The holiday friendly progressive rock/metal outfit known as The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) performed at Wright State’s Nutter Center on Dec. 6. Their action-packed set lasted just over two hours and was full of blaring guitars, colorful pyrotechnics and synchronized lights.
The TSO show was nothing short of a spectacle. All of the musicians in the group displayed complete mastery of the music and the material, and the lights and effects for the show were synced directly to the rhythm, creating a unique sensory experience.
All TSO shows tell the audience an inspirational Christmas story, using both narration and music to paint the picture. Narrator Brian Hicks’ powerful cinematic voice narrated the first half of the show, which consisted of their 2004 Christmas concept album “The Lost Christmas Eve” being played in its chronological entirety. The second half consisted of many TSO favorites, including tracks from their 2008 album “Night Castle” and their 1996 “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” album.
The band tore into staples such as “Wizards in Winter” and “Sarajevo 12/24,” as well as many songs of “Night Castle.” The band performed with an 80’s rock swagger, with long-haired head banging and epic sweeping guitar solos. At certain points in the show, some members in the band were elevated on mobile platforms that extended out into the audience about 20 feet up.
Guitarist and hype man Chris Caffery played host for the evening, and was the only one in the group to address the audience. Before the show started, Caffery sported a Wright State basketball jersey as he presented a check for various local charities, donated from their income for the show (something they do at every performance). He also introduced the band in a mid-show intermission.
The lineup consists of Chris Caffery and Joel Hoekstra on guitar, Derek Wieland and Luci Butler on keyboards, Jeff Plate on drums and Roddy Chong on violin. They also have 9 vocalists and several string players from local symphony orchestras.
For those interested in seeing the band, they will be playing both an afternoon and evening show at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Dec. 30.
