Not all fans at the group's annual Christmas concert at the Orpheum Theater might have known Davis no longer performs with either of his two troupes that are playing venues around the country. But you only had to look behind the drum set to notice this is not the same Mannheim Steamroller we have grown so accustomed to enjoying since their first Christmas album 30 years ago and their first album 40 years ago.
Sitting in Davis's place is Logan Penington, a "second generation" Mannheim Steamroller band member who figures prominently in the group on the drums – sans Davis's trademarked white sneakers. Davis is still a part of the show, seen on video in an introduction and later in clips pounding away with the group as it was featured over the years on NBC specials, appearances on "The Today Show" and even on a float during Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day parade. While taking in the nostalgia of it all, few in the audience could have known the band's co-founder would soon be strolling out on stage.
But there were signs – literally - that this would not be a typical Steamroller concert. Sandwich boards in the lobby advised concert goers that by entering they would consent to be filmed for something tentatively titled, "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas." And minutes before the band rousingly got things going with "Deck the Halls," a stage manager broke the news that the sellout crowd would "be immortalized" on a televised special for PBS next year. To help facilitate the taping and provide crowd reaction shots, the audience was asked to cheer, stand up and clap, and cheer loudly again. It was just a warm-up for what would prove to be at least half-a-dozen standing ovations on the night.
The first of which went to Davis, who appeared after the opening number in person to thank Omahans for paving the way for the success of a legacy spanning more than 30 albums (including eight Christmas albums), global tours and 19 gold records. My own experience with "Fresh Aire" music dates back to 1977 and Mannheim Steamroller concert in the Orpheum with the Omaha Symphony. Back then, the group had released only three albums and songs were interspersed between poem readings by Davis's ex-wife, Carol Scott, who was better known for delivering weather forecasts on KMTV, and accompanied by strange videos.
They still have the weird videos, though some of the Christmas-themed ones have (thankfully) been dumped. In fact, if reviewers in other cities are to be believed, the much-dated videos that typically accompany the live (mixed with pre-recorded) music on other parts of the "red" and "green" tours, were replaced for this performance due to the taping of the special. I did my best to ignore nearly every video, save for "The Steamroller," which features an 80s-style, story theme to go along with a cartoon Steamroller.
Energy levels were good throughout the night, mostly thanks to the antics of bassist Ron Cooley – now the senior performing member of the band – and conductor and violinist Rebecca Kia. Noticeably absent from either line-up of the tours are veteran band members Jackson Berkey and his wife, Almeda, though they could be spotted in the opening TV video clips and occasionally in several other songs. Berkey, who co-founded the band, is 72 years old and can't be expected to travel. Davis himself stopped touring in 2008 following a serious neck injury that affected his right arm. He told audiences (during his video introduction) that he is conducting performances of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" in Orlando, Fla., on weekends throughout December.
Notable:
- Davis's 15-year-old daughter, Elyse, makes an appearance via video on other stops of the tour to sing a special rendition of "Greensleeves." But she performed it live Monday night. Though a bit drowned out by the percussion in the later part, she obviously has a future in music if she so chooses.
- Keyboardist Bobby Kunkle – sporting red high tops and a tuxedo with tails – was an unexpected breath of "fresh air" (can I write that?) with his bountiful enthusiasm, funny expressions and perfection on the piano that made me forget the venerable Berkey was not the one tickling the ivory.
- In another surprise, Davis and his two daughters (Elyse teamed with her sister, Kelly) returned to the stage for an encore of "Silent Night." But it was a bit uncomfortable hearing (pre-recorded) deep baritone voices come from a 67-year-old man and two teenage girls.
- The latest Mannheim Steamroller album is titled, "30/40 O Tannenbaum." A three-disc set, it is also available on vinyl. I don't know how many will be sold, but it will only add to the group's 28 million albums and CD sales to date.
- Kia and her theatrics on the violin were entertaining on nearly every song. But save for the final two songs of the concert, you rarely heard a single note she played in what was likely a mixing or microphone error. (When you can hear her, she does sound good. Here's the proof.)
- Had the Husker football team not been so saddled in controversy of late, you have to wonder how much hooting and cat calls Davis might have received during his videotaped introduction (and later, live appearance) for wearing the sweatshirt of his alma mater, the University of Michigan. It probably helps that the Wolverines have also fallen on a bit of hard times.
- Three of the 12 songs after intermission came from the group's first album. "Chocolate Fudge" is my all-time favorite, but nowhere near as well known as their Christmas songs. A gentleman seated next to my oldest daughter professed to be a big fan but had seemingly never heard of the song before it was played. ("It was pretty good," he told her afterwards.)
- "Going to Another Place," from Fresh Aire II has been the group's mainstay encore song from Day One. Longtime fans didn't go away disappointed as the song began a few moments after the band took a final bow. Though it sounded nearly the same as all the other songs that were performed live, it obviously was not. Which left some shaking their heads on the way out, wondering just what was live and what was not when it came to the concert as a whole.
- The PBS special which was being taped will air during that station's peak fund-raising drives sometime in 2015.
Finally, a special message of thanks to Nebraska Furniture Mart for making me the lucky winner of two tickets (via a Twitter contest).
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