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Written by Marc Farr Monday, 29 December 2014 12:29

Combining classic holiday tunes with original hard rock compositions and sound, there is no other act in existence like TSO.

Scottrade Center, St. Louis

No holiday season would be complete without a tour from Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The hard rock holiday band has been touring since 1999, and now, for the first time, they delivered the second installment in their Christmas trilogy. Bringing The Christmas Attic to life onstage is not an easy feat, yet TSO pulled it off with great aplomb.

A total onslaught on the senses, the production is huge and bombastic. Equipped with lasers, smoke, fire, and nine large LED screens, this is one hell of a spectacle. At center stage was a large trunk. As the lid opened, it flooded the stage in blue light, exposing the drummer, string section, and keyboardist. With two guitarists, a bassist, a pianist, and12 backing vocalists completing the ensemble, the band is just as large as its sound.

Based on the poem of the same name, The Christmas Attic is the story of a young girl who has lost her Christmas spirit. Late on Christmas Eve, she stumbles upon an old trunk and, within the truck, letters from Christmases past. Reading letters, she finds the true spirit of the holiday and believes in Christmas once more. The story is relayed to the audience via an onstage narrator.

Combining classic holiday tunes like “O, Holy Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” with original hard rock compositions and sound, there is no other act in existence like TSO. Multicolored lasers shot from the stage with precision while fire lined the stage and risers, as nine movie screens viewed stunning visuals.

Joined by the onstage violinist, lead guitarist Al Pirtelli sprinted to the back of the arena, where they climbed aboard a large hydraulic lift. The duo spun slowly into the air above the crowd while snow started to descend on to the audience below

This is an amazing show by hard rock’s only holiday-centric band. If you missed TSO this time around, don’t make the same mistake next season. | Marc Farr