Three years ago when the Trans Siberian Orchestra first came to the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau I took my daughter and a couple of her friends to the concert. For the last two years she has been in school at Southeast Missouri State University and the November concert has become a tradition, if you will, for the two of us. Her friends have since gone off to other schools.

Last Wednesday evening TSO was back playing to a crowd estimated at 5,500 people, up from the 4,300 estimated to have shown up at the first show.

The concert features the telling of a Christmas story entitled, appropriately enough, "Christmas Even and Other Stories." The second half of the concert is given over more to rock 'n roll with all the vocals, guitars, drums, keyboards and even strings one would imagine goes into a rock concert. Oh, and lights. A fantastic light show complete with a little snowfall is also included.

It always seems to be cold on the night of the concert and coming out into the brisk air after the Christmas music makes me want to look around and see if I can catch a glimpse of a sleigh making its way across the sky.

Every year we've run in to several from this area who also go up for the concert. For the first year the Show Me Center promoted it pretty heavily here, but has backed off on that for the last couple of years.

This year as we got to our seats my daughter looked up and right behind us were Chuck and Judy Earnest. It was their first time to see TSO in Cape, but they had heard about because their daughter, Emily was one of those who went with us three years ago.

I haven't talked to them since the concert, but judging from what I saw that night it appeared they were having a good time.

Once I looked back and it appeared as if Judy had her cell phone out waving it in the air. Cell phones are the new lighters. Back in the day - yep, I've reached that point in my life - concert crowds would hold a cigarette lighter in the air and wave it during a ballad or some other slow songs. Now they wave cell phones and I'm pretty sure Judy was waving hers during a couple of tunes.

Concert goers also tend to bond sometimes for the few hours their together sharing the experience. Almost like fans at a baseball game become instant "best buddies" for the couple of hours they're seated next to each other. I'm pretty sure I saw Chuck and the gal seated on the side opposite from Judy exchanging high-fives at the end of a raucous, guitar-wailing, drum-thumping number.

I'm betting Chuck and Judy will be back for next year's concert.

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Speaking of concerts

It's become the thing for once great rock bands to reunite and go back on tour years after their first time in the spotlight. I understand another reunion tour is planned for a rock band that will take place next spring.

This five-member group had such hits as "The Girl At The Holiday Inn," "Southsiders (Wanting to Go Northside)," "Two Plus Two," "Go For Broke," and a quirky little number called "Billboard Road."

Some of you have probably already recognized those hits from none other than The Trend. The group was on the leading edge of the fad which produced other such boy bands as the Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block.

This 80s group featured John (his stage name because everyone knows him as Johnny) McMullan, Brian Mitchell, Mike Astrachan, Matt Collier and Bill Joslyn. Their debut album, "The Trend Is In," was produced by Garden Records. The album was produced by Gary Wilcoxson and Clive Howard and recorded and mixed at Kennett Sound Studios. Gary also handling the engineer's role while Bill Joslyn oversaw art work on the album in addition to his role in the band. That first album featured 12 songs, all written by John(ny), who, like some others in the music business split from their original group to enjoy a career as a solo artist. His CD, released just a few short years ago, debuted to a sellout crowd at a Memphis hotspot.

Followers of the band were encouraged to Be A Friend Of The Trend and write to them with fan mail to an address provided on the album cover for autographed photos and other such memorabilia. The group still retains its corporate offices from that debut album, although they no longer own the building itself. I think they're just renting space now from Mike and Judy Hunter.

Word on the street is that the group has acquired a new agent, one Jack Astrachan. Yes, there's a connection. Jack has booked the group for a March 2, 2007 gig here in town. I haven't yet heard the venue where the concert will be held, but given the interest in this event by FOTTs, we may not have anything big enough for an indoor concert. I'm thinking we're probably talking something like the football stadium at the high school with additional seating on the field being provided for the overflow.

No word yet on whether or not the group will bring back some of the performers who handled backup roles for their 1980s hits. They tapped the local talent pool for Leigh (McMullan) Scales and Lee McHaney for the handclaps on one number and Gary Wilcoxson also did some background vocal work. Melaney Mayes filled the role of the receptionist on "The Girl At The Holiday Inn."

Get your tickets early for this one.