Live Review 616

Okidok, now we are getting to a topic, european Rockfans have waited for a long time. And this is the arrival of the Transsibirian Orchestra. This tour trek was already scheduled last year, but then cancelled again due to logistic reasons and postboned to this year. And let's face it, nobody really did believe anymore, that TSO would ever come to Europe. Why should they?
Since their founding this project, created by Paul 'O'Neil is touring on a regular base on the east - and westcost of the USA. And the concept of the show became really popular, due to the fact, that Amercians seemed to like this concept. The bombastic performances with the huge light- and pyro show are taking care for huge success. 

The music is a mixture of Hardrcok meets Classic, whereby quite some Heavy Metal fans learned to appreciate the Fifth of Beethoven. - Beethoven himself would probably turn round in his wooden coffin at least 5 times, if he was able to, what's up to the power castration of all his beautiful symphonies. But first of all times have changed since the 18th and 19th century, and 2nd this rocky way to play classical music is a strategy to give the young generation a teaser for classic. 
So as I described it before, in our case Classic and Rockmusic gets mixed up  and underlined with a phantastic story and a very impressing visual impression. - And this goes well down indeed. This way of performing does go well down in America, as Americans do luv kitch and colourful bombast anyway. But does it work in good old Europe as well?! 

On thins is answered pretty quick, and that's the fact, that all Savatage and Jon Oliva's Pain fans are pulled by this current TSO tour throughout Europe. Due to the fact, that the shows of TSO are seated, there ain't not that many people, as in usual rockshows . This means for our Zenith not as usual 6.000, but only about 1.700 guests in here.
It's little more difficult for us photographers, as we're only allowed to take pics from back at the Sounddisc. And charming tourmanager Alan tells us the rulse (see pic below) 

This distance is a bit odd, but on the other hand we've got a good overview of the whole stage and it's a 5 and not 3 songs length time to take pics. So you better take a 300 Zoom lense with you to get some decent images. It is impressing indeed, though TSO have not taken their whole lightshow acroos the ocean. But never mind, the concentration should be on the tale and accompanying music anyway. 

And the story teller here, is a gentleman named Bryan Hicks, who reads and talks about Ludwig van Beethovens last night and his imaginary 10th symphony. 

In addition to that, left and right handside of the stage you find huge monitors, where you see the german translation running down for a little help. Between the chapters the music is played  by a great band and always changing frontmen and women. And because TSO has several line ups, there are always changes. Always taking part is: Al Pitrelli (Git.), Chris Caffery (Git), Johnny Lee Middleton (Bass) and Jeff Plate (Drums) all of them former Savatage musicians Unfortunatley big boss Paul O'Neil is missing tonight

That one has travelled already to Vienna to do a little promotion in Austria, before the tour trek rolls along. Paul is the creator, the composer and boss of TSO, but he joins the band only now and then on stage. Same for Jon Oliva, but that one had to cancel the whole european trip anyway, as one of his close family members has seriously become ill.  
Back tot he active part of the show, and this is handled by a few different singers as I said before. And that is amongst others - Jeff Scott Soto, Andrew Ross and Tim Hockenperry.

It is indeed a fact, that this band up there including a string section, Keyboards, guitars, bass and others include about 20 heads. And thos guys and girls are perfectly trimmed to each other. Paul 'O'Neil has told me a few weeks ago here in Munich within an interview, that every sings has got to sing 5 songs only in one show, as it does become too much otherwise with such a lot of events. And that's not meant so much according to Europe, but more to the USA, where 50 shows in a row are not seldom. But the patent receipy will be cooked straight as we say so. The dates in Europe only include aprox. 20 shows. For once as the transfer of the large production from the US ain't easy and very expensive and for the other part, they wanted to test our contintent first of all, if it works out at all. The venues are not that large as in the USA, so there ain't that many tickets sold. And with such large production things have to be calculated very carefully. 
But back to the live show here in Munich, which finds a real good echo so far. 

Although most people prefer the music to the lyrical performance, including myself. But apart from that, this mixture of bombast rock and rocky classic gives us sort of a shivering feeling. And as we say so: the best thing comes last, it is indeed the last 30 minutes touching us most, after the proceedere around Beethoven's 10th is finished. The epilog is started with Bach's Toccata and ends with the tunes of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and the final 'Chance'-

This here have been 3 hours great entertainment, maybe not quite as spectacular as in the USA, but for our tastes still absolutely great with a long lasting impression. And some Savatage fans have a teardrop in their eye twinkle and think how nice it would be - yeah well you know what I mean... .. And maybe this is not too far away... just check the last interview with Jon Oliva on this website (on the interview page) and listen what he says about a reunion..

oh and before I forget, I have to say one thing about our Zenith venue beeing so infamous for it's catastrophic sound conditions... But in this case tonight I have to say, that the sound has been crystal clear and absolutely brilliant - no kiddin'....

Epilog:
And if 3 hours are not enought live on stage up there, the whole ensemble comes back again into the back of the venue to write hundrets of autographs. This again is organized so perfect, that it only takes about 30 minutes to please every fan. 1:0 for TSO on the scale of popularity...
I for my part have to say, though I do still prefer Beethoven pure and not on the rocks, I have to say, this has been simply great without any doubts....
http://www.trans-siberian.com/ 

Some Backstage Aftershow Snapshost can be found in the Diary