Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT 11/25/18

Twenty consecutive years on the road.  Think about that. The smart phones that light up  arenas each show weren’t even close to being invented when TSO first stepped on the stage.  I’m what TSO West guitarist Al Pitrelli referred to as a “repeat offender” in a recent press call along with TSO East drummer Jeff Plate.  As a Savatage fan since first hearing Hall of the Mountain King in 1987, I was thrilled when TSO released their first Christmas record, Christmas Eve & Other Stories, in 1996.   The followed with a second Christmas record, 1997’s The Christmas Attic, and a TV special, 1999’s The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, before playing those first shows, including a stop at the Beacon Theater in NYC where I first saw them.

Over the course of the next two decades, TSO grew from playing small theaters in a few states to branching off into East and West bands so the entire country could be covered, to selling out arenas.  Most days each band plays two packed shows per day from mid-November to the end of the year.  Each year the production has grown, (lights, lasers, fire, lifts, video, stellar musicianship) to the point where you leave thinking “they can’t possible top that”…until they do next year.

This 20th tour was almost a rebirth for the band.  2017 was one of the most difficult years any band has endured, in April Paul O’Neill, TSO founder and creative force, passed away. Shortly thereafter in July bassist David Z was tragically killed in a tour bus accident.  Somehow the band played on and did a full tour.  Although it was still a great year, there was a heaviness to the shows, the smiles weren’t quite as big on the musicians, the playfulness between members seemed tempered.  After making it through an impossible 2017, a new light shined from band in 2018.

The 3:00 pm show began with Night Enchanted, an orchestral piece from 2009’s Night Castle, and the new staging is revealed.  While the setlist is fairly well known, I’ll try not to give away spoilers from the staging, suffice to say it is truly bigger and better than any of the past tours.  After a three song opener, storyteller Bryan Hicks comes out for The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.  While this is the fourth year for this story, new lighting, staging and video keeps it fresh.  Explaining why this story was chosen again, Plate said “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve was not part of the (original) trilogy, but it was part of the Christmas Story and part of the success of TSO. It really brought us into the living rooms of a lot of people with the television show that we did.  So, when Paul put this show together,  he absolutely loved it, and it was one of his favorite shows.”

As the story portion of the evening came to an end, guitarist Chris Caffery spoke to the crowd and promised a few things TSO hasn’t done before for the second half.  He certainly kept his word with a revamped second half of the show.  Gone were stalwarts like The Mountain but there was also the return of the powerful Someday and, for the first time, an absolutely stunning TSO rendition of the Savatage classic Chance which featured Savatage alum Zak Stevens on lead vocal used every voice and instrument to create a live sound that  surpassed the classic recording found on Handful of Rain.

While every member of TSO, singers and musicians, shines each night, there were a few standout performances.  Dustin Brayley stepped up to take over some of songs traditionally sung by Rob Evan, who is not touring with TSO this year, and did an incredible job putting his own spin into these songs while newcomer Caleb Johnson fit right in with the veteran group for his take on The Three Kings & I.  Last year, bassist Tony Dickinson probably had the hardest job on the tour – filling in for fan favorite, the late David Z.  This year, Dickinson came into his own on the stage and showed what a great stage presence he has.  David shone throughout his time with TSO, but the nightly playing of  A Mad Russian’s Christmas was truly his spotlight each night.  Whether or not it’s intentional, during this song Dickinson quietly steps out of the spotlight and performs the song to the side of the drum riser.  A true class act by Tony.

Twenty years haven’t slowed this band or tempered fan enthusiasm at all, they can easily continue selling out shows for twenty more.  As Jeff Plate said “if you can’t get up for playing in front of 10.000 people, you should probably be doing something else.”