Trans-Siberian Orchestra vs. Mannheim Steamroller review

[CoolBreeze]

In the last couple of years I've seen both the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller in concert here in WV. Both concerts were absolute STINKO.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Worlds greatest laser light show, worlds worst music.

This concert held at the Civic Center was basically noise... VERY LOUD NOISE. Many people instead of trying to get closer to the stage, actually went as far to the rear of the Civic Center as possible. It was THAT loud. More importantly, the music itself sucked. Much of it you couldnt tell if it were Christmas, Rock, Classic or God knows what kind of music. It was LOUD BORING METAL MUSIC of some sort. Now... the light show? WORLD CLASS! One of the best I've ever witnessed. So if you go to this years concert.. TAKE EAR PLUGS!

Mannheim Steamroller: Seriously, is THIS the best you can do?

Saw them in Huntington. Normally, I like their music better then TSO, and with Rush Limbaugh promoting them every year, you'd think they'd have a Class concert. Alas... no: They were SO pitiful that half the audience left during intermission. For one, there was (as I recall) maybe 4 members of the group. That's it. It wasn't nearly enough. During the concert, images were flashed up on a screen behind them to assist the music. Problem was, that screen was maybe 3 by 5 feet. Sitting halfway back in the audience made it look like a postage stamp. It appeared haphazardly hung up in front of the black stage curtains.. as an afterthought. The band itself acted like they'd rather be anywhere but Huntington. So did I and my date.

[AmpedNow]

How much of these bad acoustics, props, etc are a result of outdated venues? How old is the Civic Center?

Combine that, along with WV's reputation, probably most acts really don't want to come here.

Marshall and WVU are the only reasons anything rock ever comes to WV anymore.

More and more high-profile country tours are bypassing the state these days.

How about the new Metallica tour, which isn't coming through WV.

With that said, I wouldn't mind seeing either one of them, just to say I did... But up-to-date, comfortable venues really matter.

/threadjack

[Arp2]

Mannheim Steamroller: Seriously, is THIS the best you can do?

Saw them in Huntington. Normally, I like their music better then TSO, and with Rush Limbaugh promoting them every year, you'd think they'd have a Class concert. Alas... no: They were SO pitiful that half the audience left during intermission. For one, there was (as I recall) maybe 4 members of the group. That's it. It wasn't nearly enough. During the concert, images were flashed up on a screen behind them to assist the music. Problem was, that screen was maybe 3 by 5 feet. Sitting halfway back in the audience made it look like a postage stamp. It appeared haphazardly hung up in front of the black stage curtains.. as an afterthought.

I saw 'em in a very, very large city a few years ago and was plenty impressed. All of the members of the band were there, and they were accompanied by either the city's symphony or pops orchestra, which wrapped around them behind a scrim that was used for effects and a projection surface; the orchestra could be lit and be seen easily when desired. There was a large center screen over them and in front of the scrim along with four screens (two per side) for those seated along the sides. The screens were hanging from arena-long....what's the word?...you know, the metal things you hang lights off of....trusses?...trusses. Anyway, those trusses held cans and gobos that could turn the whole crowd and arena into part of a scene and also stealthily held blowers that, as part of the finale, quietly produced "snow" that reached almost every point in the lower arena and parts of the upper arena (as two-level arenas go, though, this was an older one with just one level of semi-luxury suites and an upper level that wasn't all that "upper").

In every aspect, it was quite the production, very much top-notch for its time. As a matter of fact, as I understand it, it was at the cutting edge of matching live music with lighting and video. It was apparently so new that Chip Davis felt the need to explain the "secret" of the click track, disclose their use of it in their in-ears, but assure the audience that every sound and note they (we) heard was real, live, and being performed by the people you were seeing.

No complaints, to say the least.

How much of these bad acoustics, props, etc are a result of outdated venues?...More and more high-profile country tours are bypassing the state these days.

Yes....shows these days are literally bigger and heavier. If a venue doesn't have the necessary floor-to-ceiling height and/or the ability to "fly" the weight of the sound and light rigs, it can't get booked. The tours that "eventually" play such venues have been redesigned for them and scaled down.

[Lee]

I remember Huntington used to be the hotbed of good rock shows back in the day.

KISS, Ozzy, David Lee Roth, Bon Jovi...the good ol' days.

Now we get Monster Trucks, Kenny Rogers on Ice, and carnies in puppet costumes.

The Monkeybar has gotten some good shows. But they seem to be slacking off lately.

I forgot to mention Seether, Papa Roach, and Staind are going to be in Huntington. Bands that have been here a million times already. *YAWN*

[Scott Reppert]

Combine that, along with WV's reputation, probably most acts really don't want to come here.

As for the TSO, Joe Cerisano left West Virginia to join them!

[Lester]

Because I can never see this enough...

[OldSkool]

Kenny Rogers on ice

...because otherwise his face would melt...

[CoolBreeze]

Because I can never see this enough...

That video alone drove more people through the doors than anything TSO ever did on their own. People expected to hear more of that, but actually heard much less.

[AmpedNow]

That's still an awesome video.