Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns with 'bombastic fury'

Thirty years ago, Al Pitrelli never would have dreamed he'd be doing what he does today.

Back then Pitrelli was jamming out on Led Zeppelin and Allman Brothers tunes back in what he calls the "hellish" clubs of New Jersey. He was living the hard life of many unsigned rockers, bouncing from club to club, performing for a pittance in front of small audiences.

Now when he picks up his Les Paul and starts to shred, Pitrelli is doing so in front of as many as 18,000 people. And instead of playing Zep and the Allmans, he's a part of one of the world's biggest holiday tours, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

"The first time I walked out on stage, I thought I was in the wrong building," said Pitrelli. "You had these multiple generations of families, grandparents sitting next to their grandkids in Slayer T-shirts. It was surreal."

As Pitrelli says, TSO draws a diverse crowd, "from 7 to 70." That's because they offer a little of everything. TSO has the rock savvy of people with experience. The band started from the metal act Savatage, and Pitrelli was once a touring guitarist for metal kings Megadeth. But the band also has the dynamic and narrative sensibilities of an orchestra, all thrown in the mix with a top-notch light and laser show.

This year Pitrelli's group (TSO splits in two for a massive holiday touring run) will perform more shows than there are days in the eight weeks of the tour, which began Sunday. They'll go across the Midwest and the West in a convoy of six buses, with more than 20 musicians and about 30 crew.

They'll play the big shows in places like San Diego and Las Vegas, but more than just about any other, Pitrelli can't wait for Wednesday's concert at the Show Me Center. He'd rather play here in Cape Girardeau than at Madison Square Garden in his home of New York City.

"It's like Santa Claus not stopping by to see you guys," Pitrelli said. "I don't think it matters if it's a small town -- it's Christmas.

"We like the kind of different dynamic in middle America. You guys have been great to us, and we just love it there."

TSO must love Cape Girardeau, since they booked it again on this year's tour between the larger venues. Pitrelli said the audience reaction at last year's concert here was spectacular, so much so that TSO knew immediately they would come back.

And fans here will get something different from last year. TSO will play songs from its four already released albums, as well as some new material.

With an act that is in as high demand as TSO is around the holidays, Cape Girardeau sort of lucked out. The tour is the most successful annual tour of North America, both the top-grossing and best-attended holiday show of the year.

TSO has come a long way since the group started touring in 1999. Back then Pitrelli didn't even know how the massive orchestral, operatic sound he calls "bombastic fury" could be infused into a live show.

"It didn't fit into any kind of niche, it didn't fit into any radio format, so when they said they wanted to step it up and do a live show, I just kind of scratched my head," the guitarist said. But Pitrelli along with other TSO masterminds Paul O'Neill, Jon Oliva and Robert Kinkel, they put the fears aside and made a successful tour.

TSO spends the holidays on the road with what has become a rather large extended family. Pitrelli tours with his wife and two dogs, and dozens of people who have become even more than friends.

And every year the tour makes Pitrelli remember those who are less fortunate, those who aren't making huge sums of cash doing what they love with their close friends.

The members of TSO have big hearts to go along with their big sound. A portion of all their ticket sales go to local charities in the towns the band plays, places the members call their homes away from home. This year $1 of each ticket sold will go to the local Boys and Girls Club.

And each year Pitrelli's thoughts turn to people who can't spend the holidays with their families, like soldiers. Regardless of how people feel about the war in Iraq, Pitrelli said it's important to remember those men and women who can't come home for Christmas.

"Every night I say an extra prayer for them and their families," said Pitrelli. "And I dedicate a portion of the show to them every night.

"I'm lucky. I get to spend Christmas with my wife and the people I'd be with anyway. But there's always some poor guy or gal in a foxhole not knowing what's going to come over that hill. I can't even fathom what that's like."

TSO's Cape Girardeau show is co-sponsored by the Southeast Missourian.

msanders@semissourian.com

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