Cleveland guitar hero Neil Zaza's annual One Silent Night mashes Christmas music with songs from bands such as Aerosmith. The Dec. 12 show has a new venue, the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park and new mashups. We find out what he's learned from 14 years of shows.
When we first started, we had a huge 60-piece orchestra. It was just a logistical nightmare in every sense of the word. I've learned how to be efficient and look at the big picture.
There is a greater joy for me actually playing something new. I can walk onstage and get a different feeling — it's fresher for me.
Normally, if I do [a regular] show, it's a bunch of die-hards and guitar players. But at One Silent Night, the demographics are all over — young kids, older people rocking out. The show seems to affect people in different ways.
When we took a break from the show, I felt a little aimless. I missed not only preparing for the show, but I missed the music. I missed seeing everyone. I really had realized that this is kind of the fabric of who I am as a Clevelander.
