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Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2022 Show Review

Shelby Tyce

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There are a lot of different types of traditions that families dive into around christmas
time. Sitting around a fire watching a holiday movie in your warmest pajamas, and going out
with a creamy hot cocoa looking at christmas lights. However, there is one tradition that doesn’t always come around, but when it does, it’s truly magical.

What we’re discussing here is unique light and orchestral performance by none other than The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Touring since 1999, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, or TSO, have been spreading holiday cheer for generations in the most memorable form. The rock band, formed in 1996 by producer, lyricist, and composer Paul O’Neill perform their own twist of Christmas classics which give off a very rock opera type persona. To spice it up even more, the band provides the audience with a visual light display that has left many people in awe and craving for more.

Some of their more memorable albums have included but are not limited to, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, The Lost Christmas Eve, The Christmas Attic, and Beethoven’s Last Night. All of these albums, along with a few covers as well, were all featured in TSO’s latest tour, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, The Best Of TSO and More.

Now into the third week of their 2022 Winter Tour across North America, TSO came to
please. Playing some of their more iconic songs,, such as “Christmas Canon Rock”, which of
course is their own rendition of the infamous Canon in D, or a fan favorite, “Christmas Eve
Sarajevo”, to some lesser beknown to newer fans like “Music Box Blues” or “Child of The Night/
A Last Illusion, fans both old and new are surely are not disappointed. Included in the setlist was
a cover of “If I Go Away” by Savatage, a heavy metal band featuring current members of TSO
Chris Caffery and Al Pitrelli, which they dedicated to O’Niell, who unfortunately passed away in April 2017. Another highlight of the show included the storyline in the first half of the show, told by long time storyteller Bryan Hicks, about a young girl who takes shelter from the cold in an abandoned theater, only to witness different sights and wonders of Christmas Magic, which ends with her receiving a gift to make it home to her family for Christmas. The second half included just as much excitement and brilliant light displays, along with a few satellite stage performances that allowed members to elevate above the audience members, as well as some amazing pyrotechnics. To say the least, there was never a moment where the audience wasn’t on the edge of their seats waiting to see what awaited them in the next song of the night.

To close the night, TSO performed for the second time of the night a reprise of Christmas Eve Sarajevo, to which left audiences on their feet in a standing ovation. So many fans have made it a yearly tradition to make sure that they include TSO in their holiday activities, and after not touring for two years due to the pandemic this is most certainly a genuine treat this holiday season to both fans new and old, a tradition I for one certainly hope to
hold close for years to come.

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Concert Reviews

The Nothing That Is Tour

George Archibald

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Another fall evening in the Burgh, the air was crisp and cool, setting the mood for a great night for metal. The Roxian in McKees Rock, PA, hosted The Nothing That Is Tour tonight, featuring Fit For An Autopsy. Bodysnatcher, Distant, Sylosisand, and Judiciary. Fit For An Autopsy brought some of the heaviest and nastiest together to throw down for all of you. An eclectic banding of hardcore and deathcore acts that are making waves in the metal community. 

Judiciary kicked things off, their music a blend of hardcore, thrash, and punk. Their songs had thrash riffs with hardcore rhythms and breakdowns, with an occasional solo thrown in. With horns raised in the air, the crowd gave these Texas natives a well-received welcome. This band was a great start to the night, bringing the energy in the room up quickly. 

Sylosis came out to a fury. Their vocalist ripped at the crowd from the start, asking for a circle pit as they kicked off. This band had moshers and crowd surfers amped up as waves of bodies started coming over the front barricade. Throughout the set, the energy never let up, as this band kept pushing the crowd. This energy came to a high when their newest single, “The Path,” was performed. High-paced hardcore mayhem throughout the set, this band had a vast amount of tricks in their bag, from solos to even groove to bring to the party.

