Styx and Foreigner at mud Island 6-22-07 review

[DerriD]

Grote,

Dude, you originally said that a Styx without Tommy couldn't succeed. I merely showed you that they in fact did.

Where we agree is that today, a Styx WITH Dennis AND Tommy wouldn't (and in Brave New World) didn't succeed. In truth I root for both camps. Hell, I root for any band (regardless of line-up) that comes from the AOR prehistoric past to get even a smidgen of airplay, videoplay, commercial inclusion period! We are fans of a music that is dying and is getting weaker by the day. Enjoy it while you can.

[Abitaman]

Styx started the show out with a one two three punch that brought the house down (Blue Collar...,Grand..., Lorelei) Then had a slight mishap with Lady (IMO). LArry started the song off sounding like Alvin the Chipmunk, but recovered by 4 lines into the song. Heard one of the best versions of Too Much Time on My Hands last night, just awesome, and Snowblind was pretty good too. But to me, things started going down hill around here. Tommy did an acoustic version of Man in the Wilderness, which IMO he struggled though. His voice sounded very weak and rough around the edges. This drew looks from my wife. He went into Crystal Ball and again struggled until the song picked up with rest of the band coming in.
Larry's beatle song came off very good, as did Fooling Yourself. But Miss America was good till the did the traditional singing of the Miss America theme over the song, just added chaos to the song, and it ended on a bad note. After a couple of other songs Larry did a stunning job on Come Sail Away (had the crowd very into the song) and ended it on a very high note.
But IMO, the encore sucked. Came out with new song from their new cd Everything all the Time. It got a good round of applause. I just thought the song was in the wrong place in the set list. But the 15 minute version of Renegade was way over the top and too much. I was glads the song was over along with the show.
I was disappointed in the set list which was (not in order)
Lady
Lorelli
Crystal Ball
Grand Illusion
Come Sail Away
Fooling Yourself
Man in Wilderness
Miss America
Blue Collar Man
Renegade
Too Much Time on My Hands
Snowblind
I am the Walrus
Everything All the Time

Same old thing they have been doing for years. I told my wife each song that would be played before they played it, only missed two.
Missed not having Best of Times, Suite Madame Blue, and Rockin the Paradise at a Styx show. Missed the melody too.

Larry other than being a chipmunk for a bout a minute into Lady was good. All over the stage, acting really goofy, dancing, and carrying on with people.
Ricky with his hat, was pretty laid back, more middle of the road performance between Chuck and Glen.
Todd was great all night.
JY was in good voice and interacted with he band and the crowd.
Tommy was having vocal problems IMO, and was not his usual active self on stage.
Of course it was 90+ degrees and it was about 9:45 when they came on.

I came in to the show with high hopes, but I think foreigner was the winner this night. Styx just didn't seem on their game. They people that came with us thought it was one the best Styx shows they have ever seen. Not me, maybe it was because I got up at 4 am and worked and had to drive back to Memphis to barley make the show. Maybe because it was basically the same show they have been doing since 2002 or 03. Maybe becuase I saw Dennis less than a year ago. Whatever it was....
But I didn't not walk away unhappy, I was entertained, and had fun. As we were walking back the car, my wife said "They weren't as good as they usually are, less wait a few years before we see them again." I just shook my head in agreement, but I know I'll be back and hopefull they will too-ERIC

I saw them in Bloomington the next night with the same set. They seemed pretty much on the whole night. But I can't see how you say the same old thing they have been doing for years. Acoustic Man in the Wilderness bridging into the Full version of Crystal Ball is new, as was Midnight Ride. The Medley was gone and Everything All the Time was the new song that fits much better in the flow of their show than Just Be. Three new songs to the set , one song brought back, and the elimination of one of their staples - the medley - are huge changes. That and they've changed the stage show up quite a bit with Tommy swapping sides of the stage for half the show, shows they are at least moving in a different direction. Whether that will change on the Def Lep tour or not is yet to be seen because of the time constraints. But we will see in the fall.

No Midnight Ride at Mud Island, only thing new added was Man....and full Crystal. I gave their show as a graded a B- of B. That is not bad, I was just wanting better, it was my least favorite show since DDY has been gone. It seemed short but it was a double bill.-ERIC

[mikemarrs]

styx did have a top ten single with show me the way and gold album with edge of the century in 1990.i bought it the day it was released.reminded me of paradise on 'back to chicago' they had the horns on that one.i was happy with it and thought it was a good album at the time.

[ConcertCato]

I have to agree with you on your review of the Styx / Foreigner concert at Mud Island. I too had high hopes for the show. Foreigner Rocked and Styx didn't seem to be on their game, but I could be a little biased towards Styx.

This was my first time to see Foreigner and I didn't really have anything to base my expectations on. I'm sure the band had a different feel with Lou Gramm on lead vocals, but I was there to hear the hits of Foreigner and that's what I got. Kelly Hanson executed the songs wonderfully. One interesting thing about Kelly Hanson for me was the fact he sang lead for the band Hurricane. Hurricane was the opening act for the very first concert I ever went to in 1987 (Stryper To Hell With The Devil Tour). Here is Foreigners Setlist in order.
Double Vision - Head Games - Cold as Ice - Blue Morning, Blue Day - Waiting for a Girl Like You - Dirty White Boy -
Say You Will (Acoustic) - Starrider - Feels Like the First Time - Urgent - Juke Box Hero w/ Whole Lotta Love
ENCORE
Long, Long Way from Home
Hot Blooded

As far as Styx is concerned this was my third time to see them live. I saw them w/ DeYoung on the 1996 Return to Paradise tour and 1997 Grand Illusion 20th Anniversary tour both at Mud Island. Styx seemed unbalanced without DeYoung or maybe it was the setlist. Songs I would have liked to hear... Rockin' the Paradise, Best of Times, and maybe some more tunes from Big Bang Theory. It defiantly felt like the Tommy Shaw show. I had never heard Everything, All the Time before, it's an Ok song, but I agree it didn't fit well in the encore.
What more can I say, I've been hesitant to see the guys perform for the last ten years without DeYoung. After listening to the live compilation CD's and watching the dvd's with the new band lineup I thought hell maybe it was time to see them live again for myself. Styx is a great band and the Memphis show rocked for many people, but Styx didn't do it for me.
Maybe I'll try a DeYoung show next. Styx Setlist in Order
Blue Collar Man - Grand Illusion - Lorelei - Too Much Time on My Hands - Lady - Snowblind - I Am the Walrus - Man in the Wilderness - Crystal Ball - Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) - Miss America - Come Sail Away
ENCORE
Everything, All the Time
Renegade

[Abitaman]

I would give Styx another try. I thought they were not at there best that night. I have seen them 5 times now without DDY (10 times total). This was by far my least favorite Styx show, with or without DDY. But see them again. And yes see DDY, saw him in Memphis last year, one of my top 3 shows ever-ERIC