Total Sensory Overload?
Thundering Sassy Oomph?
The Sweet Oodles?
Billy and the Boingers?
Actually, according to Paul O'Neill, the record company said the first album was being printed the following morning and told him if he didn't come up with a name for the band, it would be called Billy and the Boingers, as in the heavy metal, electric-tongued rock band of the comic strip Bloom County, which, actually, would have been pretty cool.
To their fans, though, they are simply called TSO. Regardless of the name, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon rocked.
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra was founded in 1996 by O'Neill, Jon Oliva and Robert Kinkle and the world is a better place because of it. An eclectic fusion of Christmas and classical music performed with the hardened soul of classic rock and chutzpah that is visible from space, TSO have been leaving the audiences limp and very, very happy.
The 2007 Winter Tour does not disappoint.
Unearthly Power Source
Guitarist/Music Director Al Pitrelli conducted the Portland, Oregon show. After the now-routine presentation of a large check to a local charity, (TSO donates $1.00 from every ticket sale and to date, has donated over $3 million) the lights dimmed for the last time that evening.
The next two-and-a-half hours were filled with harmonies, poetry and song that were illuminated by super novae or so it seemed at times.
With a crew that must be powered by unearthly sources, the magic stage had been relocated from the Seattle concert the night before and rebuilt in Portland in time for a matinée. Even if there was no sound, the light show alone would have been worth the price of admission.
But there was sound.
Al Pitrelli and Angus Clark wailed on their guitars while Carmine Giglio and Jane Mangini-Petrelli dueled on keyboards. John O'Reilly on skins and John Lee Middleton on bass completed the core band.
Listen To "The Voice"
The first half of the show is anchored by O'Neill's story of a Christmas Eve when an angel is sent to Earth to find the true spirit of Christmas. It was recited by Anthony Gaynor who is also known as "The Voice." Truly, no other words need be used to describe Mr. Gaynor's talent.
Anna Phoebe, lead violinist who must also run on that unearthly fuel, plays with such enthusiasm, you fear for the health of her instrument. How she can run from one end of the stage to another while conducting a string section of local talent and dance through the audience while not missing a single note is simply a Christmas Miracle.
This year's tour had more singers than last year's (six Broadway vocalists) and because of that, TSO could perform a crowd favorite: "Christmas Canon Rock", a tangy take on Pachelbel's "Canon in D Minor", which was originally recorded with a children's choir.
Their signature tune, "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" was flawless as was their equally famous "Wizards in Winter" (you know, the one that is used in the beer commercial with the synchronized Christmas lights on the house?) "A Mad Russian's Christmas" was over the top.
Rollin', Rollin' ...
The second half had "Christmas Nights In Blue" melting seamlessly into "Proud Mary".
It worked. Don’t ask me how. It just worked, okay?
"Carmina Burana" and "Flight Of The Bumblebee" were also rocked in style. "Wish Liszt", that superb keyboard duet that touches on "Schroeder's Theme", Bach's "Toccata And Fugue In D Minor" and, of course, Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody" must have left those piano strings in need of the Intensive Care Unit of musical instruments.
The lightest moment came when, after introducing everyone on stage, Al Petrelli called for a round of applause for the engineers and crew off-stage and the outstanding job they did. Then he asked if the audience wanted to see all of the special effects at once. After a roar of approval, Al rubbed his hands together, giggled and said, "Watch this!"
Lasers, fireworks, lights, real fire and fake snow exploded on all and everything, and everyone was washed over with music: beautiful, loud, rock and roll music that left us limp.
Towel, please?
by Lynette Sheffield
