12-09-2015, 06:20 AM
Wow. Lots of interesting topics here!
First, in regard to the violinist and strings - the majority of what we are actually hearing in terms of string sounds is coming from the keyboards. Are the electric violinists actually playing? Yes - but the better question is "Are they in the mix all of the time?". When Mark Wood was there, you were able to clearly hear him often and discern he and his instrument from the others. There are times now, like when Roddy is playing his violin while running or holding it over his head, he is just playing an open note. So while fans love to say "he ran through the audience and didn't miss a note", the audience doesn't really know if he did or did not miss a note because they are hearing mostly string sounds from the keys in the mix.
As for backing tracks? I have it on extremely good authority that they do not. Again, the keyboards are using string patches to thicken the string sounds. it is very apparent nowadays when the spotlight is on Roddy “playing” the violin during the opening cello part of Sarajevo. The cellist is just sitting there now not playing and the cello sound we hear is coming from the keys.
Maybe. We will never know for sure. TSO credits (except for the vocalists) are as vague as it gets. There are musicians listed in "The Band" credits on the new album that have assured me that they are not actually on it. In addition, the way Paul conducts his recording, most of the musicians hired for the tour don't know when or if their recorded parts are being used. Is there actual electric violin being played on these albums? Maybe.
Interesting points. I have never considered TSO to be a band in the studio. It is closer to a touring musical in nature that puts together a band to play the songs live. I know people that tell me that only musicals on Broadway are "the real thing". I have seen Bart Shatto perform in Jekyll & Hyde in a regional theater and it was every bit as good as a Broadway Show. The only thing missing was the giant marquee and the $$ production values. I guess the question being asked is "What is the difference between seeing a stage full of musicians play TSO music vs a stage full of musicians play TSO music with the TSO name?", especially with only a couple musicians on the TSO stage actually playing on those albums. Again, I think it can come down to the $$ production values. If the band on stage didn't play on the album and the band on the TSO stage didn't play on the album (except for one or two guys), then it can come down to the "flash". All of that being said, the tribute band would have to be hiring some very good musicians for this comparison to work. Either way, interesting topic.
First, in regard to the violinist and strings - the majority of what we are actually hearing in terms of string sounds is coming from the keyboards. Are the electric violinists actually playing? Yes - but the better question is "Are they in the mix all of the time?". When Mark Wood was there, you were able to clearly hear him often and discern he and his instrument from the others. There are times now, like when Roddy is playing his violin while running or holding it over his head, he is just playing an open note. So while fans love to say "he ran through the audience and didn't miss a note", the audience doesn't really know if he did or did not miss a note because they are hearing mostly string sounds from the keys in the mix.
As for backing tracks? I have it on extremely good authority that they do not. Again, the keyboards are using string patches to thicken the string sounds. it is very apparent nowadays when the spotlight is on Roddy “playing” the violin during the opening cello part of Sarajevo. The cellist is just sitting there now not playing and the cello sound we hear is coming from the keys.
(12-04-2015, 06:48 PM)sundance7490 Wrote: They may have lead electric violinists for their tours but they didn't actually have them leading on their albums until Night Castle with Anna Phoebe and Roddy Chong. They had orchestra members for Beethoven's Last Night and The Lost Christmas Eve, but as we know the actual orchestra gets mostly pushed to background drone in those albums. For Christmas Eve and Other Stories and The Christmas Attic, according to the credits, there was no actual orchestra present.
Maybe. We will never know for sure. TSO credits (except for the vocalists) are as vague as it gets. There are musicians listed in "The Band" credits on the new album that have assured me that they are not actually on it. In addition, the way Paul conducts his recording, most of the musicians hired for the tour don't know when or if their recorded parts are being used. Is there actual electric violin being played on these albums? Maybe.
(12-04-2015, 10:18 AM)MikeNY Wrote: But what is "the real thing"? Is it whatever has the TSO name stamped on it? Look at their first album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories. Middleton, Pitrelli and Plate are the only musicians on stage that played on the album (Caffery only played rhythm guitar on Sarajevo). So when TSO East plays "Mad Russian's Christmas", for example - only Jeff Plate is "the real thing" - everyone else on stage came along after. All of the vocalists from that first album, and most from pre-Nightcastle albums are long gone also.
So when does TSO become it's own tribute band? What makes seeing them "the real thing" musically?
I think the answer lies in that TSO is not a real band. It is a handful of guys that write and record songs in the studio and then hire a bunch of musicians and singers to perform those songs live. But even when looking at them that way, it is hard to say what is "the real thing" when virtually the same number of people on the TSO stage played on their Christmas albums as the number of people on a TSO Tribute band stage.
Interesting points. I have never considered TSO to be a band in the studio. It is closer to a touring musical in nature that puts together a band to play the songs live. I know people that tell me that only musicals on Broadway are "the real thing". I have seen Bart Shatto perform in Jekyll & Hyde in a regional theater and it was every bit as good as a Broadway Show. The only thing missing was the giant marquee and the $$ production values. I guess the question being asked is "What is the difference between seeing a stage full of musicians play TSO music vs a stage full of musicians play TSO music with the TSO name?", especially with only a couple musicians on the TSO stage actually playing on those albums. Again, I think it can come down to the $$ production values. If the band on stage didn't play on the album and the band on the TSO stage didn't play on the album (except for one or two guys), then it can come down to the "flash". All of that being said, the tribute band would have to be hiring some very good musicians for this comparison to work. Either way, interesting topic.