Wizards of Winter

Saw them at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank. Found it to be very entertaining. Great performers, talented musicians. The heavy metal singer was sharp as a tack. Spot on. Great vocals overall. I really liked the saxophone, could have been a little more of that! The violinist was great as well as the flutist. Loved the bass player but the guitars were too low volume wise in the mix. Hadn't seen them before but I am going to see them again this evening!!! Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!

Thank you for coming to Kalamazoo, Wizards! Such inspiring music, musicians and singers! Fun lighting and set! Great choice to play at the State theater! It is magical!

After seeing TSO, this musically was close. There was a story, creative songs,a great band, and a light show coordinated with the music which was similar to TSO. The venue was great. Our two disappointments were that sometimes the music was too loud to hear the girls singing and we would have liked songs to sing along with. When they played "I Get By With a Little Help from my Friends" the crowd was aroused and excited and could sing along.

Outstanding performance! They blew you out of the room!

My family and I saw the Wizards perform at Tioga Downs; what a GREAT Holiday Show. There was a little bit of a sound gliche right in the very beginning but it was fixed quickly and they were fantastic!!! A couple of songs, the singers performed right in the audience - made you feel like you were part of the show which was pretty cool. The major portion of their show was performing TSO music, which they played dead on; they also played a few of their original numbers which were catchy tunes as well. From my neice, who is 9 to my parents who are in their late 60's - everyone of us really enjoyed the show. Nice Holiday Show - hope they come back up this way again next year!!

Had a chance to see the wizards of winter at Tioga Downs casino and was really impressed at the quality of the show! I am a big TSO fan and really felt like they did TSO justice. Amazing show and great musicianship really worth the 1 1/2 trip!

It was too loud, no music - just noise. It was unbearable. The worst concert I have ever attended. I left after the third number. The first 3 numbers were indistinguishable not a hint of any melody.

I didnt realize that this was a tribute band at first, then was surprised that they were donating the performance to charity. If you remember that and not compare to the original band then the evening was fine, warm and cozy. The music was pretty good, a little problem with the sound system, hard to catch any words(even when the host was just speaking). The band was in the audience and around afterwards to talk to, a nice touch. The second set was contemporary music meant to show off a few of the singers talents but seemed a little lame. I was there to hear transiberian orchestra music after all. But overall and for the price and the nice setting of the German House it was a still a lovely holiday show..

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE. FULL HOUSE AUDIENCE WAS OVERWHELMED. WIZARDS RESPONDED WITH 2 EXTRA SETS. THE EXTRA SET ALLOWING THE PERFORMERS TO BE THEMSELVES WAS A PERFECT DESERT AFTER THE ENTREE. HOPE THEY COME BACK. WILL WATCH FOR SHOWS IN NEARBY SITES...WORTH TRAVELING TO. DISAPPOINTED THAT OUR LOCAL PRESS D&C AND CITY DID NOT COVER THE SHOW.

Maybe I was expecting too much, but the show left me wanting to go see a genuine TSO performance. The band was performing minus several of it's members, as listed on their website, and it showed! The vocals, especially, were weak. Even the music was not as polished as I had hoped, given the credentials of the band members.

Great show. Was very nice meeting the band after the show

We saw the Wizards of Winter last night in Syracuse, NY. I didn't know what to expect, as I'd heard they had some former members of TSO but that this was not a TSO show. The Wizards of Winter are a highly talented group of musicians and vocalists who have created a Christmas rock opera of sorts. They put on a great show that, despite the heavy metal/prog influence (that I love), had people of all ages enjoying it. Their set is much more intimate and interactive with the audience. Guy Lemonnier has an amazing voice, and Vincent Jiovino nails the Dio/Bruce Dickinson rock god voice that is a great contrast. All of the ladies have beautiful voices as well, and both guitarists are clearly experts. The band had a number of directly Christmas songs, and I much appreciated that it was Christmas concert rather than just a generic winter theme. What an exciting take on Christmas! I was glad to learn too that the band started out to benefit a local food pantry and currently gives proceeds from one song to the Wounded Warrior Project. These are talented but also good people worth supporting! The Wizards are currently touring with Greg Smith on bass, so we had the bonus of seeing/hearing a guy who played with Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and numerous other rock legends. Scott Kelly and his wife have assembled incredible talent, and it was great to see that they really enjoyed putting on a good show for the audience. Afterward, the entire band stuck around to sign autographs and take pictures with the fans. Their interaction made the show even better, and stands in contrast with other acts. The Wizards of Winter are a great Christmas night out for the family! Please, don't go there expecting to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It's not fair to the Wizards of Winter, who have created their own, more intimate, show with their own songs. Check out the Wizards of Winter for a highly enjoyable experience!

