It finally feels like Christmas time in El Paso. The temperatures have dropped, everyone has their Christmas lights and trees up and the Tran Siberian Orchestra was in town once again to give their annual winter show.
This year they brought one of the most energetic performances yet, with a whopping 27 song setlist.
It was the massive stage mechanics and incredible lights that set the atmosphere. The stage kept moving and transforming in order to fit the scene for the narrative that was being told. At various times throughout the concert, the musicians would be at different heights on moving platforms as they performed.
TSO did more than give a concert, they put on a show. They performed their popular rock opera “The Ghost of Christmas Eve.” They played through the soundtrack of their TV movie with scenes playing on the screens as the story was being narrated by Phillip Brandon.
Their mashup of “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “O Holy Night” was one of the most powerful executions of the night, accompanied by a wailing guitar solo. There was so much fire on stage that it could be felt by the crowd sitting away from the stage.
They also played through some of their other hits like “Madness of Men” and “The Mountain.” The group’s energy seemed to resonate with the crowd as they kept clapping and cheering along with every single performance.
This is the first year the group is touring without original founder Paul O’Neill. O’Neill, who was the composer, lyricist and producer of TSO died in April. The group announced in the summer that they would carry on with the annual tour. During the show, the group paid tribute to O’Neill with “The Safest Way into Tomorrow” as his famous shades and gloves were shown on the screen with a candle.
The night ended with a third but still amazing performance of “Christmas Eve (Sarjevo),” leaving people satisfied and electrified.
