WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:03.040 Hey, it's Joel Hokstra. Hey, Joel, it's Renee Denio. How 2 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:07.480 are you? Renee? You're like the number one fan? How bad can 3 00:00:07.519 --> 00:00:10.640 I be when I get to tart You know what, I will take that, 4 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:13.480 because yes, I am the number one fan since day one. In 5 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:17.399 fact, since you've been coming to Connecticut, I've had the honor and privilege 6 00:00:17.480 --> 00:00:22.079 of introducing every single show with a charitable angle. It's always great when TSO 7 00:00:22.160 --> 00:00:24.239 comes to town. Well, thank you so much. I mean, we 8 00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:28.519 love you, guys, always feel the love when we visit. SO. 9 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:33.640 Looking very much forward to being back out this year and can't wait to get 10 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:35.359 there. All right, Joel, So, you've been on our program a 11 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:39.520 million times to talk all about Trans Siberian Orchestra, about the event of what 12 00:00:39.560 --> 00:00:43.079 we're going to see on stage. Now we know that you're coming Sunday, 13 00:00:43.240 --> 00:00:47.840 November twenty six, Mohegan send two shows three pm and eight pm. I 14 00:00:47.960 --> 00:00:51.240 have to ask, because this is always my favorite question and it's always the 15 00:00:51.280 --> 00:00:54.880 same answer. Is it even bigger and better than ever before? I mean, 16 00:00:55.640 --> 00:01:00.159 that's always been Polonio's philosophy from the beginning, and the truth beat old 17 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:03.159 as the musicians we don't know. I mean, we're not in the know 18 00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:06.519 in terms of what the stage looks like until we get to rehearsals and we 19 00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:11.239 see them assembling it. That's usually when we get really excited and you know, 20 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:12.959 revved up about like, oh, you mean I'm going to be like 21 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:17.359 at the ceiling of the arena with Pyro going off on each side of me, 22 00:01:17.519 --> 00:01:21.359 and like, I mean, so you know, but yeah, listen, 23 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:25.079 I guess I can guarantee anything it will be that because that was always 24 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:29.599 Paul O'Neal's thing, and everybody really wants to respect his vision for this and 25 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:33.920 the tradition of TSO SO production wise, get ready to have your jaw on 26 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:38.159 the floor. Oh it never disappoints the ghosts of Christmas Eve, the best 27 00:01:38.159 --> 00:01:42.879 of TSO and more coming to Connecticut now on tour. When we announced TSO 28 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:46.799 here in Connecticut, it is like the holidays are on. You know what, 29 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:49.959 put up the reeds, let's go. It is the best way to 30 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:52.680 kick off the holiday season. Now, you have talked to me in the 31 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:55.560 past, and I am a bit of an animal person? Did I in 32 00:01:55.640 --> 00:01:59.840 fact here an animal? Did I hear dog? I am a cat person? 33 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:01.519 Or did I hear a cat. I thought I heard annoys. Yeah, 34 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:07.560 yeah, two cats, So you know they're I called them the inmates 35 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:10.639 around here. Yeah yeah, so the inmates maybe got a little restless, 36 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:14.280 all right, I thought I heard something. Well, we like that. 37 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:17.759 Now listen, I'm gonna unveil with you for the first time on the Trans 38 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:23.800 Siberian Orchestra tour for Connecticut. Anyways, the charity of choice, which Paul 39 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:27.319 O'Neill gave me the distinction every year, and now it has been transferred over 40 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:30.280 to management, but I get to pick the charity, and so this year 41 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:32.400 we're going to do the Hometown Foundation, and I think you're gonna like this, 42 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:37.000 Joel. They help not only all of our military and veterans. They've 43 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:40.800 a huge pillar into the military, veterans and law enforcement community. They help 44 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:46.599 special Olympics not only here in Connecticut but around the world. And they have 45 00:02:46.759 --> 00:02:51.439 a huge animal advocacy platform dogs and cats. So just so your clear cats 46 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.520 are involved in that stay. This organization has been around Connecticut for many, 47 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:59.960 many years now, very respected and so apportion the proceeds from your ticket sale. 48 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:01.800 As you know, we'll benefit the Hometown Foundation this year. So I 49 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:05.639 wanted to let you know that. Yeah, I mean again, you know 50 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:08.639 you knew Paul and the probably the most generous person you'd ever meet. And 51 00:03:08.719 --> 00:03:12.919 the fact that you know, a dollar from every ticket Soill goes to a 52 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:15.960 local charity, something that we're very very proud of. It very much in 53 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:19.800 line with the Christmas spirit. I think we've now over the years got eighteen 54 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:23.719 million dollars to local charities through doing this, which is just you know, 55 00:03:23.840 --> 00:03:27.639 it's it's a feather in our cap for sure. Now, tickets will go 56 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:30.840 on sale here in Connecticut Friday, September fifteenth at ten am. You can 57 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:35.919 go to ticketmaster dot com. We can put all the links live up everywhere. 