Mannheim Steamroller Reviews

Joel Levee from Knoxville, Tennessee

STEAM ROLLED LAST NIGHT IN KNOXVILLE

Was really disappointed in the forums play list. Probably only played five major Christmas classic songs. The majority were songs that were played back in the 1500s with a harpsichord and flute. Or the music with written by the shows producer Chip Davis. A real disappointment.

Tricia from Detroit, Michigan

2ND HALF?

So show started out Christmasy and I know original album was 1985 but did the videos still need to be 1985 and not even HD? Second half was terrible with Castle reenactment scenes really weird and off and not Christmasy at all and you didn’t even hear the great music because I have no idea what the heck that was about and was most of the second half of the show about 4 songs! Literally popped out of our seats grateful it was over.

Phil from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

THE MUSIC WAS NICE, THE VIDEOS THEY PLAY WITH THEM ARE TERRIBLE

Manheim Steamroller is an acquired taste. It reminds me of Christmas radio as a kid, but is admittedly very cheeseball. At the 2022 show in OKC, the performers did a great job, but whoever does their videos is AWFUL. Decades old In VHS/Super 8 quality, the stage videos are bizarre and off-putting, nearly ruining the show with their confusing inclusions. Random sea gulls, Soul train camera effects, clip art time lapse, solar flare footage that looks like it's from a 1980's PBS special...even seasonally appropriate stuff if done with CGI so ancient as to be laughable. Nearly every video is of such TERRIBLE quality that I felt genuine embarrassment for the band. I was embarrassed just to be in the AUDIENCE. And I get your friend recently passed who wrote and sang the 1970's truck driver song "Convoy" but did you really have to play the song in it's entirety as a tribute?! Such a bizarre choices in a Christmas performance. This show needs retooled or retired, whichever comes first.

Melissa F. from Colorado Springs, CO

HORRIBLE VIDEOS, FELT BAD FOR MUSICIANS

Like all the other reviews have opined on the show would have been 10x better if they had just cut the video entirely. The videos are old, VCR or worse quality from the 70s or 80s, containing images of dolphins, weird space images, and at times culturaL appropriation. I felt bad because the musicians are clearly talented but the pairing with the visuals was truly awful and detracted from the music. Also the “tribute” to the creator was poorly timed after an actually nice rendition of O Holy Night. To go from that nice piece to banjo twanging and a weird compilation of old videos about the founding of Mannheim Steamroller was really jarring. The only songs I liked were the ones a bit more scaled back where you can actually hear the violin and oboe soloists, instead of overly synthesized big 70s band sound. I hope they hire a visual arts consultant to get rid of that because it was truly terrible. I was not a fan of the non-Christmas music. I would save your money.

Terry M from Portland, Oregon

DISAPPOINTING ON SEVERAL LEVELS

I have loved and listened to Mannheim Steamroller since the first Christmas album was released in the early 80’s. I thought it would be great to see in person. WRONG! VERY Poor sound quality; weird videos and mechanical performers. My husband wanted to leave as soon as Trump appeared in one of their videos. Need I say more!

Disappointed from Asheville, North Carolina

I SHOULD HAVE RED THE REVIEWS

Ok, I get it. The musicians are tired from touring and bored with playing the same music over and over. But the audience should never see that! The show lacked energy and did not engage the audience at all. The most enthusiasm we saw was as they walked offstage waving goodbye. Guess they were glad it was over. Can't say we were terribly unhappy either. The lighting effects were entertaining but most of the videos were poor quality and didn't fit the Christmas theme. Come on Chip, you could have at least made the effort to record a new video with a Christmas message for 2023. I was looking forward to hearing your daughter perform. Her voice is incredible, the video, however, looked like it was filmed during a rehearsal some time ago. Actually, it is a stretch to say that this was a Christmas show. I should I have saved the significant cost of tickets and listened to the CDs at home with a cozy fire and sparkling Christmas tree for visuals.

Mary Mitchell from Waterbury, Connecticut

THEY’VE LOST THE PLOT.

It started off promising, and went down hill from there. The visuals & graphics were campy & so strange they undermined the music as you sit there trying to figure out what most of it actually mean! I’m sure there were some deep meanings but it didn’t work. I was especially upset at the piece I was waiting for all night. Carol of the Bells. I had to close my eyes because the video film that played behind them was distracting & strange - In fact, go with a blindfold, don’t look. Just listen. Maybe you’ll get through it better than me. I’ll never go “see” them again I’m sorry I did.

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