Neil Zaza

For the past few years, local guitar hero Neil Zaza has put on a Christmas extravaganza that features the kind of theatrics you get from Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He usually assembles a small orchestra a big group of backing singers for the affair. Zaza, who left the hair metal band that carried his own name in 1992, is now an icon in the world of shredders. Though he still lives in Northeast Ohio, the guy regularly gives clinics and travels overseas to perform in front of thousands. He debuted this Christmas show, dubbed “One Silent Night… Where Hendrix Meets Beethoven Under the Christmas Tree,” over ten years ago with the intention of only performing it once. That’s subsequently changed, and it’s now an annual event. Zaza’s stage show isn’t as visually spectacular as TSO’s, but he’s a phenomenal player who can really wail on the guitar, and his take on Christmas classics is truly unique. (Jeff Niesel)