I was so looking forward to this night, as it was to be my first time seeing the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's annual Christmas extravaganza. Having been a huge Savatage fan since the late 80's, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and their three Christmas CD's have become regular listening for me and my family every year around this time. I decided to take my wife as we haven't been to a concert together in years and it would be a great way to get the holiday season off to a rocking start!! Everything was going according to plan, I got off work early, the babysitter was on time and we left for Toronto about 6 pm under clear skies. It all went downhill from there.....What normally would be about an hour's drive turned into a three hour nightmare when we hit a MAJOR traffic jam about half-way there. A truck full of glass had flipped over on the Queen Elizabeth Way (the only major route into downtown Toronto) and three lanes of traffic were reduced to one lane, which was actually the shoulder of the road. It took an hour just to travel a few kilometres. I'm normally a calm and collected person but by about 8:00, it was quite clear that we were going to be late and I was starting to lose it!! I even contemplated turning around and heading back home but suddenly traffic began moving again and I sailed into Toronto from there in record time. By the time we got to the venue, it was 9:00 and the show had started at 8:00. Hurrying quickly to our seats (18th row floors) we were soon enwrapped in the spectacle of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra experience.

I wasn't going to bother doing a show report as we missed almost half of the concert but what we did see (about 90 min. worth) was one of the most amazing concert experiences of my life. With huge motorized banks of lights, laser lights, flame throwers, sparklers, flash pots and a crystal clear sound, the band really knows how to put on a show and to get the whole audience involved. Tracks from all three of their Christmas CDs were featured such as Appalachian Snowfall, Christmas Jam, Siberian Sleighride, Wish Lizt, Queen Of The Winter Night and Christmas Canon Rock. With a small choir consisting of both male and female vocalists, a full string section, 2 keyboard players (including Robert Kinkel), Dave Z on bass, Jeff Plate on drums (Savatage), virtuoso electric violinist Mark Wood and Chris Caffery (Savatage) and Alex Skolnick (ex-Testament) on guitars, they delivered a very tight and very energetic performance that was largely classical influenced music in nature but electrified and charged up with wailing guitar solos from both Chris and Alex. It was nothing short of spectacular to hear these two guys play together especially during some of the many harmonized lead solos.

Tracks from the bands only non-Christmas album Beethoven's Last Night were also played including a rousing version of Beethoven's Fifth and there were several fun jams throughout with a little of Led Zeppelin's Rock And Roll thrown in for good measure. A nice surprise was the inclusion of Carmina Burana - the first movement, O Fortuna. It's a track that has been featured in many horror movies and is the stereotypical apocalyptic/end of the world type of song with latin choir chants that was made even more ominous with huge flame throwers on the backline throughout the more intense parts. Chris Caffery served as M.C. for the evening and the crowd was a mix of all ages with entire families, young children and people well over 60 with every single one of them enjoying themselves. When we first got there, we seemed a little out of synch with everything as everyone had big smiles on their faces enjoying every aspect of the spectacle before them. It didn't take us very long to catch up!!

The major highlight of the evening was the very last song Christmas Eve Sarajevo from the Christmas Eve and Other Stories album (also on Savatage's Dead Winter Dead). With tons of lighting effects, the orchestra was whipped into a frenzy culminating with Chris Caffery and Dave Z suddenly appearing near the back of the hall (and only a few rows behind us) and climbing onto a platform that rose very high into the air complete with theatrical rocket flares shooting from the bottom. With both of them still wailing away up there, it began "snowing" all throughout the venue with snow making machines belching out snow over the entire audience...it was simply magical. Eventually making there way back to the stage, they finished the evening with a huge tumultuous ending with people leaping to their feet and cheering. It was a phenomenal show and when we left, my wife and I felt like we only got a taste of the full experience seeing that we missed the first hour of the show. Nevertheless, what we did see was truly unforgettable and the perfect way to kick start your Christmas spirit. Every year, they tour North America and Canada with two versions of the band covering the west and east coasts of North America. The tour gets bigger every year and it’s largely by word of mouth. Chris Caffery stated during the show that they were working on another non-Christmas album with plans to tour and play music from it and Beethoven’s Last Night. If they ever come near your city in the future, seeing them is a must!! With very reasonable ticket prices, it’s one of the best values for your money that you could ever see.

It took me a few days to cool off because of missing half of the show but the amazing spectacle that the concert was has been slowly replacing any negative thoughts/images of that night. That’s really what it’s all about with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s live performance...check your troubles and problems at the door and let them take you on an amazing journey filled with classical music, hard rock, heavy metal and all of the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the readers the very best for the Holiday Season and Happy New Year!! Metal Reviews keeps getting better every year and it’s all in part to the very diverse, passionate and loyal readership that we have...here’s to many more!!!