Pick six

December 21, 2007 at 8:22PM

A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view:

Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Target Center. I attended the concert for the third year in a row. Even though the show is formulaic, the band pulls out every big-arena-show cliché and does it extremely well. The stage and lighting are so over the top, and the music itself is very enjoyable.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, "Raising Sand." This is the most enjoyable CD that I've listened to in a long time. Every song is solid, and the two voices are in wonderful form. Who would have thought that this combination would work so well? In my opinion, it's one of the best CDs of the year.

My son's Christmas wish list. My 15-year-old gave me his CD list: Eagles of Death Metal, Plain White T's, Nine Inch Nails, Jet, Alien Ant Farm, Muse, White Stripes, Spoon and the Dandy Warhols. Two years ago, he didn't listen to music. What an evolution into some very interesting music.

JON GERDES, MINNEAPOLIS

Trailer Trash, Lee's Liquor Lounge. Frontman Nate Dungan and company made spirits very bright with their rollicking versions of Xmas oddities and chestnuts. Highlight: "I Shop Everywhere" (to Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere"), which is a hilarious mouthful that includes such defunct outlets as Mervyn's and Chess King.

Lola and the Red Hots, Cabooze. Supported by the essential Ho Ho Ho's backup singers, iron-voiced Tina Schlieske did her pseudo drunk Elvis for the holidays show, which was heavy on R&B and classic-rock covers. Highlight: An over-the-top "Maybe I'm Amazed."

The Roches, Fitzgerald Theater. Mixing holiday fare with a lot of their own material, the three singing sisters delighted their fans (many of whom came onstage to be a choir for three songs). Highlights: the harmony-happy "Hallelujah" (from Handel's "Messiah") and "Winter Wonderland" done with thick Brooklyn accents (hence "gawn away is da blue-boid").

JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE

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