Van Halen To Visit New York, L.A., Boston During Epic North American Tour

Van Halen To Visit New York, L.A., Boston During Epic North American Tour

Hall of Fame rockers Van Halen just released their twelfth studio album, A Different Kind of Truth, and have plans to launch a massive tour of North America. Their historic jaunt gets underway Feb. 18 in Louisville, Kentucky and ends June 26 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The pinnacle of their tour is a two-night stand at the world's most famous arena, Madison Square Garden. Fans can look for Van Halen tickets New York on Feb. 28 and March 1. Additional highlights of their itinerary include Van Halen tickets Auburn Hills on Feb. 20, Van Halen tickets Chicago on Feb. 24, and Van Halen tickets Boston on March 11.

To celebrate their new album, and the more than 40 upcoming Van Halen concerts, we've compiled a list of ten bands named after a member and/or members. To keep our list short, we've excluded band names like "The Jimi Hendrix Experience," "Dave Matthews Band," and "Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band." We've also excluded the "Plastic Ono Band" so we don't have to write about Yoko Ono.

Bon Jovi
Since forming in 1983, Bon Jovi has sold more 130 million albums. The band's four main members over the years are its name sake, Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, lead guitarist Richie Sambora, and drummer Tico Torres. The band took the name "Bon Jovi" on the suggestion of Pamela Maher, a friend and employee of a talent management company. She was copying a trend established by Van Halen. The band didn't like it, but they soon had a hit under the name "Bon Jovi" and there was no turning back.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
It seems like the epitome of laziness to name your band "Crosby, Stills, & Nash" and "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young" but if you consider that all four artists were famous before forming this group, the monikers make sense. David Crosby was in the The Byrds, Graham Nash was part of The Hollies, and Stephen Stills and Neil Young were in Buffalo Springfield. Each of the four musicians has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, but oddly enough the multiple inductions do NOT include "Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young."

Daughtry
Daughtry is a five-piece rock band from North Carolina named after its lead singer, Chris Daughtry. The vocalist was a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. Naming the band after him made sense. He was hot at the time and people knew his name. The band's self-titled debut dropped in 2006 and greatly outsold the debut album of Taylor Hicks, the singer who won American Idol that year.

Dio
Ronnie James Dio formed a band and named it after himself in 1982. Calling his heavy metal outfit "Dio" was a genius idea. The singer had a huge following and his last name is the Italian word for "God." While the band underwent numerous lineup changes over the years, they still managed to stay together for nearly three decades and release ten studio albums.

Dokken
Dokken wouldn't have made our list with their original name, "Airborn." However, while playing clubs around Los Angeles they learned that another band with that name had landed a record deal. That meant "Airborn" had to go. The heavy metal band decided to call themselves "Dokken" after lead singer Don Dokken. My favorite tidbit about this band is that in 2004 Don Dokken's attorney joined the group as a guitarist.

Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, consists of Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, and Carl Palmer. The trio would go down as one of the greatest progressive rock bands of all-time. They used their last names as an epithet to take the emphasis off of Keith Emerson, who at the time was the most famous musician of the three. Also, they didn't want to be called the "New Nice"—Emerson previous band was "The Nice."

Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac is named after drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie. The name was crafted by Peter Green as a way to get McVie to join. It didn't immediately work but after a while McVie couldn't resist the lure of seeing his name in lights and accepted Green's offer. All this happened in 1967. Christine McVie joined in 1969. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks didn't come aboard until 1975. By the way, Green left the band in 1970.

Santana
Santana is a rock band from San Francisco that is known for two things. One is their innovated and pioneering blend of Latin and rock music. And two is the legendary guitar playing of the great Carlos Santana. The band's big break came in 1969 when they played Woodstock. Literally hundreds of musicians have been in Santana but the first incarnation was told they'd never make it playing Latin fusion. Even more insulting, Santana was told to keep his day job as a dish washer.

Van Halen
One of America's top rock bands, Van Halen is named after its lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his brother, drummer Alex Van Halen. The brothers were actually born in the Netherlands. They moved to Pasadena when they were seven and nine years old, respectively. According to Roth, it was his idea to name the band Van Halen. He thought it sounded cool.

Upcoming tour stops include Van Halen tickets Philadelphia on March 5, Van Halen tickets Toronto on March 17, and Van Halen tickets Atlanta on April 19.