58 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:40.159 But you're offering a specially priced ticket for one week, well supplies last. 59 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:45.280 Can you talk a little bit about that, you know, I this 60 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:47.280 was not in front of me, but I've heard that there's a special ticket 61 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:50.840 price of thirty nine dollars. Is that what you have in front of you? 62 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.000 Yeah, that's what I haven't read, so thirty nine dollars. And 63 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:54.000 you know what I'll do, Jill, I'll save you from this. I'm 64 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.599 gonna let everyone know because now that I've opened that can people are going to 65 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:01.520 want to know about that. I'll put all the information up online at the 66 00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:05.000 riverwet five nine dot com and my community Access dot com. I'll put links 67 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:10.479 up to the Hometown Foundation of course all the videos of Tso let's get back 68 00:04:10.520 --> 00:04:13.159 to some of the music and some of the things on tour. What's it 69 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.360 like embarking on this tour? That really just it takes you to the end 70 00:04:16.360 --> 00:04:19.319 of the year, right, So you're coming back to Connecticut again and you're 71 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:23.839 getting in shape and you're getting ready for this incredible performance that must take a 72 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:26.800 lot out of you, right yeah. I mean I refer to it as 73 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:30.000 the Marines of Rock, where we do our h shows of weeks, and 74 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:31.439 so you know, when I go out with White Snake, I feel like 75 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:34.759 I'm on a clubbed vacation. When I'm doing three four shows a week, 76 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:38.800 I go, gosh, there are we not doing two shows today? That's 77 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:42.360 it. It's one. So, I mean, it's definitely a labor love. 78 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:45.319 It's something that we're very proud of. We worked very hard with Singular 79 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:48.000 Vision and given everybody the best possible show, and that's the coolest thing. 80 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:51.800 Everybody there knows. It's not about them. It's about Trent Siberian Orchestra, 81 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:56.800 and it's about the fans, and we have a special relationship with our fans. 82 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:00.000 I mean, as big as we've gotten having you know, I guess 83 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:04.879 played the eighteen million people now since we started touring, and seven hundred and 84 00:05:04.920 --> 00:05:12.360 fifty million audio video streams and sold over twelve million CDs, it still somehow 85 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.600 feels like we're like a local band where we have this like first we're on 86 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:17.319 a first name basis with a lot of the fan bases. It's like, 87 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:23.040 I can't really describe the way it works, just a touchback. I'm gonna 88 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:27.600 rewind because thirty nine bucks, I'm buying a ticket to see myself at thirty 89 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:30.600 nine bucks. I mean I think I'm getting a ticket. I think I'm 90 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:33.519 made, Like just see if I can sit down and play my guitar like 91 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:38.279 seated and like just check out the show myself while I play it. Because 92 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:42.040 that is fully incredible. Man, I can't believe the generosity of the O'Neill 93 00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:46.839 family is magnificent. That's you know, so that Paul O'Neill resisting that whole 94 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:51.000 Ticketmaster Gold Circle thing where tickets were going to be you know, twenty five 95 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:55.279 grand to sit in the front row, and I mean, just it's amazing 96 00:05:55.319 --> 00:06:01.439 how they've been able to keep it so that the diehards are upfront and we're 97 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:05.000 just I'm just so grateful to be a part of something like TSO, and 98 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:11.839 not just the generosity aspect of it, but just the tradition of getting to 99 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:15.720 spend my holidays with my friends playing music that I love, and spend a 100 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:19.560 time with the fan base and seeing everybody and making everybody happy. And it's 101 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:25.160 almost like for a performer in this Christmas really gets to last about two months, 102 00:06:25.199 --> 00:06:27.920 which is it's an incredible feeling. I know we don't have a lot 103 00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:29.959 of time with you, but I want to talk a little bit about the 104 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.800 music and about the choices. I mean, when you first hear about Trans 105 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:36.480 Siberian Orchestra, if you've never gone, you can't even possibly imagine. But 106 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:43.079 once you go, it is an addiction because it transcends the quote unquote holiday 107 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:47.920 music, It transcends ages and demographics. It is it is something really for 108 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:51.879 everyone. And I love the fact that you do have to do two shows. 