Stopping By For A Few - Styx In Concert: Light Up!!!

[Iron Chef]

It's been a bit...job is now in full overtime mode and I barely have time to think. Working long hours is a pain in the ass, but then I look at my check at the end of the week and say "Ehhhh...I can do this."

Thursday night the gf and I went to see Styx in concert. I was a little skeptical because Dennis DeYoung isn't with the group and he was really one of the people that gave Styx its signature sound. But the tix were free and 5 rows back from the stage, and they serve drinks at the venue. How bad could it be?

In all honesty, this is one of the BEST concerts I've seen. Just the drum kit, a keyboard and four guys with their guitars out there playing their hearts out. The new lead singer, Lawrence Gowan, is nearly a dead ringer for the sound of DeYoung and Tommy Shaw was fantastic...hasn't lost a step. The stage was very simple: No video screens, no fancy light shows, no outrageous pyrotechnics. I'm not saying things like that don't have their place, but this was truly a throwback to a time when bands put on concerts to please their fans and make great music...no sugar coating to compensate for lack of talent whatsoever. And the place was packed. Not an empty seat. You know you're in good company when there's more salt than pepper in people's hair, many have customized their "Hurry-canes" and the Shriners are selling the latest Styx CD.

I was a DJ at my HS Radio Station and we had the album "Equinox" which I played so much I wore out the grooves.

We'll be going to see Kenny Loggins in a few weeks, The Cure in May, Earth, Wind and Fire with Lionel Richie in September and Depeche Mode in October. My concert calendar is full. And seriously...if you have the opportunity to see these guys and want a concert experience from what we would call the good old days, I encourage you to go.

Heading back to the underworld of work. Y'all be good.

[Bill]

I saw Styx at the Houston rodeo a few years back. Obviously not a great concert venue, especially because the show is truncated in the interest of time. Not a memorable show, really.

Edit: Having said that, no artist shines at the rodeo, even home town favorites ZZ Top. Seen them several times, the rodeo shows are at the bottom. Probably would have enjoyed Styx more as a stand alone show, vs. at the rodeo.

[LATB]

Great post. Nice to see you around sir.

Tommy Shaw is a true and underrated rock talent.

[theandies]

Saw them at the height of their career. Great show but the best concerts I've ever been to were all Rush concerts. I've seen them I think it was 16 times over the years. I've seen thousands of concerts and I was in a band way back when and I'll say all the Rush concerts I've been too blow away all others.
If you've never seen Rush live then you missed out.
R.I.P Neil Peart

[LATB]

Originally Posted by theandies

Saw them at the height of their career. Great show but the best concerts I've ever been to were all Rush concerts. I've seen them I think it was 16 times over the years. I've seen thousands of concerts and I was in a band way back when and I'll say all the Rush concerts I've been too blow away all others.
If you've never seen Rush live then you missed out.
R.I.P Neil Peart

Thousands? Holy crap.

[Louie Detroit]

YouTube

[Datawiz]

Originally Posted by Iron Chef

Working long hours is a pain in the ass, but then I look at my check at the end of the week and say "Ehhhh...I can do this."

I'm with you brother.

[LATB]

Working long hours is a pain in the ass, but then I look at my check at the end of the week and say "Ehhhh...I can do this."

Sometimes you have to bite off more than you should and chew like hell.

[LATB]

It’s the fear of choking that separates the earners from the yearners.

[Craig]

The “new singer” has been with the band longer than DeYoung was. He wants back in the band; I’ve heard the original guys interviewed, they want nothing to do with him, it’s bitter.

[Chemtrails99]

Originally Posted by Craig

The “new singer” has been with the band longer than DeYoung was. He wants back in the band; I’ve heard the original guys interviewed, they want nothing to do with him, it’s bitter.

There's a documentary out there from about 15 years ago. Like "Behind the music" or something abouyt them. Most painful one I've ever seen. Does a great job documenting their start, member changes and everything up t making it big. Then it digs into the horrible crap that was Mr Roboto and it's really sad to see all the other members reasctions to the silly suits, the theatre instead of a show and getting booed off the stage by hard core fans.

Then their interveiw DeYoung who thinks he is the only one who ever did anything to build the band. he is so cluelessly self-centered it's beyond belief. At the time Styx was just starting out with the current version and really, really happy to be a ROCK BAND again, instead of clowns doing high school musical theatre.

[MidLifeinMI]

Originally Posted by Craig

The “new singer” has been with the band longer than DeYoung was. He wants back in the band; I’ve heard the original guys interviewed, they want nothing to do with him, it’s bitter.

I've seen Styx 5 times (most of any band I've seen); 3 times with Dennis D and twice with Gowan. Gowan is an adequate stand-in for DDY, but the band rocks much harder now than they ever have - DDY was leaning too much towards the Broadway show-type of entertainment in the Roboto years. I'd still pay to see either DDY *or* Styx, but it would be a dream to see them back together.