The band's west coast schedule includes Van Halen tickets Las Vegas on May 27, Van Halen tickets Los Angeles on June 1, and Van Halen tickets Houston on June 24.

Winger
Winger is one of the few bands on our list to be named after a bassist. The band's namesake is Kip Winger. He not only thumps the four-string but sings lead. The other three original members of Winger are Reb Beach, Paul Taylor, and Rod Morgenstein. The band released two platinum albums in the late 1980s but was pretty much forgotten once grunge music rolled around. Unfortunately for Winger, they are best-known for being the punch line of an endless parade of Beavis and Butthead jokes.

2011 NFL Playoffs: What Will Be The Next Great Moment?

The NFL Playoffs have historically been ripe with classic and indelible moments. These plays are so unforgettable and so league-shattering that they are given cute nicknames like "The Immaculate Reception," "The Holly Roller," "The Music City Miracle," and "Eli Manning's Pass to David Tyree." Okay, that last one needs some work.

Who knows what great moments the 2011 NFL Playoffs will produce. That's why we thought it would be fun to throw out, and name, some possible treasured moments that MIGHT happen during the upcoming playoffs. On second thought, "might" is probably too strong of a word but if any of the stuff listed below does actually occur it would be very cool.

The Atlanta Astonishment
In a remarkable turn of events, Matt Ryan leads the Atlanta Falcons to a playoff victory. I know. I know. This article was supposed to be about things that can actually happen. Well, how about this: the Falcons lose but the Tony Gonzales catches three touchdown passes. That could definitely happen.

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
Ike Taylor makes a key interception thanks to William Gay's massive hit on a wide out. The Steelers' opponents demand a pass interference call but the officials rule that the ball touched a defender before Taylor's contacted the wide receiver thus making the play legal. In actuality, the ball only brushed Troy Polamalu's hair. The stadium nearly riots when replay doesn't overturn the call. In the offseason, the NFL thinks about changing the rule but decides against it after heavy lobbying from the makers of Head and Shoulders.

The Coughlin Countenance
Fans with New York Giants playoff tickets are stunned when they see head coach Tom Coughlin drop the perpetual "where in the hell is that keno girl" expression and replace it with a genuine, real-life smile. Brandon Jacobs was so shocked by Coughlin's grin that he fumbled the ball. Wait! That might have just been a fumble.

The Motown Miracle/Massacre
The Detroit Lions haven't won a playoff game in 20 years. So when they win their first one it's a bona fide miracle. The city reaches sheer elation when they win another and nirvana when they make it to the Super Bowl. Sadly, the Lions are the Lions and they find a way to blow it. After the loss, fans take their frustrations out by destroying what's left of Detroit Rock City. President Obama offers to give Detroit to Canada as a way of apologizing for American franchises always winning the Stanley Cup but the Canucks politely say "no thank you."

The Brees-Way
Drew Brees does it again. His late game heroics make Saints playoff ticketholders very happy. Now, Brees has rallied the Saints to victory numerous times so makes this occasion so special? Well, Brees did it on defense and special teams. The all-pro quarterback turns into a two-way player, like Chuck Bednarik, and is on the field for the entire game. He even leads his team in tackles with three. His stellar defensive play—correction—his defensive play keeps the opponents' point total to just 43. Then after the game, Brees helps builds a split-level for Habitat for Humanity, scoops chowder at a homeless shelter, and donates part of his liver to a dying Rhesus monkey.

The Brady Scores-A-Bunch
In an effort to cut out the middle man, coach Bill Belichick orders his defense off the field and into the showers. The maneuver allows the Patriots' opponents to score at will but Tom Brady and company more than keep up. If you were lucky enough to have Patriots playoff tickets for this affair, you saw the highest scoring game in NFL history. There is a caveat to this immortal event. It can only happen if the Pats play the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's because in the playoffs everything the Patriots do against the Steelers works.

The Hand-Off
There's the "The Catch," "The Tackle," 'The Fumble," and "The Drive" so why not "The Hand-Off." Late in the fourth quarter, with the Green Bay Packers leading by just 17, Aaron Rodgers hands the ball off to some unknown running back that coach Mike McCarthy drafted in the umpteenth round. The back takes the ball and scampers 22 yards for a touchdown. Okay, it's not that dramatic, and it's certainly not memorable, but we think the Packers are going to stroll to their fifth Super Bowl title. In the 2011 postseason, teams will be lucky to be down just 17 points in the fourth quarter to the vaunted Packers.