At the midpoint of the show, Distant took the stage. This band is over-the-top heavy, riding low-tuned grooves into devastating breakdowns. The vocalist has a wide range, from high-pitched screams and growls to bottom-of-the-barrel gutturals. Distant announced their newest album, Tsukuyomi: The Origin, is a week away from coming out. Which kicked off the single “Torturous Symphony.” At this point, no one was standing still on the floor as moshers were on the move. Bodies colliding into each other until the band finally stopped, at this point the crowd was completely warmed up.

Deathcore veterans Bodysnatcher took the stage next to show Pittsburgh how to throw down. This band rides a low groove while keeping the energy high, accompanied by the unrelenting low growls of vocalist Kyle Medina. The band kicked off with “King of Rats” and went right into “Dead Rabbit.” The floor was swimming with bodies as the band raged on. Other standout songs were “Take Me to Hell” and “Black of My Eyes” before closing out on “Murder8.”

Headliners Fit For An Autopsy took the stage with a fury, kicking off with “Lower Purpose” into “A Higher Level of Hate” for a nasty one-two punch out of the gate. Seasoned veterans now in their careers, the band looked very polished and primed. FFAA just released their newest album, The Nothing That Is. The band played through several hits, “Black Mammoth”, “The Sea of Tragic Beasts”, and “Hellions”, before diving back into their latest album with “Hostage”. The crowd stayed up and moving through the set as Fit For an Autopsy is a Pittsburgh favorite, having visited the city several times during their tenure. 

The Nothing That Is tour showcases some of the heaviest bands touring right now. Fit For An Autopsy have updated their live show and look ready to take the world fresh off the new album. If you are looking to release some steam or to hear some new music, The Nothing That Is tour will not disappoint.

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Concert Reviews

STRYPER ON A SUNDAY. YES PLEASE

Ron

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STRYPER was just in Baltimore the other day on the 40 years of Stryper tour. Playing 2 sets spanning those 40 years. I’ve only ever seen Stryper play at M3 so it was amazing to get to see a full on set then another full on set right after. 

For the 1st set we got the 1984-1990 set which included songs like “Loud N Clear”, “Soldiers under Command” and “To Hell with the Devil”. 

The second set we got 1986, 2004-2024 with songs like “No More Hell to Pay”, “This i Pray” and ending the night with “Sing along Song”. 

It was a great night for Music and sadly more then likely the last show at RamsHead Live I’ll be ever to attend as the are closing their doors (hopefully will be open again with a new venture) but the show was amazing to see Stryper play on the stage. Such great guys and a great band. I love that Stryper is fully engaged with the fans and the show is always amazing. I love that they put their religious beliefs 100% on display but the show never feels preachy or judgmental. If you get a chance to see Stryper play in your city I fully recommend it such a great time and a great band to see play live.    

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Concert Reviews

King Diamond brought the Halloween party to Silver Spring MD

Ron

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King Diamond who’s on tour now with Overkill and Night Demon.

Overkill always puts on a great show and shows that face pace thrash metal is still kick ass. Led by NJ’s Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth Overkill has that distinctive sound with Bobby’s high pitched and raspy vocals. With songs like “Scorched”, “ Rotten to the Core” and “Hello From the Gutter”, Overkill got the crowd into a frenzy and warmed up the stage before the king. 

You know it’s gonna be a good night when it’s 3 days before Halloween and you get to see a kick ass set from King Diamond. King Diamond who’s 68 right now still commands that stage and sounds amazing with his insanely falsettos. The stage show at a King Diamond show is always such a great sight to see. With a multilayer setup of stairs and little pieces of elaborate set all over it’s such a great view and perfect setting to watch a King Diamond set. 

The set list was amazing too we got to hear songs from such a great career like “A Mansion in the Darkness”, “Halloween “, “Spider Lilly”, “Welcome Home”, and “Eye of the Witch” and of course ending the night with “Abagail”. 

If you’re a fan of King Diamond or just a fan of great music that adds that Halloween haunted asylum themed stage performances then you need to go out and check this tour now. King Diamond never disappoints and always puts on one hell of a show. 

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