Nothing like a little Trans-Siberian Orchestra to kick off the holiday season a little early, amiright?
The group has become a holiday tradition for plenty of families—an interesting twist to the career of its leader, rock producer Paul O’Neill, who worked with groups like Aerosmith before turning his focus to festive music.
The group, known for its amped-up take on Christmas classics, will come to KeyArena for shows at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22.
This year, the Orchestra is playing in its entirety its second album, “The Christmas Attic.” That 1998 disc features slickly produced heavy metal versions of classics like “Angels We Have Heard On High” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” along with quasi-original compositions, including “Christmas Canon,” a track that uses Pachelbel’s Canon as its basis.
Tickets are $46.79 to $86.69 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
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That same night in Tacoma, a very different show will be competing for attention.
Judas Priest will play the Tacoma Dome at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, as it brings its latest tour to the Northwest.
The British metal act, which released its debut album, “Rocka Rolla,” 40 years ago to scant sales, is touring now behind “Redeemer of Souls,” which reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200.
Chalk that long-term success up to the group’s influential impact on metal. Vocalist Rob Halford is a legend in hard rock circles, and the band’s decades of material have influenced countless other bands.
Tickets are $47.72 to $80.34 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
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At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, KeyArena will again fill its seats as pop superstar Usher plays Seattle.
As one of the best-selling R&B artists of all time, Usher has spent most of his life in the spotlight. He released his self-titled debut when he was just 16, and has never looked back.
Now 36 years old, he has become an institution; all of his full-length albums have debuted at No. 1 in the past decade. He’s touring now in support of his upcoming new album, “UR,” which was delayed after an originally planned September release.
Tickets are $50.40 to $173.38 at ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
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Rapper G-Eazy also is headed to Seattle next week, for a concert at the Showbox SoDo at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24.
The emcee, whose penchant for leather jackets and pompadours got him dubbed the James Dean of rap, is touring now behind “These Things Happen,” which hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200 earlier this year.
That disc, his first official album, found the rapper dabbling in the electronica and indie rock sounds that have helped shape his sound.
Tickets are $30 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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Seattle’s own David Bazan, meanwhile, will play a show at 9 Friday night, Nov. 21, as he brings the Passenger String Quartet with him to the Neptune Theatre.
Bazan, perhaps best known as the frontman for indie rock group Pedro the Lion, has found a welcome and lush complement to his heartfelt solo work thanks to the Passenger String Quartet, a frequent partner of his.
Tickets are $25 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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Finally, Alex Clare also will hit the Neptune Theatre, as the pop-electronica singer plays a show at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Clare scored a bit hit in 2012 with the platinum-selling single “Too Close,” a nearly ubiquitous track that reached No. 5 on the Hot 100, appeared in Microsoft commercials, and topped the Modern Rock charts.
He will try to build on that success as he tours now behind his new album, “Three Hearts,” which saw release in July.
Tickets are $22.50 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
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