The Second Coming
With all the talk of "miracles," and with the Hail Mary being a common play for teams trailing at the end of games, it was only a matter of time until we got around to Mr. Tim Tebow. Okay, so here's what happens: the city of Denver is soaked by a torrential downpour. There's so much rain in such a short period of time that Mile High Stadium becomes flooded. The only player that can successfully run in the muck and mud is Tebow. Get it? He walks on water! Tebow leads the Broncos to a playoff victory but unfortunately none of his fans see it. They were all too busy "Tebowing" to watch the game.

Coldplay To Launch First U.S. Tour In Nearly Three Years In 2012

In December of 2011, Coldplay had two diametrically opposed gigs on their schedule, and we're not even counting their New Year's Eve show in Abu Dhabi.

A special 90-minute episode of Austin City Limits showcased Coldplay's new album, Mylo Xyloto, as well as many of their greatest hits. The pre-recorded concert was dubbed, "Coldplay New Year's Eve: An Austin City Limits Special."

ACL is cool. You don't get an invitation to perform on its stage, much less a rare 90-minute episode, if you rely on auto-tune or your stage show involves choreography and costume changes.

On Dec. 11, Coldplay performed on the second night of the two-part finale of The X Factor UK. Many were surprised by the band's decision to appear on Simon Cowell's singing competition.

The X Factor has an awful reputation in the Commonwealth. It's what hipsters think of American Idol but worse. In other words, it has the exact opposite reputation that ACL has.

In the U.K., The X Factor is viewed by many as the devil; it's everything that's wrong with the music business. That's why Coldplay's management was very worried about the backlash the band would receive for performing on such an anti-cool show. They already have a small army of haters and performing on The X Factor would only help with recruitment.

Of course, a few thousand negative tweets and a few hundred disparaging Facebook updates are no match for the amount of albums they'll sell from their X Factor appearance. Like American Idol in the States, people who watch The X Factor buy albums. And if they like what they hear they might also buy Coldplay tickets.

So in less than one month, Coldplay performed on a show with serious "street cred" and on a show watched by millions of consumers. Say what you will about their music, but Coldplay certainly knows what they're doing.

In 2012, the British alternative band is set to launch their first tour of the United Sates in almost three years. The excursion is in support of their latest album, Mylo Xyloto.

The band's string of concert dates is split into two legs, one in the spring and the other in early summer.

The first leg kicks off April 17 in Edmonton, Alberta at Rexall Place. Highlights of their spring jaunt include Coldplay in Vancouver, B.C. on April 20; Coldplay in Seattle, Washington on April 25, and Coldplay in San Jose, California on April 27.

The outing culminates with a pair of Coldplay concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on May 1 and May 2.

Their summer dates begin June 22 with a Coldplay concert in Dallas, Texas and ends Aug. 11 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Coldplay shows are also planned for Houston, Tampa, and Miami. On July 23, Coldplay will be in Boston for a show at TD Garden. Then on Aug. 3, look for Coldplay in East Rutherford, New Jersey at the IZOD Center.

Red Hot Chili Peppers To Launch First U.S. Tour In Four Years

A lot is going on for the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the waning days of 2011. The band is about to kick off their first U.S. tour in four years and they were just inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Chili Peppers are part of the 2012 class that also contains Guns N' Roses, The Beastie Boys, The Small Faces/Faces, Donovan, Laura Nyro, Freddie King, and Don Kirshner (he created The Monkees and The Archies). The induction ceremony is planned for April 14 and will air on HBO sometime in May.

Say what you will about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, getting inducted is an honor and of all the 2012 recipients, RHCP are the most deserving. They actually play rock, they're pioneers in the genre of funk rock, and unlike some inductees, most people can name more than one of their songs.

Personally, I think the R&RHOF is a joke. Or at least it has become a joke. There are probably just 50 to 60 artists/contributors that have the necessary credentials worthy of enshrinement into some contrived "hall." Of course the current Rock and Roll vestibule includes significantly more than a few dozen acts.

Since the organization seems to let just about anyone in—regardless of the genre of music they play or whether or not they actually influenced future generations—the honor has lost some of its luster (or all of it). The Beastie Boys don't play rock; The Small Faces were pretty much a blimp on the rock and roll map; Donovan's music is about as timeless as a housefly; and who has ever even heard of Laura Nyro?

