MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER came to the Taco Bell Arena at BSU yesterday. They were scheduled to start at 7:30 and go to 9:30, but it ended up being around 7:45 to 9:45. Upon entering the arena, a Christmas Village of six snow-covered buildings surrounded by little Christmas trees bedecked with gold lights met your eyes. In the town center was a tree in red lights. A train ran on tracks surrounding the entire display. Two young men dressed up as toy soldiers stood on either side of the display facing the entrances. They both marched out before the show began, returning during the intermission, and marching out once again before the second half began, this time followed by a train of boys marching in step with them.

The show began with stars of light spiraling out on the three screens above the stage, a large one in the middle and two smaller ones on either side. Chip Davis sat atop a raised platform in the center and introduced everyone out front--three men in white pants and jackets with red shirts, and three ladies in white dresses with a red one worn over it. The next song featured multicolored snowflakes on the screens. A different video was featured for each musical number. Once, the lights made the ladies' white dresses look bright yellow.

After the intermission, the guys had removed their white jackets and played Let It Snow with artificial snow being blown out over the crowd which melted before reaching them. They continued with a series of songs with a medieval party in a castle showing on the three screens behind and above them. The center one was the focus of the action with the two side screens being mirror opposites of one another. The music here included Wassail, Wassail, Carol of the Birds, I Saw Three Ships, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Next was The Little Drummer Boy played, while on the screens Santa set out toys on a table. A toy soldier with a drum starts marching around and taps each toy with a drumstick bringing them to life. Lastly, he comes to life after being kissed by the ballerina he brought to life. The toy soldier here was dressed identically to the ones that greeted you upon entering the facility. They ended the show with three encores of new songs.

A brochure given to you upon entering listed the following:

TONIGHT'S PROGRAM

Hallelujah

Feliz Navidad

Deck The Halls

We Three Kings

Catching Snowflakes on Your Tongue

Christmas Lullaby

Away In A Manager

Traditions Of Christmas

Faeries

Good King Wenceslas

White Christmas

Intermission

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Gagliarda

In Dulei Jubilo

Wassail, Wassail

Carol of the Birds

I Saw Three Ships

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Little Drummer Boy

Winter Wonderland

Carol of the Bells

Merchandise for sale in the foyer included Mannheim Steamroller CD's, T-Shirts, mugs, and Chip Davis' creation: Cinnamon Hot Chocolate mix.

Rush Limbaugh plays Mannheim Steamroller every year after Thanksgiving, leading up to Christmas, on his radio show. He personally knows Chip Davis, and urges his listeners to go see them live if they're ever in your area, saying "you won't regret it." As usual, Rush is right.