Ho ho ho! Here comes TSO.

It’s one of the best things about the Christmas season in Jackson. Trans Siberian Orchestra is again coming to the state.  The band is even giving US a present…two shows scheduled in Jackson.  The complete schedule is here.

I’ve been lucky enough to have gone to shows in the past, and it is always a fantastic concert!  Plus, portions of the ticket sales go to local charities. How many rock bands do that? 

Even though the musical set has pretty much stayed the same over the years, I’d recommend the show to anyone. To me, the songs never get old. Just be warned, those won’t be Christmas bells you’ll be hearing the day after the concert, it will be the lefover decibels from the concert ringing in your head.

New old music

I subscribe to emusic.  It’s a great collection of music that you won’t necessarily find in the more traditional online music libraries.  Another great plus is that it’s 10 bucks a month for 40 downloads and that the downloads aren’t restricted like Itunes. 

So went there the other night and found a new album from Asia.  For the baby boomers, Asia was a must album from the early 1980s and the band was the forerunner of the “supergroups”.  After a hugely successful first album, the second album couldn’t live up to hype but on it by the record label , their third album had a new (and incredibly less talented) guitarist.  After that point, it was downhill for the group as original members came and went.

Now, after 25 years, the original members are back for a tour and are supposedly even working on a new album of original music.  With all the crap that’s sold as music now, a disc from four incredibly talented musicians would truly be music to my ears.  So with high hopes, I downloaded the double disc.

More of a backstory: I’m a big fan of music recorded live.  You find out quickly who in the music business isn’t dependent on the ovedubs and massive production tricks on studio albums.  After listening to the original Asia album, it was clear that if the group did come out with a live album, it could never match the massive keyboards and vocal choirs used in the studio.

Having listened to the the album Fantasia Live in Tokyo, my humble review is that the guys who played on the record have done nothing but get better.  Sure, John Wetton’s voice isn’t what it used to be, and some of the timing is off on the instruments, but I’d say this is a pretty darned good album.  Steve Howe continues to show great restraint in playing guitar in the Asia material…but I still can’t help the feeling that he’s eager to rip into a long solo.  Carl Palmer is still amazing on drums, and Geoffrey Downes, the backbone behind Asia all these years, still amazes the listener with his ability to remember all the keyboard settings for each song. 

Yes, it was a trip down memory lane for me.  The music is played a lot slower, the keys are dropped so the notes aren’t sung as high, but it’s nice to hear songs played by true musicians who can still teach today’s “stars” a thing or two about making music.

The end of the universe is Madison

My favorite comedian, Lewis Black, has a bit on his album The End of Universe, where he describes how the universe ends in Houston, Texas. Why? You can hear a piece of it here.

I think Mr. Black needs to visit Madison and update his act.  On the corner of Hoy and Highway 51, there is a Walgreens.  Directly across the street, yes, a new Walgreens. 

I can’t help but laugh everytime I pass this intersection.