I expected a Christmas concert, but it was more of a rock concert. Music was so loud the speakers were rattling. I' m a fan of TSO, but this concert just wasn't what I expected. We left at intermission, along with a lot of other people . . . but there were a lot that stayed. Not for me-- but I think it's just a matter of expectation and taste.

My husband and I have always been fans of the TSO and were looking forward to a 'taste' of their music. So Disappointing. We left at intermission with more than a few people. The band was loud and out of tune, the costumes were dirty and not well maintained, the choreography - if you could call it that was nonexistent. At one point, two of the girls were simply kicking their feet at each other. The lights kept flashing in our eyes and blinding us. We left laughing because it was just that awful. Do not waste your time or money.

This was the first time I've seen Wizards of Winter so I wasn't sure what to expect. They were fantastic and met every expectation that I had. The only glitches in the performance were venue related, not the fault of the band in any way.

the music was great. my 1 concern was that it could have started earlier, as 8:30 pm is quite late for many in your audience.

Wonderful and outstanding show. We would definitely see Wizards of Winter again!

This was definitely different from the one at Van Andel Arena. I seen both of them and I really enjoyed both shows. This one was different because the artist interacted more with the audience and were definitely upbeat about their performance. This was the first time my son went to a concert and really enjoyed every minute of it. I would love to go see them again anytime.

If you have the chance to see these amazing musicians, you need to get tickets NOW!! You will be absolutely blown away.

We enjoyed the show very much. Great music, beautiful voices, and funny! They sure do know how to put on a very entertaining show.

They put on a great show. Instrumentals and vocals were all top notch. I recommend this show to any TSO fan for sure! Will defiantly see them again.

I can't believe how good the music was. This was my first time seeing them and they were fabulous. I have gone to see TSO four years in a row and I will now look to see the Wizards of Winter instead. Their music was just as good as TSO. The ticket price was a bargain. I highly recommend them.

This was our second time and the show was fantastic . The meet and greet was so nice the members remembered my husband and I which made the night very special. Each member was so professional. I would tell everyone go see the SHOW!

It was an enjoyable and fun show. They were all wonderful and entertaining.

WOW great musicians, rock opera music, liked it...

Amazing show. These guys are somewhere between Manheim Steamroller and Trans Siberian Orchestra. A very talented group musicians and vocalists.

My wife and i have seen TSO. for the past few years so this season we thought we'd try something new (mistake #1) This show was promoted as Wizards of Winter featuring original members of TSO. Well there were 2 guys in the show who "toured briefly" with TSO but no original members. I checked the TSO biography - The band was formed in 1996, neither of these guys joined up until 1999, therefore NOT ORIGINAL MEMBERS. Secondly, we went expecting a TSO production. What we got was a sub par light show and a TERRIBLE sound system. The music was unbearably loud and the vocals almost non existant. The TSO songs sounded nothing at all like what they should have and their originals with the exception of one song were equally as bad. Not at all what we had expected. Bottom line is these guys have no business associating themselves with TSO - a complete let down!!!

honestly, we were disappointed. tried to wait for an intermission so we could leave. we finally snuck out between songs. it just wasn't our cup of tea or what we were expecting. should have read the discription more carefully.

Brilliant musicians and singers whose artistry is worthy of a ticket purchase when they come to your city.

This is a very talented group of musicians. Unfortunately, I was not prepared for a primarily heavy metal theme. (I was thinking more Mannheim Steamroller). If you are expecting more traditional Christmas music you will be disappointed.

