Trans-Siberian Orchestra tribute includes some surprises
Infinity adds other performers to play Christmas concerts
With their rock covers of classic to current material, the band Infinity’s members have been kept busy playing summer music festivals for more than two decades in the Chicago suburbs and beyond.
Come Christmastime, Infinity’s Bob Biagi (vocals, bass, band leader), Lance Tuula (guitar, vocals), Ben Tuula (keyboards), Mike Szot (bass), Dean Maltese (drums), and Matt Rek (guitar) collaborate with other performers to present Trans-Infinity Orchestra, a tribute to the rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
“It really is a truly family-friendly show,” said Lance Tuula, music director for Trans-Infinity Orchestra.
“You can look out and you can see smiles across everybody’s faces. The kids are having a great time watching the lights. They’re completely entranced that they’re in a theater and it’s snowing inside a theater.
“People are starting to make it a holiday tradition among themselves. That’s their way of beginning the Christmas season with not only Trans-Siberian Orchestra songs but also traditional and rock holiday songs. It’s just a great way to hear them in person and be together around the holidays.”
Trans-Infinity Orchestra’s
2021 tour includes Dec. 3 at Avenue 912 in Griffith, Indiana; Dec. 11 at Sundance Saloon in Mundelein; a sold-out Dec. 18 show at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana in Gary; and Dec. 19 at Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.
Keyboardist Robert Watson; vocalists Diana Jade, Sonia Membrenio, Daniela Crocco and Ashlee Parsons; and narrator Jen Lautenbach join Infinity to form Trans-Infinity Orchestra while Mark Lautenbach serves as the group’s production and sound engineer.
“That group of four singers has made my life exponentially easier with how amazing they are,” said Lance Tuula, of Rockton.
“We’ve got lasers. It’s definitely not your typical concert that you might see.
It’s definitely an upgrade. That was something we wanted to make sure we put a big focus on. You definitely need that spectacle.
“Typically we’ll do two sets. The first set is pretty much Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s ‘Christmas Eve and Other Stories.’ The second set is where the party takes off. We’ve got some other tunes. We’ve got some other surprises. We do some other Christmas songs. People are usually up dancing in their seats.”
Several Trans-Infinity Orchestra members are fans of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, whose song “Wizards in Winter” is often chosen for outdoor home Christmas light displays synchronized to music.
“We’ve seen them multiple times and it’s always an amazing show. It’s that rock opera element to it. Everything is very big. Everything is very bombastic with big guitars and fast guitars. A lot of their music has a great message that goes along with it,” Lance Tuula said.
“That first album that they did, ‘Christmas Eve and Other Stories,’ the big concept album that everybody knows about, is very much about the theme that Christmas is something that brings everyone together and the idea that one person helping other people can truly change that other person’s life.
“There are a lot of those themes and moments in their music other than the instrumental stuff that really struck a chord with us. We wanted to be able to take that opportunity to see if we can deliver this to another group of people that might not normally go out to arenas to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra.”
Lance Tuula cited Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “This Christmas Day” as his favorite to perform during Trans-Infinity Orchestra shows.
“It’s got a little bit of everything. It’s got big guitars. All of our singers are out singing, ‘Merry Christmas,’ ” he said.
“That’s another one where it’s got a really good message that this is the holiday and the magic of Christmas really brings people together so that one is a special moment in the night.”
Trans-Infinity Orchestra first performed in 2010 and typically tour annually in November and December.
“What’s great is we’ve been doing it long enough that we now have families that are coming every year. They’re able to bring multiple people. It’s affordable for them,” said Lance Tuula, who is also in the Journey tribute Recaptured and the Boston and Styx tribute Bostyxx with his fellow Infinity members.
“We’ve had a number of sold-out shows in the past, which are fantastic to play, but the kind words from people that we’ve gotten in the past and just the fact that they’re including us in their family traditions really warms my heart. It’s something they look forward to for the Christmas season.”