Trans-Siberian Orchestra: A Rockin' Tradition (With Some Rough Edges)

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) returned to the Twin Cities for their annual celebration of Christmas and rock music. A feast for the eyes and ears, their highly polished performance was full of the pyro and laser lights you’d expect from an arena rock show.

It’s no surprise why so many families make seeing this show part of their holiday traditions. To put it simply – it’s a whole lot of fun. The show appeals to frequent concert goers who can’t get enough of live music, parents who might not go to shows often, and kids who get to experience live music for the first time.

Front and center are dozens of seasoned musicians and performers who showcase a masterclass of their craft. Although you may not know them by name, this group of yuletide performers confidently impress with passionate performances that bring you right into the spirit of the season.

What distracts from the phenomenal performances though is some pretty unnecessary storytelling.

This was my second time seeing TSO live. Each year they bring a new story or theme, and while I thought last year’s story was a little cheesy, it was kind of fun. This year’s story, however, was really bad.

Basically, the story follows a Scrooge-like character who abandoned his newborn after his wife died in childbirth. After being confronted by the ghost of a child version of his dead wife, he is compelled to reconnect with his son who – without any medical qualifications – works in the NICU. They end their Christmas eve rocking babies to sleep for some reason.

“What in the A.I. was that story,” my sister asked me, flabbergasted by how poorly it was written. Not to mention, it had almost absolutely nothing to do with Christmas.

Speaking of A.I. – I was deeply disappointed to see that many of the visuals behind the band were A.I. generated. They looked laughably bad and totally distracted from the show.

Honestly, TSO needs to drop doing a story every year, especially if this is the quality of the product. The show should be about the music. Considering that the show continued for a good hour after the story portion was done, it can be argued that they don’t need it.

I don’t mean to be a Grinch – so let’s end on the positives.

At its best, TSO is an incredibly fun holiday showcase that combines the best of arena rock with the spirit of the season. Its slick production and incredible lighting design is a must see for any lover of live music.