Each one of the singers and musicians were very talented. Unfortunately the show seemed very much cobbled together around a Winter Christmas theme that ended up coming across very convoluted. It seemed more like a rock concert than anything else. Despite all of that, the most unfortunate part of the show has to do with the lighting. High above the stage was a row of white spot lights. Each time the intensity of the music grew, which was often, the lights would come on, point at the audience and start twisting around. It made the performance unbearable to watch. In fact the lights were so bright we questioned whether if was doing damage to our eyes. Even with our eyes closed in an attempt to not be assaulted, the intensity was felt through our eyelids. We questioned why a performer would want to prevent the audience from being able to watch what they were doing. Finally we got up and left.

The 1st song was great. Everything after that was not only unworthy of the venue, but embarrassingly bad. Shame on the Parker Playhose for hosting this garage act. I'm so pissed.

The sound was not balanced - the guitars and keyboards drowned out the flute and the violin to any extent and could not be enjoyed. Sorry - but we left at the intermission

I have seen the Wizards of Winter several times now. My husband and I saw them at the State in Maine and drove over 4hours to the Turning Stone in Vernon NY to see them again this year. What a great show. It was different from their Theater show. At the casino we sat at a booth with table service. The show was shorter and I asked the waitress why and she said all acts at the casino are to be no more than 90minutes long . I will have to remember that. Non the less, less story and songs, less frills, lights and snow but it was still a fantastic show!!! Don't miss them if they come to your area!!

Let's be clear: this is not Trans-Siberian Orchestra. They reproduce some of the music of TSO and have had some of the members of TSO tour with them now and then, but they aren't TSO. The musicians are good but the smaller venues don't allow for the pyrotechnics and visual effects that TSO produces in their shows. The music is the core but the flash adds some flavor, I think. The lead guitarist, Fred Gorhau, was having some sort of electrical issue that caused feedback and dropouts on occasion. (I realize that may have been the venue's issue.) But he also went on way too many guitar solos that I thought took away from the songs that were being played. Guy LeMonnier has great vocals. You can tell he's polished. Guitarist T.W.Durfy has awesome hair! Overall, it was good but not great. The price was reasonable and the seats were good in the booth we had.

This show was very entertaining. The setting was intimate and the music and singing was excellent.

Wizards of Winter was an amazing show. The music and singing were unforgettable! If you get the chance, it is well worth the price of admission.

Was very disappointed was thinking it would be more X-mas like would not go again very poorly done.

I really like this type of holiday music during the Christmas season and was excited to see the show. The music selection early in the show was a little slow but picked up with more popular selections in the second half of the performance. I was disappointed with some intermittent crackling sounds from the speaker and the light show was average (Wizards of Winter needs a laser light show!!!). Not quite TSO or Twelve-Twenty Four, but is was a fun evening for the price.

My very first time at a concert and couldn't have gone to a better first.. The music was great, the service was great, couldn't have been any better...

Thoroughly enjoyable show & perfect before Christmas! Very uplifting!

Wasn't sure what I was in for. But what an "old fashion treat". A family rock band with a Christmas theme. Look forward to seeing them again next year. The venue was terrific.Get to this venue a little early as parking can be a little tricky!

The talent is undeniable. The musicians surely know their craft. The singers were very good, some better than others. Here s the problem... There s a story being told, and perhaps it s a good one. I say perhaps because most of the words were indesernable. In some cases it was acoustics. More time should ve been taken with each singer to control the instrumentation volume or their mic volume. It would ve perhaps been helpful to have the text of the songs scroll along behind the orchestra/band in some interesting and creative way.

Wow! A most unforgettable show. Would recommend this show to anyone who is a fan of TSO. They definitely need to return next year. I came up from Lewes Delaware just to seet the show with friends of mine. Would do it again.

Excellent show! Worth every penny. Highly recommend!

