Long-time TSO drummer John O'Reilly joins The Wizards of Winter!

[JustTimTheBigTBone]

If you have heard TSO you have heard WOW...sounds about the same. The guitarist sounds just like all TSO guitarists as well as the strings, drums and keyboards. Just a TSO copy cat with different lyrics and much less of a big time production. In fact WOW is very open to hiring former TSO members which they will let us all know that they were with TSO in their advertising...TSO without the big production, but if they get bigger they'll do the same thing...got to get bigger and better. They all start out small.

I disagree about their music sounding similar. I find the Wizards tunes much more melodic in nature than anything Paul wrote.   Their guitarists play in many bands and sound similar to lots of others, just as the guitarists that work for TSO sound like others as well...imho of course. I don’t hear anything from any of them that make them sound like “Wizards guitarists” or “TSO guitarists”.  

I’m guessing you haven’t been to their shows to see how different they are from TSO. They certainly draw some inspiration from TSO as they were at one time a tribute band, but they are many years from those days. As far as the production, I can assure you that you are incorrect there. The carnival-like atmosphere at a TSO show with the dragons and fire and bad choreography was Paul’s vision. None of that is Scott Kelly’s vision. I’ve had the opportunity to interview him and he has gone on the record numerous times that he is not interested in leading the band in that direction. They are very happy doing an all-Christmas show and keeping the production level professional but no spectacle.

Like em or not, they put on a real fun concert and have great original music. :-)

  Never have seen WOW, would really like to but they have not come close enough to where I am.  I was in contact with Scott Kelly a few years back trying to get them to do a show and it just didn't pan out. No suitable venue in town (the best is a high school auditorium). The military base has a great theater similar to what WOW plays now but the logistics for that in such a short amount of time made it impossible. 

  My ears are hearing TSO guitar, and what I mean is the sound/tone. To me, their guitars sound pretty much the same and I have listened to WOW stuff and thats what I hear.
  
 As for Paul and his over the top stuff; I never and still don't get it. I have mentioned before that there is no need for the gyrating choreography, dragons, helicopters, missiles launching, wars, etc. in what was once a good Christmas time show. Paul took it in a very strange direction in trying to blow the minds of any and all that would attend a TSO concert, almost like he was trying to rival a KISS show. No need for all that pyro, lasers, smoke, catwalks, lifts, etc., if people want that, go see KISS. Maybe it was the pain meds that drove him to the craziness that is what TSO has become. Maybe Olivia will tone it down some (a whole bunch I hope) and go back to what made TSO the best Christmas event to attend during the season.  I hope Scott stays true to his word and keeps it simple, but who would have ever thought TSO would go the way of KISS for a Christmas production? Not I.