Review: Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Nashville 12/21/08

On 12/21/08, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra brought their massive Christmas production to the Sommet Center in Nashville for two shows. This review is for the 3PM show.

Before the show began, Trans-Siberian Orchestra singer Tom Farese and narrator Tony Gaynor got into the Christmas spirit by presenting a donation check to the Monroe Carell Children's Hospital. The non-profit hospital is a part of the Vanderbilt hospital chain and contains Nashville's  only neo-natal intensive care unit. The crowd was very pleased wth Trans-Siberian Orchestra's community involvement and the donation got them the first of what was to be many standing ovations throughout the night.

Once the Christmas giving was completed, Trans-Siberian Orchestra came out to do what they do best, rock some Christmas carols. The 3 hour show was divided into two segments. The first, very theatrical, segment was narrated by the capable Tony Gaynor and told the story of an angel who was sent to Earth by God to find the one thing that best represents the good man has done in celebration of Jesus' birth.

Vocalists Tom Farese, Andrew Ross, and Jeff Scott Soto were all masterful in telling their portions of the story while actor/vocalist Bart Shatto brought the production to another level with his portrayal of a bum who sings the song "Old City Bar." Gaynor weaved the entire show together with his narration while guitarists Al Pitrelli and Angus Young, keyboardists Jane Mangini and Derek Wieland, and violinists Alison Zlotow and Mark Wood kept the instrumentation tight with some local help from the Nashville Strings. Highlights of this portion of the show included the instrumentals "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" and "Mad Russian's Christmas", Tom Farese's vocals on "This Christmas Day" and Bart Shatto's rendition of "Old City Bar."