Trans-Siberian Orchestra- Prudential Center, NJ 2016

On Dec. 26, 2016, I was fortunate enough to catch progressive rock/ Christmas/ neo-classical metal band the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) live in New Jersey at the Prudential Center. The best part is that I was seated  second row in the floor section, baby!

Now, I should start by saying that I this was my first time ever seeing the band. I hadn't heard a whole lot from them aside from the track here and there. Of course, I knew them best when they were progressive/ power metal band Savatage. The things is I really wasn't expecting much. I thought this was going to be a lame, pretentious, and boring show. Holy fuck was I ever wrong! This was one of the most fun and mind blowing live experiences ever!

Before the concert I got a pic with metal radio DJ, co-host of the very missed That Metal Show, and author Eddie Trunk. He is always so nice, friendly, and down to earth in person.

Guitarist Chris Caffery came out to greet the crowd before the concert began. At every show, a portion of every ticket sale goes to charity. This time was no different. Bless, this band for having such a good heart.

Not soon after this the concert began and from then on TSO kicked all our collective asses! Mixing video images, storytelling, laser lights, "snow", pyro (including white-hot fire!), beautiful back-up signers, and a large, over-head ramp walkway, it had everything, and more, that you could ask for in a big arena rock performance.

TSO consisted of/ were joined by: Zak Stevens, Dustin Brayley, Rob Evan, Autumn Guzzardi Horton, Mee Eun, Kim, Roddy Chong, Robin Borneman, James Lewis, Lisa Lavie, Georgia Bleu, Natalya Rose Piette, Russell Allen, David Z Rock, Joel Hoekstra, Kayla Reeves, Bryan Hicks, Jeff Plate and Chris Caffery.

Set-list:

Who I Am
March of the Kings
The Lost Christmas Eve
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night
Good King Joy 

Christmas Dreams
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Savatage cover)
Christmas Canon Rock
What Child Is This?
Music Box Blues
First Snow
Promises to Keep
This Christmas Day 

The Best of TSO
Christmas Jam
A Mad Russian's Christmas
A Last Illusion
Christmas Nights in Blue
Wizards in Winter
Carmina Burana
Mountain Labyrinth
Not the Same
The Night Conceives
The Mountain
Requiem (The Fifth)
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Reprise) (Savatage cover) 

I think I'll let the pics do most of the talking from here on. Enjoy, and remember as cool as they may look, it's even more awesome in person:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the concert I got to meet beautiful signer for the band, Kayla Reeves, backstage. In all, this was a most amazing and unforgettable experience. I highly recommend you all to partake in this and see TSO live at least once in your life. You owe to yourself and will thank me for telling you about it, even if you are doubtful about it.

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Metal Church Live at B.B. Kings in NYC 3/28/16

Last night on March 28, 2016, I hit B.B. Kings in NYC to see thrash metallers Metal Church rock the house. And, man, they more than delivered the goods, in a what amounted to a truly AMAZING show!

The first act to play was Bronx, NY power metal band Lost Legacy. They played an exciting set of kick ass tunes. The band is extremely technically sound and are fronted by David Fanco, who has an amazing voice and range. He also has some cool hair! But in all seriousness, I am not a power metal fan, and I still liked their music, a lot! So, that is really saying something. They have a heavy and soaring metal sound which was a great way to have the fans get ready for what would be an epic night.

 

The next band up was San Francisco thrash band Hatchet. Holy shit, these guys are awesome! They had a really fast and kick ass sound. The band sound great and have an awesome technical ferocity that just shreds. I also love Julz Ramos' vocals. Dude has a killer screaming voice. Hearing them I can definitely attest that if you like bands like Slayer, Anthrax, Metallica, Kreator, and Overkill, then this is the band for you. They got the audience pumped up enough to deliver the night's first mosh pit.

 

 

 

And, then it was time for one of the most technically amazing bands of 80s thrash metal acts to play: the fucking mighty Metal Church! Aside from having one of the coolest names in the metal world, they're mix of thrash with NWOBHM/ power metal tinged proficiency always made them shine in mine and many others minds. What makes this even more exciting is that signer Mike Howe, who hadn't played with them since the mid 90s, when the band split up, is now back with them.

Another highlight is that on this tour, guitar master Chris Caffery of Savatage and The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is filling for regular band guitarist, Rick Van Zandt, who has a nasty eye infection. Needless to say, he fucking shredded. Dude just drips talent from every pour of his body. As, does everyone in Metal Church. They just sounded so amazing. I have been a fan of theirs them for ages. But, upon having seeing them live last night; I love them even more! Meanwhile, vocalist Howe is just incredible live. He sounds just as great onstage as he does on their albums. We, Metal Church fans, are so happy to have him back in the band!

They played a couple of new tracks from their latest release XI, which is a shredding, kick ass album. It really is an amazing "comeback" album that ranks as one of the most exciting albums I have heard this year. The news songs they played were "Reset", the kick ass "Killing Your Time", and the awesome "No Tomorrow", the first video off of the album. Of course, they also played classic tracks like the badass "Start the Fire" and the fan favorite "Watch the Children Pray", which happens to be one of my favorite tracks of theirs. They encored the night with "Badlands" and the blistering "The Human Factor". It was an excellent way to end an awesome concert of real metal! Horns up to Metal Church, as well as the two bands that played before them on this most metallic night!

 

Chris Caffery played an absolutely awe inspiring solo. But, that is to be expected with a guitar god such as he is!

 

 

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