The Concert Reviews:

	Judgment Committee Reviews	Rating
		5
		4
		4

Abyss's Review (12/21/02, Beacon Theater, NYC):
Hark! The Herald Angels Scream.
Let's face it. It's harder for us metalheads to get into the Christmas Spirit than the average rock fan. After all, as Bart Simpson once said, "All the really good bands are affiliated with Satan," so we find ourselves in a paradox each year. While many of us listen to blasphemous music, I think it's hard to truly grow away from Christmas. We all remember our childhood (me mostly because I hadn't started drinking yet), and the wonder that that magical morning brought. I don't really remember believing in Santa Claus so much as I remember believing that there was one day a year that I could get almost anything I wanted. The toys I had bugged my parents for all year long, more often than not, wound up under that tree. I remember the sheer elation of finally receiving the Atari 2600, or the plethora of Star Wars merchandise that I would ask for. I didn't notice that Santa Claus had the same handwriting as my mother, or that whatever toy I wanted so much in June didn't show up because I had stopped nagging for it, I was just aware of a general feeling that everything was right in the world.

Photos by Hel

Now that I'm an adult, Christmas is more of a headache than anything else. I'm terrible at buying gifts for people, so I usually just ask what they want, whereas they usually get me something special and thoughtful. Somehow I've matured (or gone nuts) and I actually like giving a great gift better than receiving a great gift. Me, someone who is undeniably selfish, becomes at least somewhat selfless one day each year. That's the magic of Christmas for me.
Sentimental feeling aside, however, I am still a metalhead. I think the flying reindeer are possessed and that George Bailey should kick the living shit out of Mr. Potter instead of wishing him a Merry Christmas. For these reasons I'm glad that the Trans Siberian Orchestra exists. It lets me enjoy the season more without giving up what I really like about music, and that's loud, squealing, distorted guitars. Sure, some black metal fiend can listen to TSO and say how polished and poppy it is, but they are missing the point. Some find fault with the Christian overtones, but they are also missing the point. Just like listening to Rob Halford doesn't make you gay (unlike listening to Dream Theater, which does.... just kidding.), enjoying a Christmas story doesn't make you a Christian. If you're that phobic of Christians I suggest you tell someone what your priest did to you.
Regardless of what problems people have with TSO, the band has put on a holiday show that rivals any other. And make no mistake, this is a holiday show. The crowd alone shows that. Amongst the longhaired people wearing black shirts are whole families, including children and the elderly. Being as this show was in New York City, there were a great deal of tourists as well, as they'll see any holiday show they can get tickets for. The funny thing is, no matter how loud the guitars got, or how thick the distortion, everyone seemed to have a good time.

The band went through their album Christmas Eve and Other Stories, complete with a narrator and an impressive light show, with vigor and precision. Since they have two simultaneously touring companies, all of the big names aren't there, but that hardly seems important with the impressive players they've hired. The centerpiece on this leg was, of course, Chris Caffery on guitar. He also, after the first set was over, decided to entertain the crowd with a stand-up routine before introducing the band; perhaps he should stick with the guitar, but it was entertaining. Of course I was thrilled that I also got the treat of seeing Mr. Alex Skolnick slinging his axe even though I think he should go back to Testament. Both guitarists were awesome, especially on their version of "O Holy Night" and "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo." Even Mark Wood got a little metal with his electric, flying V violin.
The second set saw a guest appearance from Paul O'Neill thanking us for attending, and also a few ditties from The Christmas Attic, Beethovenąs Last Night, and a stirring rendition of Beethoven's 5th. The light show was second only to the power of the music, as green lasers joined what felt like a million lights to give a grand visual display. And then as quickly as it started, it was over. But my Christmas spirit remained and I ran out of the Beacon Theater yelling at the top of my lungs, "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas, Homeless Guy!"
"Merry Christmas, Guy Peeing in the Alley!"
"Merry Christmas, you beautiful old Guy Arguing with Himself!"

And to all a good night.

Death's Review (12/13/02, Universal Ampitheater, Hollywood, CA):
Frankly, I had no idea what to expect from this show. I guess I expected metalheads and Savatage fans with a smattering of "adults" mixed in. I think I was wrong. When we walked in, TSO was in the middle of their first set, a performance of their original Christmas story, A Christmas Night. I think I had on jeans, sneakers, an Iron Maiden t-shirt and a black leather jacket. As they might say in Boston, I felt wicked out of place. There were old people there. There were families with little kids. Nowhere were there metal t-shirts that I could see. Yet one by one, as the night wore on, the metalheads revealed themselves amidst the crowd. On the stage, the narrator spoke with such seriousness and conviction, articulately each word ever so precisely, I genuinely felt uncomfortable at times. There I was, looking like a metalhead getting all liquored up while Hel was up front snapping photos. I start banging my head getting into it, and suddenly look up to find the eighty year old woman next to me trying to enjoy a nice, quiet night out with her granddaughter at a Christmas show. This whole thing was pretty much fucked up.