109 00:06:51.920 --> 00:06:56.240 It's almost that it was warranted to do two shows in most of the 110 00:06:56.279 --> 00:07:00.079 cities that you play in because one just wasn't enough, and it gives an 111 00:07:00.120 --> 00:07:01.680 opportunity for people of all ages to go, like here in Connecticut, you're 112 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:03.720 going to do one at three, You're going to do one at eight, 113 00:07:03.959 --> 00:07:08.240 And just to give people a little bit of you know, a reality check 114 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:11.959 on it, it's literally forty six days that you're going out on tour. 115 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:15.519 But in those forty six days you're visiting sixty two cities and doing one hundred 116 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:21.120 and four concerts. That's ridiculous. That's ridiculous. Yeah, I mean I 117 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:25.319 think, well a lot of that is out of necessity. I mean, 118 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:29.120 nobody's going to go see a Christmas show on July Well okay, right, 119 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.279 yes, yes, but you know, yeah, we have a lot of 120 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:34.680 people that go to boll shows that one isn't enough form and they want to 121 00:07:34.720 --> 00:07:38.519 see both. But also, you know, it just speaks to how well 122 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:42.439 it actually does sell commercially and how much people do want to be there. 123 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:46.879 And yeah, you know, it always feels incredibly cliche when I say it's 124 00:07:46.920 --> 00:07:49.720 a show with something for everyone, and people will go yeah, yea yeah, 125 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:51.720 right, But I'm like, yeah, but look at if you look 126 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:56.160 at the production alone, you got the video screen width of the arena. 127 00:07:56.560 --> 00:08:01.000 You got a pink Floyd laser light show going on. It's knowing indoors, 128 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:05.240 you've got Pyro going off all over the place. The performers are out on 129 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:09.560 hydraulic lift side over the crowd in the back of the arena. So kids 130 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:13.160 are just like they're happy just looking at it. They're just like, hey, 131 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.720 wow, this is like the coolest thing I've ever seen. And then 132 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:18.560 you get the story on the front half. So a lot of our older 133 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:22.279 audience really enjoys that. They feel like they're getting something. You know. 134 00:08:22.480 --> 00:08:30.360 I guess that puts them in the holiday spirit. But truly, I look 135 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:33.879 on on a regular basis and see family's three generation seep out there. You've 136 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.120 got the grandparents, the parents, and the grandkids, and everybody's going to 137 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:39.600 smile on their face. It's like it's not a hostage situation or no kids 138 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:43.600 that's talking at the parents, please go on? Is it almost over? 139 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:46.919 Why don't we leave it? You know? You see, like everybody's actually 140 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:50.360 happy. So it's like, you know, Paul was just this mad scientist 141 00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:54.840 that had this ability to see that this was gonna work like this on such 142 00:08:54.840 --> 00:09:00.600 a level and I'm just incredibly fortunate to be a part of it that and 143 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:03.360 very grateful for it. Well, I will also say, Joel, he 144 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:07.399 did have a vision with the musicians that he chose and handpicked, and many 145 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:13.519 of you are are seasoned veterans and pros from from really the rock arena, 146 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.360 heavy metal arena, you know, not traditional. When you hear the word 147 00:09:16.440 --> 00:09:20.799 orchestra, right, so there's such a medley of musicians and a known a 148 00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:22.519 lot of times with the different towns you go, do you choose a local 149 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.399 orchestra or or strings to come up on stage with you as well? So, 150 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:28.799 I mean this is something like you said, it is. It really 151 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:31.799 is for all ages. But I mean someone of your background, White Snake 152 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:37.039 and I know Share and other groups that we've we followed you in the level 153 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:43.720 of musicianship on this stage. I mean the timing, the sound, and 154 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.679 the fact that you're flying in the air and there's fire shooting off next to 155 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:52.840 you. But the fact that it's such an I have some musical ability and 156 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:56.240 not even in the realm of what you will have, but just to hear 157 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:01.440 that, I love the tightness and the sound. It's it's truly something in 158 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:05.120 awe when you when you watch it done on stage, well, thank you 159 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.879 so much. I mean, we look, that's that's what we want to 160 00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.360 hear. I mean, we work incredibly hard to give everybody the best possible 161 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:15.799 show they can get. Our music directors do an amazing job of getting us 162 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:18.200 ready, getting us to you know, the music that we're going to need 163 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:22.639 to know for rehearsals, which is usually a bit more than you guys actually 164 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.919 hear in the set. Our song list usually is a little bit deeper because 165 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:28.799 they like to take a look at some things and test it out with the 166 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:33.080 production before we decide on the actual set list during rehearsals. So it's not 167 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:37.200 