It looks like the 2024 holiday season is shaping up to be a pretty strong one for music fans of all ages here in the Valley. Kicking off the festivities on Sun Dec. 1 will be Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which brings its Winter Tour 2024 for two shows to Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix.
It’s hard to believe that TSO has been a touring juggernaut for 25 years now, initially commencing live shows in 1999. Seeing its tremendous growth over the years has been nothing less than impressive.
At this point, TSO has become a must-see event, so much so that musical director Al Pitrelli affectionately refers to longtime fans attending the annual audio-visual spectacular as “repeat offenders”.
Make no mistake though: there’s plenty of fans out there who will be seeing TSO for the first time. In other words, everyone is welcome to this seasonal favorite in the Valley.
This year, the band will be commemorating its 2004 release The Lost Christmas Eve, along with (as always) a second set of some of the band’s more well-known “non-holiday” material. Yes, metal fans– that includes a couple of songs from 80s cult favorite (and TSO predecessor I might add) Savatage. Expect a (roughly) 2-hour, 20-minute show— if past tours are any indication.
Of course, it’s important to add that there is no opening act for TSO, so arrive early to the show. I’ll never forget how Pitrelli put it to me in a 2022 phone chat— proudly.
“We’ve never been an opening act for anybody, nor have we ever had an opening act. And we never will.”
To its credit, TSO also knows the importance of social responsibility and philanthropy, something that late founder Paul O’ Neill instilled within the band from its inception in 1995.
To that point, one dollar from every ticket sold for the Phoenix shows (at 3:00pm and 7:30pm, respectively) will go toward two local charities.
To date, TSO has contributed roughly $19 million dollars to the cities they’ve played in over the course of two decades.
Good readers, that’s called putting your money where your mouth is. Kudos to the entire TSO organization for that.
Don’t forget, music icon Jose Feliciano heading to Phoenix too!
Let me state the obvious first. There isn’t anyone out there who hasn’t heard Jose Feliciano’s all-time holiday classic Feliz Navidad. Period. No matter what they tell you.
Additionally, I will proudly go on record to say that it remains the coolest and most festive “Christmas carol” of the 20th century. In short order, no other Christmas song comes even remotely close. It’s so simple and heartfelt that it’s ultimately… brilliant.
Some of you reading this may not be aware that, originally, Feliz Navidad was released on Feliciano’s self-titled Christmas album in the fall of 1970. It featured instrumental renditions of other holiday classics like Jingle Bells, The First Noel and White Christmas, respectively.
It also featured arguably the greatest arrangement (vocally and musically) of The Little Drummer Boy since the classic 1958 recording by The Harry Simeone Chorale.
This album had been out-of-print for the better part of twenty years. In 2002, it was re-released and re-titled Feliz Navidad with alternate artwork. Three unreleased songs (from the original 1970 recording sessions) were added to the CD reissue, making this an essential (if not indispensable) holiday album that still holds up in 2024.
With any luck, Feliciano will be playing a decent amount of this album when he returns to Phoenix for a rare holiday performance at the historic Celebrity Theatre. It’s being billed as a hybrid of Christmas songs and other (non-holiday) classic hits (and covers) from Feliciano’s expansive, six-decade catalog of music.
Regardless of which show you choose to attend, there’s one thing that’s guaranteed from both Jose Feliciano and Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The fans will get to witness top-notch musicianship from each artist— whether you celebrate the holidays or not.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Trans-Siberian Orchestra
WHEN: Sun. Dec. 1 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Footprint Center, Jefferson & Third St. in downtown Phoenix.
TICKETS: $32- $119, available at Ticketmaster.com
WHAT: Jose Feliciano
WHEN: Fri. Dec. 13 at 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Celebrity Theatre, 32nd St. & Van Buren
TICKETS: $35-$100, available at celebritytheatre.com and Celebrity Theatre box office