Soon Hel came back. We went up into the aisle to get a snack and another beer for me. I wandered up to the bar, clearly the only patron to visit the three attendants in quite some time. As I heard the familiar climax of the story winding down, I told Hel not to expect much more - I thought the show was almost over (to her credit, Hel vehemently disagreed). We hurried back inside just in time for the ending . . . of the first set. Quickly, the band came back for a much less earnest, much looser and much more fun second set, showcasing the rock and metal aspects of the band which is exactly what I came to see. Al Pitrelli was the leader of this, the "west coast" touring unit of TSO, and the Savatage thread continued with 'Tage member Johnny Lee Middleton on bass. I'm sure many fans of the band had no idea that it all started with an instrumental track on the Dead Winter Dead album. But soon the music became more headbanging friendly, the mood became much lighter, and by the time Al Pitrelli asked the crowd whether there were any Savatage fans in the audience, a huge and unexpected roar went up from the crowd. I was hooked. And for the rest of the show, I enjoyed the amazing musicianship and the spectacle of the entire performance. It isn't often you get to see your prog rock decked out with full choral support and orchestration. I started thinking more and more about it. This kicked ass!

And so my Christmas journey ended on a partying note. I walked out of there a few more sheets to the wind and with a skip in my step. It felt like the holidays at a metal show. Of course that doesn't make any sense - it's like Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas or something. But I honestly had fun. Something different, with a metal twist.

Hel's Review (12/13/02, Universal Ampitheater, Hollywood, CA):
Sometimes, when it's just a couple of weeks before Christmas, and your family is about to descend on you for a week, you need a little something to kick your holiday spirit in the ass. Fortunately, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra may come to a town near you, dispensing holiday spirit via large amplifiers and distorted guitars.
I was distressed that this concert was to take place at the Universal Amphitheatre. Not only is it inconvenient, moreover, I have yet to have the process of obtaining my photo credentials and entering the facility go smoothly. I could go on, describing to you in annoying detail the chain of events that led to me practically bursting into tears (yes, I know I'm a girl - I keep telling you this!), and leaving me with pitifully few photos to from which to choose to accompany these reviews. I will sum it all up simply by telling you that it was a giant ordeal, involving the strictest, most ridiculous scenario for taking photos imaginable, and I ended up with squat for pictures.

Fortunately, the sweet woman at Lava Records who tried her hardest to make sure I didn't have to go through exactly what I did end up going through, also arranged for us to receive tickets for truly excellent seats, one of which I gratefully sank into upon completion of my trials, and after going to the bathroom and hitting the concessions, of course. My view of the stage was perfect, the seats were on the end of the aisle in the center, and in the first row to be elevated behind the end of the floor area.
The musicianship was superb, and the touring company covering the Los Angeles leg of the tour featured most of the original singers on the albums, as well as the husband and wife Pitrelli (a formidable musical double-team if ever there were one), and Johnny Lee Middleton. The songs from both Christmas albums have become extremely familiar to me, as I have only five holiday albums in my entire collection, and every year I load my 5-disc changer with these and listen to them while doing my holiday preparations, in my annual vain attempt to force holiday spirit upon myself while simultaneously panicking at how much I have left to do. This setting provided me with a respite from those preparations, and it was a refreshing context.

Speaking of context - who are these people in the audience? This, my metalhead friends, is what happens when your album is displayed on every holiday music rack in every store across the country each year. Strange folks buy it, and then come to see it with their families, apparently. But despite the tuxedos and evening dresses all the performers wore, and the very un-metal audience, Al and Johnny are metalheads, and deep down, it was a metal show.
After the conclusion of The Christmas Attic in its entirety, Al announced that the "serious" portion of the evening was over, and the audience no longer needed to sit quietly in their seats if they didn't want to. The second set was filled with a variety of songs, both from Christmas Eve and Other Stories and from Beethoven's Last Night, as well as a new one from their forthcoming non-holiday album, which was an extremely familiar Latin song, done with a TSO arrangement. And, at one the band was introduced by one of the singers, who apparently is also an amateur comedian, for the introductions were presented in highly comedic fashion, which seemed to entertain the folks onstage far more than even the audience, who laughed along heartily as well. Paul O'Neill stepped up for a few words as well.
All in all, the show was a lot of fun. I have to deduct a skull for the hell the venue put me through, but otherwise it would have been a five skull night. The performance was fabulous, the performers top-notch, and the lovely fiber-optic curtain they had behind them added a wonderful mood setting touch. Next year, be sure that you go to this!

[- Metal Judgment Home -] [- Email Metal Judgment -]
©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.