Let the Festivities Begin!

Now that the holidays are here, this panda would like to direct attention to two special events/CDs that will brighten up your season.

1. Trans-Siberian Orchestra:  Caution: this self-proclaimed "Rock Opera" may want to make you do air-violin. Of course, a true fan of Rock Opera would know that "by their nature, RO's need voices to change as the characters change".  According to founder Paul O'Neil, TSO is the result of his attempts to "write music that was so melodic it didn't need lyrics.

 And lyrics that were so poetic that they didn't need music but once you put the two of them together, the sum of the parts would be greater than the whole, and you couldn't imagine them apart.  Once he'd done this, he was still looking for a way to take it to even greater heights and he realized that putting the songs within the context of a story would give it a third dimension..."

 So really TSO is like music in 3-D, plus, they have a laser show—Not to mention the 60 piece band and choir.  Pretty rad right?  Their story themes include: Christmas Eve & Other Stories, The Christmas Attic, Beethoven's Last Night, The Christmas Trilogy and The Lost Christmas Eve.  I guess they like the story of Christmas.  Here's what you've been missing:

Also check out "Carol of the Bells" and "Wizards of Winter."  One host introduced them as Pink Floyd meets White Christmas.  For some reason there are about 20 videos of holiday lights set to this music, but I still prefer the lasers.  I'm not sure what makes them "Trans-Siberian" since they seem like a bunch of non-Siberians to me. But what would I know about Trans-Siberians? Answer: Not much.

Oh, this dude right here? This is Paul O'Neill.

If your not into TSO yet, does it help when I tell you that they have sold over a million albums every year since their conception? If everyone else likes them you must have it all wrong.  Take a moment to rethink your position.

Now that you've come to your senses, fly to NY this week to see them at home.  I wonder why they never come to San Francisco...

2. Celtic Thunder (From the people who brought you Celtic Woman which is a group, not one woman as the name suggests) Unlike those posers above, the members of Celtic Thunder are actually from a place that their name implies: Ireland.  The members range in age from a 16-year-old who recently recorded a (Celtic?) gospel CD, to a 41-year-old.  Credits among the group members include appearances at a Pittsburgh Steelers game, as well as a performance alongside Westlife, you know, the Irish boy band.  Admittedly, I like Celtic Thunder's music less that a certain arctic rock 'n ropera (take THAT, Hip Hopera!), but I like their name more (romance novel, anyone?).  I feel bad for saying that because they seem like nice dudes.  They sing decently but their music is no laser show, and it's certainly nowhere near 3-D (Sorry fellas).  The infomercials, on the other hand, are amazing:  

You can actually see the tweens swoon and literally clutch their metaphoric breasts when Keith comes onstage crooning, "I want to know what love is, and I want you to show me."  Tears may be shed, kilts may be worn.  He's totally an Irish CB (see "(Un)healthy Obsession").  I hope he wrote his own biography on the official website: "Keith has been singing and winning the Derry Feis on numerous occassions[sic] since the age of 4.  Keith is a talented Songwriter and excellent Guitar player as well as an amazing singer..." (capitalizations are author's).  Do I sense (Un)Healthy Obsession part 2?

Keith

Terrible news: both concert series' have come and gone from Northern Cali this year.  Don't even trip though, I will go with you next year.  

See you at ARCO Arena, 2009!

This statue perfectly details the clutched-breast swoon that tweens take on when attending the Celtic Thunder concert, and apparently upon seeing Pleasure P formerly of Pretty Ricky in person.

.