So excited to see The Wizards of Winter at another venue. How awesome the Count Basie Theater is. Not a bad seat in the house, but go for the seats with extra leg room, they don't skimp on the length of the show. Great stage effects compliment the awesome talent in this group. Crazygood guitars, magnificent drums, wicked flute and singing violin are fully supported by magical keyboards that draw you right into the energy. Voices that tenderly touch your heart and then wail like nobody's business. These singers could easily do Broadway. Original music has come alongside TSO faves. I hear they are coming back on Thanksgiving weekend 2018. Where is my calendar?

Wizards of Winter put on a wonderful show. My husband and I enjoyed it so much that we are looking forward to when they come back around to see them again. Absolutely Amazing!!!!!!!!!

One word awesome concert gets you Christmas spirit

The songs were comprised of repetitive guitar performances and the stage performance was sad. The flutist was amazing but that was not enough to recommend someone endure the rest.

Was so excited to go to this event and hearing some of the group were former TSO members I had high hopes! Perhaps my expectations were too high, but it was a lack luster performance, my friend actually feel asleep after the first song and my other friend was texting on her phone. We left at intermission. Tickets were way too much for this show, spent too much. Never again!

I expected to hear a mind blowing show, what I got was a family show with no fidelity in the sound production.......basically like listening to TSO or any heavy metal band on AM radio. This may be an inherent issue with Northern Lights Theater since the Wizards of Winter's sound man had an in-house DB policeman (NLT) watching his every move and keeping customers quarantined away from the soundboard and sound man.

Never seen this group before but was very impressed. Would defintely go to see them again.

The show was great. The Wizards were full of energy and so much talent on one stage. We really enjoyed the theater and the whole experience. If they come back next year we will go again.

The wizards of winter put on a fun,energetic show on a very cold snowy night in Waukegan. The music was very well performed and the show was great!

I was not expecting TSO when I got tickets, but this was very close! Great sound and arrangements. I had read other reviews that the sound was bad in smaller venues, but that was not a problem at this theater. If you go into it not expecting a TSO-like experience, you will be pleased. They do play a couple of TSO numbers, and those are pretty well done.

I expected to see and hear a less than exciting performance than the four TSO shows that we've been to in the past but sadly we didn't make it past the 5th song before we had to walk out. My wife and I were very disappointred in everything from their unkept attire, musicanship, choice of "Christmas songs" and lack of good sound quality. Just when I thought a brief view of previous TSO past was coming the guitarist would throw in a horrible, earbleeding, seemingly neverending riff that he thought appropriate. I've seen good TSO cover groups like Trans Infinity Orchestra that we were more impressed with at 30% of the cost than these imposters

Saw the Wizards of Winter (WOW!) in Waukegan at the Genesee Theater and came in with expectations of celebrating the season! I left fully fulfilled! These are some very talented musicians and singers filled with passion for their craft! From the snow falling from the ceiling to the beach balls flying thru the air and from the singers walking thru the audience and giving out candy canes to the kids. AWESOME! I loved being able celbrating the "Reason for the Season! Thank you Wizards of Winter! Well done! Please come back next year! We'll tell everyone to join us!

If it wasn't for the patriarch's speech just before intermission, I probably would not recommend this event. But these old rockers seem to have a lot of heart, and you can't help but root for this family affair. Beyond some snow machines used a couple times from on high, you will not see much in the way of production. There is one awesome backdrop, no lasers, and the only prop is Rafiki's staff. The bass player is awesome, and the guitar players are solid. I hate to say anything negative about someone with the courage to sing on stage, but the 2 lead female vocalists could be much better. The 2 male vocalists on the other hand were excellent. The long-haired guy is honestly a bit odd to watch, but his voice was a pure treat. He could've fronted just about any 80's hard rock/heavy metal band. Anyway, this show really needs some stage production help if it wants to be a bigger success. The show is very disjointed, and the overall choreography is pretty brutal. The story line is a decent attempt, but it really doesn't work. The narrator is really good, but when he would hit the stage I would think "oh yeah, they're trying to tie these songs together into a story - no idea what's going on". I should mention that the violinist from Indiana was awesome - super talented, great stage presence, always smiling, pretty, etc. The daughter also raised a lot of eyebrows when she first hit the stage. Very attractive woman.

