CONCERT REVIEW: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Wells Fargo Arena, 11.14.24

“Twas the night of the concert, when all through the Well,
All the people were stirring, thinking, ‘What the bloody hell?
‘Could this really be Trans-Siberian Orchestra, with their Christmas joy to spread?’
Couldn’t be. No way. They’ve been gone since 2010.”

“The people were nestled all snug in their seats,
All 7,000 and more sat awaiting their treat.
And when the curtain dropped, it became perfectly clear,
It was indeed TSO! More they wanted to hear.”

OK, enough of the poetry. How was the return of Trans-Siberian Orchestra to Wells Fargo Arena on Nov. 14?

Stunning.

Playing songs from the album “The Lost Christmas Eve,” now a full 20 years old, the band and its long-time leader, guitarist Al Pitrelli, delivered everything you’d expect from a TSO show from the outset, hitting the stage with “Moonlight and Madness” before diving into the aforementioned album from 2004, the third in a TSO trilogy that also included the well-received “Christmas Eve and Other Stories,” and “The Christmas Attic,” albums.

Moreso than other tours, this performance leaned into the “rock” side of the equation, with scorchers such as “Wizards In Winter” and “Christmas Jam/Siberian Sleigh Ride,” which gave some of the the band members a chance to put their  individual musical skills on display. That’s not to say the ebbs and flows weren’t there, however. They were. Case in point was the excellent jazz/blues-tinged of “Christmas Nights In Blue.” The unexpected highlight of the night took place when vocalist Chloe Lowery took center stage and delivered a jaw-dropping version of “For the Sake Of Our Brother” with clarity and multi-octave expertise that simply has to be heard to be believed.

On this night, the visuals, as expected, took absolute center stage, though. At two separate points in the show, guitarists stood on a pair of small round, railing-less platforms that raised them up, around and halfway across the arena, soaring above the audience members by at least 50 feet. Earlier, what had to have been one of world’s largest snow globes emerged from the opposite end of the arena, slowly rising to reveal a female vocalist inside, singing and dancing amongst the cascading falling snow.

The band also gave a nod to its heavy metal beginnings with a cover of Savatage’s “Believe,” a beautifully arranged acoustic piece that segued into “Requiem (The Fifth).”

Saving the best for last, the band pulled out all the stops during “Nutcracker” and show closers “This Christmas Day” and “Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)”, as lights projected gigantic rotating candy canes onto the audience while lasers shot across the arena and a fire-engulfed TSO logo on the opposite end spun high in the air.

Now that’s how you do it.

“They spoke many a word, sang many a song
The hearts of the people, well, no longer they longed,
For the band had returned, and what a spectacle they were,
They’d been entertained, for that they were sure.

When the house lights went up, the people smiled and they cheered,
Two hours of good food, better music, and maybe even a beer (or 7),
The band hadn’t changed, the world again on track,
Merry Christmas to all, folks …… TSO is back.”

Review and photos by Darren Tromblay