Hello From Las Vegas (a new tommy note)

[styxdudebrandon]

Hello Friends,

It's night number two here at the Luxor in Las Vegas. We're getting a chance to stretch our legs this week with 6 shows in a row. It feels good to get this much playing in in such a compact amount of time. It will be our last run before we break for a month and Jack Blades and I take the opportunity to tour behind the release of our new CD, "INFLUENCE." For more details on SHAW BLADES, go to our MySpace page, www.myspace.com/shawbladesinfluence

Last night we saw lots of familiar faces in the crowd, something that always puts a smile on our faces. Once the show was over, most of us joined our manager Charlie and his wife Cindy on a limo ride over to "3130," Prince's club at the RIO for a late show to celebrate Cindy's birthday.

We arrived around 11:30 but Prince didn't go on for another hour. Lots of video and great sounding club mixes blasted away. As showtime neared there were video testimonials by Selma Hayek, Pharrell Williams, Randy Jackson and others, then a video intro by Beyonce' from Prince's induction into the British Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame last year. He opened with "Purple Rain" which was a surprise, but as the night progressed you could see why he was comfortable throwing down that heavy from the start. Prince is an extraordinary artist and performer, and we knew that going in, but having never been to one of his live shows, I was not aware of just HOW extraordinary. His bottomless well of energy, confidence and love of his craft and willingness to lay it all out there was absolutely spellbinding. I put him in the same category as Bruce Springsteen, who also has a gift that transcends execution of difficult vocals, instrumentals and the obvious fact that he and his band are very well rehearsed. There is a beauty and joy there that celebrates life and draws you in even if you were not the biggest fan when you walked in the door. The pacing was great, it went from recognizable hits to irresistibly grooving jams and a sax solo ("What A Wonderful World") mid show that was simply heartbreaking in its lyrical and emotional execution. A short solo acoustic set which followed set us up for the blistering guitar slinger Prince who took us to the end of the show. What a great experience and if you get the chance to go see him there, rest assured you will get your money's worth.

I've had an opportunity to read Chuck's book and share it with my wife Jeanne and our friend and personal Trainer Alana and we all agree that Chuck has written an amazing book. He succeeded in telling his life story in a way that lets the events speak for themselves, without a hint of dramatization. Even knowing Chuck as long as I have I learned a lot about him in the process. His magnanimous treatment of the subject of STYX history was something else which only added more credibility to his story. Even writers who have more than one book under their belt often succumb to the temptation of beating the reader over the head with a story rather than letting the story itself do the work. Bravo Chuckie!

It's going to be another amazing year for STYX. Check in with us every so often to see how it's going to unfold and we'll see you somewhere out here on the road...

TS