As previously reported, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA guitarist Chris Caffery (SAVATAGE) is keeping a tour diary for the duration of the east coast company's North American tour. The following is his latest update:

"Yup...only three days into the tour and we had our first matinee day!

Right now we are driving to Toledo. This high speed on the bus is really helpful!

Today started with me waking up in the hotel and wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible! It was the nicest hotel in town I believe and not that great. I am not picky, but I have stayed in Micro-tels that were nicer than this place. I will not name names!

There was a huge breakfast/brunch at the venue. We have the same caterers again. It was too late for me to really eat when I got there so I just had a protein shake and went to the bus to get ready for the show. I am still not using the dressing rooms on this tour. I love the bus. Me and DDP used to stay out here always. Stevie usually stays with me 'til we go on but he is playing rhythmm guitar in the first song this tour so he has to get ready.

Show #1 was good. My guitar was not working right away and we had to stall the intro a bit. The flow of the show was OK. We have just about locked into our routine.I have been trying to add a new joke every day on this tour. It has been fun and challenging.

We finished and it was about 6PM when I got to the bus. Too late to eat again! So, I took a shower. I had a massive bloody nose at this time. Still have no idea why. I am being extra healthy on this tour. I have not had a drop to drink and I am eating very sensibly (when I get time)!

The night time show started out a bit slow but ended amazing. The best reaction yet. The snow finally worked! My joke worked. It was one I made up today. It was really silly. "Did you hear about the new TV show with two motorcycle cops moonlighting as bakers? CHIP's Ahoy" Yup..as dumb as ever!

Autograph line was a bit longer than last night. I got a total number of 130 on signatures. Again I figure there was about 400 people in the line. All very friendly and excited!

I keep seeing our TV commercial for the tour on VH1. Very cool! We have been watching a lot of metal out here! I finally got one mastered song here to listen to, '66'. I burned the CD from the email file and will listen to it tomorrow. I am excited!

I got an extremely funny football jersey from the Youngstown venue. I wore it today. It had these fake shoulder pad things. Tomorrow is NFL. We are running a TSO football pool. Jon Oliva has been my game pick coach. Last week I went against his advice for one game and would have won if I listened! This week I took his advice and we shall see!

Not to sound too boring but, I just finished my hot chocolate and I am going to crash. We should be at our hotel in about 90 minutes. Then I get to stay there 'til noon and then it is 2 more tomorrow in Toledo! HELP!"

TTYL!

C

To view all TSO 2006 tour dates - east and west coast touring companies - go to this location. Links for ticket purchases can be found at the same location.