Sadly, Nyro was inducted because she's a woman and The Hall has a dearth of female rockers. While that's definitely a concern, inducting someone because of who they are and not what they've done defeats the purpose. It's like giving Jay Buhner or Joey Cora a bust in Cooperstown because there are not enough Seattle Mariners in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of course none of this matters to fans of the Chili Peppers or to the band themselves. Flea posted on the group's Web site that he's very excited about being part of the Class of 2012. If he's happy, I geuss we should be too.

Regardless, fans are exciting about the opportunity to cash in their Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets and see their favorite hall of famers on stage as part of their highly anticipated "I'm With You Tour."

Their long-awaited trek begins Jan. 20 in Sunrise, Florida and ends March 16 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Highlights of their itinerary include stops in Orlando, Memphis, New Orleans, and Houston.

The band's last major outing was in 2007 when they launched their "Stadium Arcadium Tour." The upcoming series of Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts will be the first with guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.

The band, who is currently performing all over Europe, is touring to support their tenth studio album, I'm With You. The Rick Rubin-produced collection dropped in August of 2011.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' 2012 Itinerary
>>Jan. 20 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Sunrise, FL @ Bank Atlantic Center
>>Jan. 21 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Orlando, FL @ Amway Arena
>>Jan. 23 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for St. Petersburg, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
>>Jan. 25 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena
>>Jan. 27 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center
>>Jan. 28 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Columbia, SC @ Colonial Life Arena
>>Jan. 30 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Duluth, Georgia @ Gwinnett Center
>>Jan. 31 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum
>>Feb. 3 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Memphis, TN @ FedEx Forum
>>Feb. 4 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
>>Feb. 29 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for San Deigo, CA @ Valley View Casino Center
>>March 6 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
>>March 8 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
>>March 9 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
>>March 13 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Tulsa, OK @ BOK Arena
>>March 15 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Oklahoma City, OK @ Chesapeake Energy Arena
>>March 16 - Red Hot Chili Peppers tickets for Little Rock, AR @ Verizon Arena

Tim McGraw Free From Curbs Record, Touring With Kenny Chesney

Over the years, I've written hundreds of articles about popular music. In those wonderfully composed and amazingly insightful tomes I've discussed just about every aspect of an artist's life a fan can imagine. I've penned prose about their reading habits, their diets, what they bring with them on the road, and even their tawdry affairs, but I've never discussed (or mentioned) their record labels.

That's because record labels are meaningless.

They don't affect the sound of the music, or its availability, and who really cares what company cuts the checks that are eventually cashed by our favorite artists. The only groups truly interested in record labels are record collectors, industry insiders, and unsigned acts.

I will make an exception if an artist and their record label are embroiled in a major contract dispute. That's important because it usually means no new music, or in Tim McGraw's case, a whole bunch of old music.

Country music superstar Tim McGraw recently won a court battle against his former record label, Curb Records (the only label of his career). McGraw is now free to record with any label his wishes or he can form his own.

As alluded to, the dispute was responsible for six compilations released in a five-year period (the label was trying to draw out McGraw's expiring contract). McGraw accused his former label of holding onto a finished album called Emotional Traffic. Although nothing has been announced, fans should expect Emotional Traffic to hit store shelves in the very near future.

It makes sense since the judge's ruling was handed down six months and two days prior to McGraw's big tour with Kenny Chesney. One can safely assume that McGraw would love a new album to promote when he and his good buddy hit the road to play football stadiums all over the United States.

McGraw and Chesney's "Brothers of the Sun Tour 2012" launches June 2 in Tampa, Florida. The 20-date trek ends Aug. 25 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

Speaking of Foxboro, the duo just added a second show at the home of the New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium. McGraw and Chesney will play at the venue on Aug. 24 and 25.

The two country music superstars have been close friends for years. Long before they combined forces to sell hundreds of thousands of Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw tickets, the would-be icons shared an apartment in Nashville.

In case you're wondering, McGraw will perform first. Chesney is closing but he has promised fans that the evening's finale will feature plenty of McGraw.

Opening for the dynamic duo are Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen.

