My wife reminded me around the Thanksgiving holiday that we had always talked about going to see TSO but never made the time, and she really wanted to go this year. Dumbfounded, I looked at her wondering aloud if she realized that the world is suffering from a global pandemic and it wasn’t realistic to see a live band right now. She looked at me like I had just dropped out of the sky, had 5 eyeballs protruding from my head, and said ‘Yes, I know that… but they have a live stream this year and it seems like a perfect opportunity!’
I was tentatively on board with this, though I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had always respected the sound they were going for but never strayed far from what I had heard on the radio during the holidays. As a matter of fact, I don’t know if I ever heard anything they played outside of Christmas Eve Sarajevo.
When we sat down to watch (my daughter begrudgingly so) we turned on the stream, chromecast’d to the TV, and settled into the pre-show. The band members lamented that they wouldn’t be able to do their yearly live tour but assured us they’d be back next year and hoped we’d enjoy the show they put together as they’d never done anything like this. I was honestly curious. What followed was a procession of highly talented artists mostly in quasi-gothic rock formalwear performing some classic / some new (to me) Christmas music.
The lights, the use of colors, the sets, and the raw talent were uplifting, enjoyable and much needed. I’ve spoken with people who have caught TSO live and said they intended or wished to make seeing them a yearly tradition. I agree. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind buying the recording of what we watched tonight to play during the holidays. I’m usually not a big live music person unless the talent blows me away. This absolutely did.
This was a fantastic Friday night surprise for me (my wife and daughter enjoyed it as well) – and I recommend this for anyone who is a fan of or appreciates music and the talented people who make it. When the credits rolled my wife insisted we must see them live in the coming years, I agree.
