Photos by Chad Alexander
December 26th 2016, Gila River Arena, Phoenix AZ: While the rest of the rock and metal world goes on vacation around this time of the year, one band that comes into prominence is Christmas-themed progressive/operatic/symphonic metal act Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Their success has been a phenomenon for two decades, and the show only gets more epic every year. They’re currently on their winter 2016 North American run wherein two different versions of the band perform on separate routings through the western and eastern parts of the continent, and they’re bringing ‘The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve’ as well as a best-of set to these shows. TSO West, featuring among its ranks Jeff Scott Soto and Mats Leven visited the Gila River Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on Monday December 26th, to present their glorious prog rock opera to a packed house. Our photographer Chad Alexander was on site to capture some images for us. Check them out below, and whether or not you celebrate Christmas, mark this band down as one you absolutely need to see at least once in your lifetime.
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Set List:
01. Who I Am
02. The March of the Kings / Hark the Herald Angels Sing
03. The Lost Christmas Eve (Andrew Ross on vocals)
Ghosts of Christmas Eve
04. O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night
05. Good King Joy
06. Christmas Dreams
07. Christmas Eve – Sarajevo 12/24 (Savatage cover)
08. Christmas Canon Rock
09. What Child Is This?
10. Music Box Blues
11. First Snow
12. Promises to Keep
13. This Christmas Day
Best of TSO
14. Christmas Jam
15. A Mad Russian’s Christmas
16. A Last Illusion
17. Christmas Nights in Blue
18. Wizards in Winter
19. O Fortuna (Carl Orff cover)
20. Madness of Men
21. Not the Same
22. The Night Conceives
23. The Mountain
24. Find Our Way Home
25. Requiem (The Fifth)
26. Christmas Eve – Sarajevo 12/24 reprise (Savatage cover)
Remaining Tour Dates:
12/27/2017 – Ontario, CA @ Citizens Business Bank Arena
12/27/2017 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Consol Energy Center
12/28/2017 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
12/29/2017 – Columbus, OH @ Nationwide Arena
12/30/2017 – Detroit, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
12/30/2017 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center
12/31/2017 – Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
12/31/2017 – Seattle, WA @ KeyArena