 
"Brothers of the Sun Tour 2012" Itinerary
>>June 2 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium
>>June 3 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Atlanta, GA @ Georgia Dome
>>June 9 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Dallas, TX @ Cowboys Stadium
>>June 10 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Kansas City, MO @ Arrowhead Stadium
>>June 16 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Philadelphia, PA @ Lincoln Financial Field
>>June 23 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Nashville, TN @ LP Field
>>June 24 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Charlotte, NC @ Bank of America Stadium
>>June 30 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Field
>>July 1 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Cincinnati, OH @ Paul Brown Stadium
>>July 7 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field
>>July 8 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Minneapolis, MN @ Target Field
>>July 14 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Anaheim, CA @ Angel Stadium
>>July 21 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Denver, CO @ Sports Authority Field at Mile High
>>Aug. 11 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
>>Aug. 12 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Landover, MD @ FedExField
>>Aug. 18 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Detroit, MI @ Ford Field
>>Aug. 24-25 - Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw in Foxboro, MA @ Gillette Stadium

Neil Diamond To Tour Behind 'Best Of' Album Beginning In Mid-2012

Is Neil Diamond rock, pop, easy listening, adult contemporary, or some other genre of music?

He's been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and according to Billboard he's the third most successful adult contemporary artist of all-time behind Barbara Streisand and Elton John. I've seen his music classified as easy listening (he does share a large section of fans with that music genre) and his songs certainly have a pop sound.

Does it really matter how we classify Diamond? The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame doesn't seem to care about music genres (they let in just about anyone) so why should we? Ultimately, it doesn't matter what category in iTunes you select for your Neil Diamond tracks, he's still one of the greatest songwriters of the 21st century. Even so, his music makes for an interesting case study.

The artist's career got a boost in the mid-sixties when The Monkees recorded a few of his songs. Those songs, as well as most of his early material, have a definite rock and roll feel. Then, in the 1970s, he mellowed out and recorded songs like "I Am… I Said," "September Morn," and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."

His songs have been covered by a wide range of artist, everyone from Elvis Presley to Nancy Sinatra to Urge Overkill to Crooked Fingers. You'll find his albums in record collections belonging to your grandfather, mother, and little brother (provided he's a hipster).

Comparing him to previously mentioned legends, he's not as edgy as Elton John but rocks way harder than Barbara Streisand. Had Diamond leaned more towards rock he would have rivaled John. Instead, he followed in Babs' footsteps. Maybe it cost him a few fans, and a few notches on the cool meter, but with more than 115 million albums sold I think he did okay for himself.

If you don't believe in the awesomeness of Diamond just check out his latest release, "The Very Best of Neil Diamond - The Original Studio Recordings." The 23-track album features tunes like "I'm A Believer," "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon," and "Sweet Caroline."

To support the opus, the 70-year-old (he turns 71 on Jan 24) is planning a tour of North America this spring and summer. His trek launches June 1 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and ends Sept. 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Neil Diamond tickets will be sold in cities all over the continent including Atlanta, Washington D.C., Boston, Toronto, and Seattle.

Neil Diamond's 2012 Itinerary
>>Feb. 16 & 18 - Neil Diamond in Honolulu, HI @ Neal S. Blaisdell Center
>>June 1 - Neil Diamond in Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ BankAtlantic Center
>>June 3 - Neil Diamond in Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
>>June 6 - Neil Diamond in Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
>>June 8 - Neil Diamond in Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
>>June 14 - Neil Diamond in Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
>>June 16 - Neil Diamond in Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
>>June 18 - Neil Diamond in Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
>>June 21 - Neil Diamond in Montreal, BC @ Bell Centre
>>June 23 - Neil Diamond in Boston, MA @ TD Garden
>>June 26 - Neil Diamond in Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
>>June 28 - Neil Diamond in London, ON @ John Labatt Centre
>>July 1 - Neil Diamond in Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
>>July 3 - Neil Diamond in Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
>>July 6 - Neil Diamond in Chicago, IL @ United Center
>>July 8 - Neil Diamond in Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest
>>July 11 - Neil Diamond in St Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
>>July 13 - Neil Diamond in Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre
>>July 16 - Neil Diamond in Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
>>July 18 - Neil Diamond in Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome
>>July 21 - Neil Diamond in Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
>>July 23 - Neil Diamond in Seattle, WA @ Key Arena
>>July 28 - Neil Diamond in Salt Lake City, UT @ Rio Tinto Stadium
>>Aug. 7 - Neil Diamond in San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
>>Aug. 29 - Neil Diamond in Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center
>>Sept. 1 - Neil Diamond in Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena

Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Nutcracker Inspire X-Mas Spirit

This holiday season, merry revelers have the opportunity to attend three great shows, all designed to get you into the Christmas spirit. Those three classic shows are The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert, and The Nutcracker. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular premiered in 1933 in New York City, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra released their first album in 1996, and the Nutcracker debuted in St. Petersburg in 1892.

