Trans-Siberian Orchestra- Prudential Center, NJ 2016

On Dec. 26, 2016, I was fortunate enough to catch progressive rock/ Christmas/ neo-classical metal band the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) live in New Jersey at the Prudential Center. The best part is that I was seated  second row in the floor section, baby!

Now, I should start by saying that I this was my first time ever seeing the band. I hadn't heard a whole lot from them aside from the track here and there. Of course, I knew them best when they were progressive/ power metal band Savatage. The things is I really wasn't expecting much. I thought this was going to be a lame, pretentious, and boring show. Holy fuck was I ever wrong! This was one of the most fun and mind blowing live experiences ever!

Before the concert I got a pic with metal radio DJ, co-host of the very missed That Metal Show, and author Eddie Trunk. He is always so nice, friendly, and down to earth in person.

Guitarist Chris Caffery came out to greet the crowd before the concert began. At every show, a portion of every ticket sale goes to charity. This time was no different. Bless, this band for having such a good heart.

Not soon after this the concert began and from then on TSO kicked all our collective asses! Mixing video images, storytelling, laser lights, "snow", pyro (including white-hot fire!), beautiful back-up signers, and a large, over-head ramp walkway, it had everything, and more, that you could ask for in a big arena rock performance.

TSO consisted of/ were joined by: Zak Stevens, Dustin Brayley, Rob Evan, Autumn Guzzardi Horton, Mee Eun, Kim, Roddy Chong, Robin Borneman, James Lewis, Lisa Lavie, Georgia Bleu, Natalya Rose Piette, Russell Allen, David Z Rock, Joel Hoekstra, Kayla Reeves, Bryan Hicks, Jeff Plate and Chris Caffery.

Set-list:

Who I Am
March of the Kings
The Lost Christmas Eve
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night
Good King Joy 

Christmas Dreams
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Savatage cover)
Christmas Canon Rock
What Child Is This?
Music Box Blues
First Snow
Promises to Keep
This Christmas Day 

The Best of TSO
Christmas Jam
A Mad Russian's Christmas
A Last Illusion
Christmas Nights in Blue
Wizards in Winter
Carmina Burana
Mountain Labyrinth
Not the Same
The Night Conceives
The Mountain
Requiem (The Fifth)
Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) (Reprise) (Savatage cover) 

I think I'll let the pics do most of the talking from here on. Enjoy, and remember as cool as they may look, it's even more awesome in person:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the concert I got to meet beautiful signer for the band, Kayla Reeves, backstage. In all, this was a most amazing and unforgettable experience. I highly recommend you all to partake in this and see TSO live at least once in your life. You owe to yourself and will thank me for telling you about it, even if you are doubtful about it.

WinterCon 2016: "The Road Warrior" Reunoin

Perhaps the coolest thing that happened at WinterCon 2016 was The Road Warrior reunion. That classic is one of my favorite movies of all time, as well as being one of the greatest sequels ever made. It's the rare one, that actually tops its classic first film.

As such there was lots of cosplay from the film (I think there should be more Road Warrior cosplay, personally speaking) and the franchise, as a whole. The cosplayers posed for pics around the props from the movie. Directly below are pics of the props:

 

 

More of the cosplayers:

 

The reunion included many of the major supporting characters and main antagonists of the cult classic. The actors present were:
Bruce Spence (The Gyro Captain)
Vernon Wells (Wez)
Kjell Nilsson (Lord Humungus)
Emil Minty (Feral Kid)
Virgina Hey (Warrior Woman)

What was really cool is they that they joined the cosplayers for some kick ass pics!! How often does that happen? Not nearly enough, if ever, I say!

 

 

I got to meet and interview a couple of them. Those posts are coming soon, in the meantime here I am meeting the very friendly and awesome Kjell Nilsson who played Lord Humungus, one of my favorite villains ever, and one of my favorite characters in the entire Mad Max universe!

Chiller Theatre Oct 2016 (Updated!)

Yesterday, Oct. 29, 2016, was another amazing time at my favorite con: Chiller Theatre!! This time around I went with my friend, Baldwin. At the con, I met some celebs, got some swag, wore a little cosplay, and just had a freaking blast!

The very first celeb I went up was the beautiful Crystal Lowe. I been a long time fan of her, probably since I saw her in the way too fun Final Destination 3. But, it's the sometime underrated and totally awesome Black Christmas (aka Black Xmas) remake that I got signed by her. She told me that she thought more would be coming up to her wanting to get FD3 stuff signed, but it turned, I like many others, wanted Xmas signed. I told her that it has been a tradition of mine to watch it every Christmas season, since it came out. Lowe was incredibly sweet in person and loved talking to me and all her fans. She is also, as you can see for yourself, simply stunning.

The next person I went up was the gorgeous Lauren-Marie Taylor, aka Vickie of Friday the 13th Part 2. The gorgeous Kirsten Baker, also of the same sequel, was suppose to be sitting next to her but was at lunch. I would meet her later. Anyway, I told Taylor that she and Kirsten were big crushes of mine growing up, and they were. She said was faltered as she had never been anyone's crush (what? come on! She's beautiful!!), and that Kirsten was everyone's crush, male and female!

As I said, later I met Kirsten, who wore her Mickey Mouse tee like she does in the movie!! Both of them were so sweet to me, that I swear to God they made my day! Kirsten even said I was cute! I was the happiest 12 year old 40 year old guy, you could have ever met! The picture below ranks as one of my favorite Chiller pics, ever!

I have been into adult coloring books since last year when my little doggy Topi had gotten ill with cancer. I started with a Star Wars one, but after her passing my friend Baldwin gave me a couple more for my birthday. They help a lot with my anxiety. I saw one called The Beauty of Horror by Alan Robert in Barnes and Nobles the other day. So when I saw the artist, himself, was selling and signing his book at the con, I jumped at buying it since it was fucking cool!

I had not seen my friend Ruby LaRocca in what was a couple of years. It was great to see and catch with her and meet Rich Mallery. I loved their movie Sociopathia, and I got to interview them about it. That will be up in the near future, so stayed tuned!

 

From then it was on to the Chiller party! I partook in the costume contest in my Punisher cosplay. I knew I wasn't gonna win, but it was so much fun! Below are all the winners:

I love being in cosplay! Expect to see me at more cons like this!

There were lots of great costumes. Here are some of my favorites:

 

 Pretty Woman cosplay! BTW, she is way more beautiful than Julia Roberts. Just saying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 With The Thing cosplayers who were AWESOME! Probably one of the coolest cosplays that I have ever seen!

With a gorgeous Wednesday Adams!

We didn't have a room this year, so we didn't see much of the concert, as we had to leave earlier than usual. But, we saw a little of it and enjoyed it, of course. In fact, we had a great time, and here's to returning to Chiller next year!!

 

Below is a picture of all the swag that I got at Chiller and below that, my autographs:

I hope you all have a happy and safe Halloween!

Photography by BAS Photography & Design and myself