Holiday show by TSO to up the ante

This year, there will be 10 trucks
carrying high-tech special effects and equipment to the Chevy Centre.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

There’s good news and, well, less good news for die-hard fans of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

While the three-year wait for the highly anticipated follow-up to the prog-rock outfit’s 2004 album “The Lost Christmas Eve” continues, co-TSO founder Robert Kinkel said the holiday band’s next album, “Nightcastle,” is in the works. You just won’t see it until fall 2008.

“New music is in the mix. We are well into the new record,” said Kinkel, calling from New York City. “We have a ton of it recorded this year. I’d say we are 80 percent finished, and we will be previewing a little bit on the tour this year.

“There are some things that are stylistically different, but there’s a story element and everything crosses together. The new record will feel familiar, but it does stretch a little bit. The TSO music umbrella is kind of wide, but it’s still rock.”

Still, TSO followers shouldn’t be too excited about hearing new material this year.

Kinkel said the “Nightcastle” tunes being played basically consist of a few instrumental parts, as well as the popular “Carmina Burana.”

Although the front half of the TSO show always remains the same — 1996’s “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” in its entirety — the second-half will feature songs from 1998’s “The Christmas Attic” and 2004’s “The Lost Christmas Eve.”

Bigger and better

There are also plenty of new additions to this year’s TSO holiday show, which plays Thursday through Saturday at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown.

The one thing about this annual Christmas spectacular is the incessant need to up the ante. This year, that means there are 10 trucks — up from 2006’s eight — carrying a wide array of high-tech special effects and sound equipment.

Kinkel also pointed out that TSO’s pyrotechnics bill costs roughly $1 million a month during the act’s 60-day touring window, which this year runs a week into the new year with shows all across the nation. 

Musically speaking, TSO has added a prog rock holiday favorite that speaks directly to its classic rock constituency.

“We’re doing a cover of ‘Nut Rocker’ from Emerson, Lake & Palmer,” Kinkel said. “It’s going to be released as a single. It’s a favorite from a long time ago and something we grew up with. It fits in really well with what we do and where we come from. We’re definitely influenced by Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Yes and The Who. Because we all grew up with that music, as well as the classical music and traditional Christmas carols, that’s kind of all woven together into Trans-Siberian Orchestra.”

Classic rockers

Not only are classic rock fans paying attention to TSO, but classic rockers themselves are starting to get in on the action. Last year Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) turned up at a New York City TSO show to perform “Nut Rocker,” while Yes’ Jon Anderson joined up with the group at a Philadelphia gig to perform “Roundabout.” Closer to home, Ian Hunter made an appearance at a 2006 Cleveland show.

Speaking to the mass appeal of the TSO experience is the fact that last year marked the first time more than 1 million tickets were sold. So what is it about TSO that not only keeps fans coming back but also attracts new audiences year after year?

“It’s just a tradition for people,” Kinkel said. “They have a great time and so do we. We’re just looking forward to being out there and blowing everyone away.”