Thought would be nice holiday treat. Turned out to be a dud. Their original. songs are awful. Only the few traditional songs were decent. Save your money and go to a high school production.

The show started promptly at 8 pm with beautiful vocals and impressive instrumentals. The band is very supportive of veterans and overall seemed quite personable.

Amazing musicians! I was not expecting such a rock concert so it took me awhile to adjust as that is not my preferred style of music. I loved watching the violin player and the bass player - they both looked like they were enjoying the show immensely. I think introductions earlier in the show would have gone a long way to hooking me into the show. The biggest problem was that my tickets on my app said show time was 7:00 and it was in fact 8:00 pm. We arrived at the theater at 6:45 and had to wait all that time for the show to start - very annoying!

The acoustics were HORRIBLE - the base was soooo loud you could not hear the singers & the performers were less than enthusiastic. The theater was half empty & during the intermission a large number of us left the show. People were walking out complaining to anyone who would listen....... Lucky we only paid for 1 ticket on a BOGO sale. And now we know why..............do not waste your time or money. Wait & go see the actual Trans-Siberian Orchestra. This tiny group is simply not worth the $$$$

We were so disappointed! This was marketed as a Manheim Steamroller type of group but turned out to be more acid./ hard rock. Not many people were in the audience and many that were, left at intermission like we did. The sound system was not balanced.. could not hear the singers.or understand the singers. Wasted $100 on tickets.

First of all, as much as I hate to admit it, when I received an email from ticketmaster in June for the Wizards of Winter, in my brain I was thinking TSO so I ordered tickets right away. We have gone to see TSO for the last several years. As the time was nearing, I went to my email to transfer the tickets to my phone and realized the mistake I had made. We went to the concert anyway since I was unable to sell them and we were so disappointed! The band members do have a lot of talent but the show was terrible. I think maybe if the group tried to do their own thing instead of trying to be TSO, they may do better. The ticket price is outrageous for what you get. We didn't even stay for the whole show.

I went to the 2015 performance and was impressed. This 2016 performance was great and was impressed again. I would recommend Wizards of Winter to people.

The music was way too loud for the theater. You couldn't hear the singers very well over the loud music. The stage setting was only average. The musicians were great. The performance had several glitches.

I was shocked to see so many open seats in the theater so shame on you for missing it! The show was very good overall. It was not as good as last year, but that was probably because this was the opening night of their tour and there were some clear opening night problems with mics and mixing, but it was still a great show. These are very good musicians and some the the best voices you will hear anywhere. I think the voices are the best part of the show honestly. These ladies and gents can really sing! We also really enjoyed the meeting the band segment right after intermission, and it was great to meet the band and get autographs after the show too. Thanks for some great entertainment and I am really sorry Syracuse didn't turn out very well to see you this year. PLEASE come back again next year too.

This show was absolutely amazing. They came out rocking and carried through the entire show. I must warn you that it is a rock show and it's loud. We got free upgraded seats so we got a great view. They sing, dance and perform. I have a music background but I think anyone can appreciate when a performer hits every note of Ava Maria. The show is long and a bit too loud for kids maybe under the age of 10. I smiled through the entire show. It was truly amazing and I will be attending next year.

I bought tickets for a girls night out before thanksgiving. On so many levels this concert was a disappointment. The sound was off, too loud and the show was just odd. The advertising said notHing about beingg a Christian rock show..... And I am Christian. Even that was off they got story of Christmas wrong. Needless to say we left 35 minutes into the show, VERY DISAPPOINTING! The sound was awful both the mixing on soundboard and vocals, very repetitive.

It just wouldn't be as wonderful a Christmas without attending The Wizards of Winter fantastic seasonal show! Some of the greatest musicians and singers that the east coast has to offer bring the true story of Christmas alive in this original Rock-Classical Christmas Opera. Give yourself and your family a truly super Christmas gift next season by attending a Wizards of Winter performance. You won't regret being infused with a mega-dose of Christmas Spirit! We saw them at the Whitaker center in Harrisburg, PA which was a perfect arena to highlight their artistry.