Trans-Siberian Orchestra rocked the Wells Fargo Center and (literally) lit the arena on fire with their epic performance. This rock and roll holiday show is something I look forward to every year, and the group celebrated their 26th year with the 2022 Winter Tour.
The first time I saw TSO was in 2011, and at the time I had been playing the violin for 10 years and also was really into rock music. I didn’t know what to expect, but I remember being blown away by the show, as I had never seen anything like it. I think that’s the fun part of watching someone attend the show for the first time, no matter what their expectations are, there is nothing else that compares to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
As I headed into Philadelphia on a cold, windy night, I immediately felt the excitement as cars were packing into the parking lot of the venue. Whenever I attend a show or concert, I always feel a sense of community to others around me because we’re all there for the same reason, we all have some kind of connection to the music of the performer that night.
As we made our way to the seats, I enjoyed seeing people of all ages, along with some in holiday gear. I noticed that almost every seat was filled in the arena, and as the show began, we were hit with a powerful opening song. As the performances went on, we heard a lot of hard rock and heavy metal Christmas music, which was accompanied by laser lights, fog and pyro, which were synchronized to the music. The stage set up in itself was amazing, with giant screens illuminating images and videos to match the songs as well as moving hydraulic stages.
In the second half of the show, the band dedicated the song “If I Go Away” to founder Paul O’Neill, who passed away in 2017. Not only are the songs enjoyable, but the musicians also give us a mesmerizing performance as well. With hair swinging, guitar shredding and an enthusiastic violinist jumping in the air, the energy can be felt from anywhere in the arena. During intermission, Guitarist Chris Caffery introduced band members, as well as gave the audience a little background on TSO if they were not already familiar. Chris noted that the group’s first show took place at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia 26 years ago. He said he was 5 at the time…pretty sure he was making a joke on that one.
As the show neared the end, the energy did not disappear. A hovering stage was lowered from the ceiling, which hung right above audience members. To be honest I got a little nervous looking at it, but I was assured the crew took the time and effort to make sure it was perfect. Guitarists Joel Hoekstra and Chris Caffery made their way out on the floating stage, as fake snow started to fall from above to match the ambiance of the show. At the end we got a reprise of Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 and the crowd went wild as the lights and fire sped up to the music. As the sound got heavier and faster towards the end, the stage lit up with fog, a lot of pryo and yes, even fireworks. As we made our way out of our seats, the hallways were filled with fog from the extravagant ending of the show.
I was so amazed at the pure talent that filled the stage that night, and how effortlessly the show flowed from one performance to the next. Whether you’re a fan of rock or classical music, or just a show to get you into the Christmas spirits, be sure to check out the Trans-Siberian Orchestra because you’ll be in for a rockin’ holiday extravaganza.
Check out the promo for the current tour in the video below:
Here are the remaining tour dates below:
Dec 26 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena – 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Dec 26 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center – 3:00 PM & 8:00 PM
Dec 27 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center – 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Dec 28 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center – 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Dec 29 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena – 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Dec 29 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center – 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Dec 30 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse – 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
Dec 30 – San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center – 3:00 PM & 7:30 PM
TSO was founded in 1996 by Paul O’Neill, who worked as a writer, producer, manager, and concert promoter. Before TSO was created, Paul was producing for a heavy metal band called Savatage, which eventually led to his next idea. He brought together fellow Savatage producer Robert Kinkell, as well as Savatage band members Al Pitrelli and Jon Olivia to help start the project. His creation of TSO came from the idea of combining genres of music he grew up with (classical and rock) and forming them into a new style, which would become a rock opera group with a trilogy about Christmas as well as a few regular albums. As stated on TSO’s website, when Paul O’Neill first conceived Trans-Siberian Orchestra, his goal was as straightforward as it was incredibly ambitious. “The whole idea,” he explains, “was to create a progressive rock band that would push the boundaries (of the genre) further than any group before… Way, way further.”
ROCK REPORT 