there isn't much there that I'd prefer to listen to on a daily basis, I bet they're great live!

 

[Toilet Rocker]

They're playing 2 local venues, one where the Islanders play, the other where the Devils play...and I'm too stubborn to go to either of those crapholes. No Manhattan this year?

 

[Dude]

Well, the show was killer again. I think I'm going to skip the first hour next year though. That same old Christmas story is getting old.

The second 2/3 of the show is always amazing though. Just when you think they can't get any better they do something new. The pyrotechnics during the Beethoven stuff is awesome. I got about 4 complete songs on video from my camera--I'll host them on my website if anyone is interested in downloading them and checking them out. The videos are small and the sounds isn't the greatest but you get a good idea of what you are missing out on!

Anyone interested?