STYX on HDNET

[kansas666]

I saw the premier of One With Everything last night on HDNET.

My review is mixed. I thought the show was generally good. But they had some problems.

I have seen quite a few rock bands perform with orchestra. Kansas, Collective Soul, Dennis DeYoung, The Moody Blues and Yes. The one thing STYX did better than all the rest was incorporate the orchestra into the show. I could actually hear the orchestra perform with the band. With the 5.1 surround I was enveloped by the orchestra. Brass was to the rear, woodwinds were on the side and the strings were all around. This was more like an orchestra playing with a rock band accompaniment. The downside to this though was that the lead guitars were often lost in the mix. The excitement and energy level from the orchestra and band was very entertaining. This was still a rock show.

Some of the stand outs for me were songs that I didn't expect to work - One With Everything really worked with the Orchestra. It Don't Make Sense had a great violin solo and the orchestra really seemed to get into it. They said that this was the first time they played it live. But I seem to recall seeing them perform it at the Rosemount in Chicago last year with Koko Taylor. By the way, who was the female voice singing backup on that song? I think it might have been dubbed in. If so, that is very tacky. The orchestra played a great intro to Miss America and the chorus added some interesting background vocals. Walrus was meant for an orchestra and it delivered.

Now for the bad; post production on this was pretty poor. There were a number of out of focus and stray shots that should have been fixed. On at least 3 occasions I noticed major audible errors - someone giving cues into a microphone, drastic level changes in the middle of a song and outbursts of sound out of nowhere. I hope what I saw isn't the final product that ends up on the DVD. The mix was uneven. When the band performed without the orchestra the sound was too sterile and the vocals were too hot. With the orchestra as up front as it was, you could clearly hear any mistakes they made, and there were a few. The medley seemed clunky in it's new form. I really missed Castle Walls.

The new songs were a mixed bag. I thought Just Be worked well with the orchestra. But Everything All the Time was so so.

The picture quality in HD was outstanding and the 30 minute interview with Tommy and JY before the show was a nice touch.

I plan on picking up the DVD this week. I sure hope they have some of the bugs worked out.

[bugsymalone]

I dunno. I am getting the distinct impression that these CYO Concert productions -- CD and DVD -- are not the stellar Styx-with-orchestra recordings everyone was expecting?

Maybe they needed a producer with experience in this sort of thing. I don't think the one I am thinking of would have been welcomed at the mixing board, though.

Bugsy

[rajah2165]

I dunno. I am getting the distinct impression that these CYO Concert productions -- CD and DVD -- are not the stellar Styx-with-orchestra recordings everyone was expecting?

Maybe they needed a producer with experience in this sort of thing. I don't think the one I am thinking of would have been welcomed at the mixing board, though.

Bugsy

Maybe its because they didn't have their historic producer behind the board (or on the keys...or on vocals)...

[StyxCollector]

I don't think it's because DDY was not at the helm. That's a stretch.

I just think they thought they could keep all production as much as possible "in house". Now, I haven't seen the DVD yet but my guess is it'll be like the CD.

They could have paid to do it right, but they most likely did it on the cheap. Oh well.

[ChicagoSTYX]

I wonder how many times they are going to show it.

[styxdudebrandon]

Here is the Schedule right now from Styxworld:

Tuesday Nov 21 - 5 PM EST
Saturday Nov 25 - 4:30 PM EST
Sunday Nov 26 - 12:30 PM EST

[ChicagoSTYX]

Here is the Schedule right now from Styxworld:

Tuesday Nov 21 - 5 PM EST
Saturday Nov 25 - 4:30 PM EST
Sunday Nov 26 - 12:30 PM EST

Thanks