As an early Christmas present, we've decided to take a closer look at all three holiday traditions. Our breakdown of the productions should help you decide which one is perfect for you and your family. We understand that some shows may not be appropriate for all ages, but if at all possible, we recommend attending all three.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular stars the world famous Rockettes. The high-stepping dancers treat fans to a variety of holiday numbers including their famous "Parade of Wooden Soldiers" and "The Living Nativity." Other rousing musical numbers include "The Twelve Days of Christmas," "Here Comes Santa Claus," and "Joy to the World." At one point in the production, a double-decker bus is rolls onto the stage.

This year, the Spectacular is called "The Rockettes Magical Journey." Those with Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets will be treated to a spectacular 3-D film digitally projected onto a flying LED screen. Don't worry, 3-D glasses are included with the price of your Rockettes tickets. Fans can catch the Spectacular at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City and a touring production set to visit Boston, Durham, and Nashville.

Santa Claus Appearance: Yes.
Who Will Like It The Best: The members of your family that like dancing and beautiful costumes.
Christmas Spirit Meter: From beginning to end the Spectacular is all about Christmas. If it doesn't get you into the holiday spirit nothing will.

>>Nov. 11 - Jan. 2 - Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
>>Nov. 10-27 - Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Durham, NC @ Durham Performing Arts Center
>>Nov. 18 - Dec. 24 - Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry House
>>Dec. 2-28 - Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Boston, MA @ Wang Theatre

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2011
Since 1999, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra has made heavy metal the reason for the season. The brainchild of composer and producer Paul O'Neil, TSO annually tours North America thrilling fans with their energetic and festive blend of hard rock, classical music, and Christmas songs. If you'd rather celebrate the holidays with some serious guitar shredding, instead decking the halls with boughs of holly, then the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is for you.

Since 2000, the group has split into two, TSO West and TSO East. The pair of touring bands means they can visit more arenas and melt more faces with their tasty guitar licks. Regardless of which group your Trans-Siberian Orchestra tickets are for, plan on a night of great music, awesome pyrotechnics, amazing special effects, and lasers. Also, be prepared for a strained neck due to all the headbanging you'll be doing. Some of TSO's most well-known songs are "Wizards in Winter," "Christmas Canon," and "A Mad Russian's Christmas."

Santa Claus Appearance: No.
Who Will Like It The Best: All members of the family that like to rock!
Christmas Spirit Meter: It's not exactly an Andy Williams Christmas special but you'll leave the arena pumped up (as well as with short-term hearing loss).

>>Nov. 26 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Hartford, CT @ XL Center
>>Dec. 15 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
>>Dec. 23 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
>>Dec. 29 - Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre

The Nutcracker
It's hard to breakdown The Nutcracker since the show is produced by so many ballet companies. The production in your area may be much better than a production clear across the country. Still, this show, especially its music, is one of the great joys of the holiday season. If the opportunity arises, you should definitely acquire Nutcracker Ballet show tickets for you and your family.

The Nutcracker tells the story of a young girl who gets a nutcracker from her godfather during a Christmas party. Later that night, when the girl sneaks downstairs to the Christmas tree, her nutcracker comes alive and takes her on a magical journey where mice come alive and desserts dance. The ballet's indelible score is punctuated by holiday classics like the "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy," "The Russian Dance," and "The Dance of the Reed-Flutes."

Santa Claus Appearance: No.
Who Will Like It The Best: The Nutcracker is for everyone that doesn't have a short attention span. If you can't leave the Smartphone alone for two hours the ballet isn’t for you.
Christmas Spirit Meter: Christmas plays a relatively minor role but since The Nutcracker has become synonymous with the holidays you'll definitely walk out of the theater ready to enjoy the season.

>>Nov. 25-27 - The Nutcracker in Boston, MA @ Boston Opera House
>>Dec. 8-11 - The Nutcracker in Atlanta, GA @ Fabulous Fox Theatre
>>Nov. 25 - Dec. 3 - The Nutcracker in Houston, TX @ Brown Theater
>>Dec. 1-3 - The Nutcracker in Los Angeles, CA @ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion