What an amazing weekend! For those of you who didn’t make it out to the Allstate Arena for Trans-Siberian Orchestra this Saturday, you missed a great concert, and I’m not even being paid to say that (the amount I make a year is public knowledge). ;)

So I’ll give you the play by play for those that missed it… I had the honor of presenting both Urban Innovations and Autism Speaks a check before each one of TSO’s performances (one was at 3 p.m. and the other at 8 p.m.). One dollar of each ticket sold went to these amazing charities. It was such a surreal moment to stand in front of a crowded arena of people and be able to be on stage alongside one of the guitarist from TSO, two of the beautiful vocalists, Tricia (your 2012 Loop Rock Girl), and representatives from each charity to present them a check. That was definitely a Loop Rock Girl moment I won’t forget!

Now on to the music! Trans-Siberian Orchestra was so amazing that I actually stayed and watched BOTH performances! Their energy was absolutely contagious and they had the crowd on their feet quite a few times! The first half of the show they had a concert with a Christmas story timeline and the second half of their show was strictly them just rocking out. I have to admit, I thought to myself before seeing the show, “How good can Christmas rock music really be?” However, they definitely blew that thought out of my mind after the first song. The next time they are in Chicago I will unquestionably be asking The Loop for more tickets! The cherry on top was that, Roddy Chong, their violinist, was born and raised in Schaumburg, IL AND I was lucky enough to snag a quick picture with him backstage! For those of you that went, I don’t even have to ask you – I KNOW you had a great time, it was impossible not to, and for those of you that didn’t go… now you know better!