• Conversations
  • Concert Review
  • New Music Showcase
  • Blues Fix
  • Inside the Cover
  • My Favorite
  • About
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
MisplacedStraws
Subscribe
  • Conversations
  • Concert Review
  • New Music Showcase
  • Blues Fix
  • Inside the Cover
  • My Favorite
  • About
MisplacedStraws
Home » Trans-Siberian Orchestra (East), MVP Arena, Albany, NY 11/30/22
Concert Review

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (East), MVP Arena, Albany, NY 11/30/22

By Jeff GaudiosiDecember 1, 2022No Comments4 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

For many, and I will include myself in that group, there is no Christmas season without the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Twenty-six years after releasing their first record, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, and 23 years after their first tour, TSO brought a brand-new show to the MVP Arena in Albany, NY. Just a technical note, TSO does not give photo passes, so all photos are cell phone captures from my seat.

When it comes to live performances, TSO is probably second only to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in terms of creating a must-see live show and cultivating a rabid fanbase that will come out to see them live anytime and anywhere. As per tradition, TSO once again features an East touring group and a West touring group. This year did see perennial East vocalist Dustin Brayley move to the West while long-time West singer John Brink returned to the East. Other than that, all members of the East band and vocalists were the same as last season.

It would be easy to just give a standard review of the night, a rundown of what happened, but a TSO concert is a deeply personal, unique experience for each audience member. For those of us who have been there since the beginning (my first show was Dec. 11, 1999, at the Beacon Theater in NYC, and haven’t missed a year since), a literal lifetime of memories is wrapped up in this band. For me personally, each year I remember the first time I brought my wife to see the band, my kids’ first shows, bringing my parents, and recommending the show to friends. We were fortunate to have been friends with the late TSO bass player David Z so his memory is always there when the band takes the stage, not only because of his stage presence but his kindness. David always found us in the crowd and made sure we met up after the show. Also, five members of the East band (Chris Caffery, Jeff Plate, Joel Hoekstra, Russel Allan, & Zak Stevens) and an additional three members of the West band (Jeff Scott Soto, Al Pitrelli, & Chloe Lowery) have been interviewed here on MisplacedStraws. While everyone in the crowd may not have the same memories, the band has touched them all in some way. This is more than just a rock concert, it’s tradition, it’s family.

There are those who say that the show has become stale and it’s just the same songs year after year. Statements like that are inaccurate and totally miss the point. Yes, the core of the show is the “story” (this year sees the return of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve) and the story doesn’t change, except that it does. While the songs and storytelling (masterfully done as always by Bryan Hicks) are the same, the arrangements of the songs differed slightly from the last time this story was played and the featured vocalists have switched for some of the tracks. In addition, the lighting, video, and stage setup are completely different from year to year making each tour a brand-new experience.

The biggest changes this year were reserved for the second half, “greatest hits” portion of the show. This tour sees the band premiering a previously unreleased Paul O’Neill composition called “Christmas Carousels” which gets paired with the classic “Siberian Sleigh Ride”. The band also features “Child of the Night”, a bonus track from the non-Christmas Night Castle release, which gets paired with the Beethovan’s Last Night stalwart, “A Last Illusion”. Over the past few years, the second half of a TSO show has featured a slot reserved for a Savatage song. As most know, Savatage was the band that TSO evolved from. Like last year, powerhouse vocalist Kayla Reeves tackles a track from the Streets record. The song this year is the devastatingly powerful “If I Go Away”, dedicated to Paul O’Neil’s memory and once again, Reeves knocks it out of the park and does original vocalist Jon Oliva proud.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra means many different things to many different people and no two people will experience a show the same way. On this night in Albany, as on every night in every city on every tour, the band fulfilled late founder Paul O’Neill’s vision and promise of creating memories, bringing us all together, and reminding us of the power and meaning of Christmas.

Share. Facebook Twitter Tumblr Email
Jeff Gaudiosi

Related Posts

Dream Theater, Toyota Oakdale Theater, Wallingford, CT 3/14/25

March 15, 2025

Joe Bonamassa, Premier Theater at Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT, 3/1/25

March 2, 2025

Howard Jones/ABC, College Street Music Hall, New Haven, CT 2/26/25

February 27, 2025

Bret Michaels, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT, 2/7/25

February 8, 2025
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Archive
  • May 2025 (6)
  • April 2025 (10)
  • March 2025 (7)
  • February 2025 (9)
  • January 2025 (8)
  • December 2024 (8)
  • November 2024 (6)
  • October 2024 (7)
  • September 2024 (6)
  • August 2024 (10)
  • July 2024 (10)
  • June 2024 (7)
  • May 2024 (10)
  • April 2024 (10)
  • March 2024 (12)
  • February 2024 (9)
  • January 2024 (13)
  • December 2023 (9)
  • November 2023 (10)
  • October 2023 (8)
  • September 2023 (18)
  • August 2023 (15)
  • July 2023 (14)
  • June 2023 (7)
  • May 2023 (17)
  • April 2023 (15)
  • March 2023 (17)
  • February 2023 (19)
  • January 2023 (13)
  • December 2022 (11)
  • November 2022 (13)
  • October 2022 (19)
  • September 2022 (19)
  • August 2022 (19)
  • July 2022 (22)
  • June 2022 (22)
  • May 2022 (27)
  • April 2022 (49)
  • March 2022 (11)
  • February 2022 (9)
  • January 2022 (7)
  • December 2021 (5)
  • November 2021 (8)
  • October 2021 (10)
  • September 2021 (7)
  • August 2021 (7)
  • July 2021 (7)
  • June 2021 (7)
  • May 2021 (5)
  • April 2021 (6)
  • March 2021 (8)
  • February 2021 (7)
  • January 2021 (6)
  • December 2020 (8)
  • November 2020 (9)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (4)
  • August 2020 (5)
  • July 2020 (6)
  • June 2020 (5)
  • May 2020 (3)
  • April 2020 (4)
  • March 2020 (5)
  • February 2020 (7)
  • January 2020 (3)
  • December 2019 (6)
  • November 2019 (2)
  • October 2019 (9)
  • September 2019 (3)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (6)
  • June 2019 (6)
  • May 2019 (5)
  • April 2019 (8)
  • March 2019 (4)
  • February 2019 (3)
  • January 2019 (4)
  • December 2018 (4)
  • November 2018 (4)
  • October 2018 (4)
  • September 2018 (4)
  • August 2018 (4)
  • July 2018 (8)
  • June 2018 (6)
  • May 2018 (6)
  • April 2018 (3)

Subscribe to Misplaced Straws

* indicates required

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Vimeo YouTube
© 2025 Misplaced Straws.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.