like we come in knowing the actual set running order. There's usually a bit 168 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:41.600 more that we run. But our goal is, like I said, there's 169 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:45.639 a lot of talent up there, but everybody knows with Tso there's an understanding 170 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:48.440 that when you walk in the door that it's about Trans Siberian Orchestra, and 171 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:52.320 it's not like I'm walking in going you know, g I can't wait to 172 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:56.120 show everybody when I'm all about this year. It's like our our singular vision 173 00:10:56.240 --> 00:11:00.759 is to give everybody the best possible show they can that we can and you 174 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:03.480 know, especially nowadays, you know, we know people are spending their hard 175 00:11:03.480 --> 00:11:05.600 earned money to come out and see us, and man, we want to 176 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:07.960 we want to blow you away. Well, we appreciate you. The Hometown 177 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:13.320 Foundation will be supported by this year's Trans Siberian Orchestra concert that will take place 178 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:18.200 at Mohegan's Sun Sunday, November twenty six, two shows three and eight. 179 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:20.840 I'll be out there for both, so will the charity. I'll have all 180 00:11:20.840 --> 00:11:24.919 the links up to getting tickets. Tickets officially on sale this Friday while supplies 181 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.320 last a special price of thirty nine, so I'll have everything that anyone needs. 182 00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.159 If you're a TSO fan up there for you. I will close with 183 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:33.320 this, Joel, because I am a rocker at heart, and I feel 184 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:37.440 like you can never cut your hair, dude, Like you could never cut 185 00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:41.320 your hair, because like the day you stop flipping your hair and playing your 186 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:45.960 guitar, I've never seen anyone so happy to play guitar in my life like 187 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:48.320 you. I feel like you cannot play the guitar without smiling. You are, 188 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:52.519 like the joy that comes from you when you play is so contagious. 189 00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.039 But you could never cut your hair. Deal. I mean, it's been 190 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:01.440 good to me. I don't fee a situation and where I'm gonna in which 191 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:05.799 I'm gonna cut it. No, I mean it definitely has been good good 192 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.159 to me. It's funny. I had a section of my career where it 193 00:12:09.159 --> 00:12:11.759 did get cut, you know, kind of everybody cut it a bit in 194 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:16.200 the nineties, and then I went full on short hair for a bit and 195 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:20.320 then you know, my career taking off kind of coincided with that hair growing 196 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:24.559 back out. I think I'm keeping it just off a good luck. He's 197 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.759 like, hey, if it ain't broke, don't don't don't fix it, 198 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:30.200 as they say, right, if it ain't broke, just flip it. 199 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:31.919 If it ain't broke, flip it right, flip that hat. But no, 200 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:35.159 you are truly and I know I know I have to wrap now. 201 00:12:35.159 --> 00:12:39.639 So what I'm going to do too is also thank you because during during the 202 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:41.600 pandemic, and I know we've been back trying to you know, everything, 203 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:43.320 but he's getting back to nor again whatever. But you took it upon yourself 204 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:48.240 to do guitar lessons and you really shared some more interactive experiences with your fans. 205 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:52.279 So I know a lot of people met you on different levels, so 206 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:54.360 I'm sure we're going to see even more new fans of TSO just because of 207 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:58.039 that relatability and the fact that you always reach out. You're one of those 208 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:03.159 rock stars that is so approachable and you reach out to your fans and appreciate 209 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:05.960 them so much. So you know, thank you, thank you for doing 210 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:09.440 that. And you're such a fantastic guitarist on your own, So thank you 211 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.799 so much for chatting with me today. I appreciate you. Oh what am 212 00:13:11.799 --> 00:13:15.399 I supposed to say? That keeps up on that level? How do I 213 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:18.320 reply to that? And thank you alway? Thank you, thank you, 214 00:13:18.519 --> 00:13:20.559 thank you so much. I mean what am I? Thank you for your 215 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:24.720 support, thank you for getting the word out, and that's all. It's 216 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:28.240 incredibly nice of you to say, so, thank you so much, really 217 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:33.759 all right, Joel Hookstra Trans Siberian Orchestra. It's official holiday season is underway 218 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:37.000 with the River one oh five nine the Trans Siberian Orchestra. I can't wait 219 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:39.559 to see you this November, Jel. I hope you have a great day 220 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.240 to day you too. Thank you for taking the time out and getting the 221 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:45.000 word out. Can't wait to see everybody throw up your rock fist. You 222 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:46.120 got it by Joel By