11/30 Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Hartford

TSO is freakin' metal.

You know, I never actually thought of them as metal until right before the show, but the few hardcore, head-bobbing fans really persuaded me. We had 4th row seats, which I managed to nab from joining the fan club and crazily clicking on the "buy tickets" button right when the fan club presale started. Let's just say it was pretty intense. The light spectacles were pretty amazing. The metal frames around the overhead lights started just above the stage floor and were lifted at the start of the show. Those same lights also moved around during the show for added effect. The guitarist and violinist came down on a platform, and there were a ton of crazy light and fire effects. A guy in the second row passed out, which was awkward, but the security and paramedics were there in a flash. Thankfully, he woke up.

The band played Christmas music for the first part of the show, which was the majority of the show, and probably why the majority of the audience was there. I mean, isn't Christmas Eve (Saraevo 12/24) everyone's favorite Christmas song on the radio? A narrator put all the Christmas songs together as a story, which was pretty cool. The second set was their non-Christmas stuff, which was just as metal as the Christmas stuff. All the talented musicians and singers really made it a great show. All in all, it was intense.

11/25 The Wailers at Toad's

I don't think I've ever seen so many dreds in one place before.

The original Wailers, as in Bob Marley and the Wailers minus Bob Marley and a few other guys and plus a few new guys, brought the Bob Marley vibe to Toad's place. It was a pretty sweet show - from an emotional "No Woman, No Cry," with two soulful backup female vocalists to a 15-minute "Jammin'." They played all the great hits, pretty much everything from "Legend," and had everyone swaying and singing along to the good old "Three Little Birds." I felt pretty Rasta for like 3 hours, man.