Weekend Concerts

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I hate to disappoint ChicagoStyx and Monker, but I'm leaving in a few minutes to go to NYC to see Dennis in concert!! So I won't be on the computer for a few days, unless I can find one - LOL

I know there are a few of us on here seeing Dennis this weekend and a few others seeing the current Styx in concert. I'm looking forward to reading the reviews from both and seeing the setlists.

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend, seriously

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Well I'm back from a GREAT trip. Dennis' show was GREAT!! His voice was better than ever, the crowd was into ALL the music and it was sold out.

We had dinner with Hank (his bass player) and Kyle (his drummer). Just to let you all know, Hank and Kyle are not involved at all with the Dennis vs. Styx sega. They are musicians and don't have an emotional personal ties with either side. Hank is still in contact with JY. Kyle is friends with Todd. They enjoy to play music and perform. They are on friendly terms with everyone. When I was back stage, there are always a few people that ask them how they feel about the "breakup".

Sorry Monker, there wasn't a "Uncle Jerry" reference at this show. There were a lot of people that were seeing Dennis for the first time, so his jokes were new to them.

[classicstyxfan]

Madame,

any surprises or new songs in the setlist ? and was dinner before or after the show ? ( do these guys perform on a full stomach ? )

[bugsymalone]

I can answer some of that, Classic.
Dinner was before. Everyone ate light. Great conversation and insight into the whole touring life. I was fascinated.

As Suite says, the concert was phenomenal. Dennis was in great form --- LOTS of moving around the stage and, yes, the old air guitar routine. For a 57 year old man, he can really boogie when he wants to and he wanted to Saturday night.

He even did a dead-on Roger Daltrey mike swing and catch. And it looked really cool .....not "wimpy" at ALL.

His voice was really spectacular --- you can tell he was loving being in New York. He did sell out the show and the place looked mostly full from my vantage point. EVERYONE was into singing with him and just having a really good time.

I have come to the conclusion that some of what he sings sounds as good or better than when he was with Styx. His backup singers are very much into the groove and can replicate the Styx harmonies almost to perfection now they they have worked into a very cohesive group.

One interesting side note. Someone put a Styx poster in the Beacon display case (it subsequently disappeared) and I was STRUCK by how airbrushed it was. I was not sure if I knew those guys!
I also really looked for Dennis on that poster, since the VH1 promotion for the current tour heavily features Dennis, even down to advertising the show with a snippet of "Babe." Go figure!

Bugsy


Bugsy

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Bugsy, I thought Kyle ate a lot - LOL

Classic, no surprises in the set list. But I do know when he comes back to Milwaukee there might be a few added songs

[styxfanNH]

Glad you guys had a great time. And am glad to hear that Dennis' voice is as strong as ever. I think it can only be a good thing if he is touring because he must be feeling pretty good. I hope he makes a stop in the Boston area some time so i can grab the show.

[bugsymalone]

I hope he makes a stop in the Boston area some time so i can grab the show.

You will NOT be disappointed.

Bugsy

[froy]

Bugsy, I thought Kyle ate a lot - LOL

Classic, no surprises in the set list. But I do know when he comes back to Milwaukee there might be a few added songs

ONE DAY SHAW AND JIM WILL WAKE UP AND REALISE THAT THE MUSIC WILL BE BETTER SEARVED WITH MR DENNIS AROUND

[Panjandrum]

Well Froy, as much as I love listening to Dennis sing and as much as I enjoy his shows, I think STYX as a whole is probably better off (musically) without him. Unfortunately, Dennis just doesn't have the gift of writing great music anymore. He still writes some OK stuff, but I'm beginning to wonder if he's going Christian Rock on us with all the GOD stuff recently (even though MGCBUYG is anti-organized religion). Anyway, Dennis is still a great performer, he has a great voice, and I'll continue to see him, but I'm in the camp that thinks Cyclorama is the best damn STYX album since Pieces of Eight. OK, I waffle there, because I also love Paradise Theatre, but that classic STYX power-ballad sound is back big time with Cyclorama and I'm just loving it!

I do think STYX would pack in bigger crowds and maybe even get once more chance at being "big" again if Dennis were back on vocals, but NOT with his current song-writing, it just won't happen.

But look at it this way; We got more good years from Dennis than we do from many other artists. Look at Tori Amos (everything after the first album is complete shit), or Dido, Tracy Chapman and now Norah Jones, all of whom had incredibly powerful and talented first albums but "uninspired" second albums.

BTW, am I the *only* STYX fan who hates Journey? I just never liked them. I think it's a lyrics thing.

Oh, and for those Fleetwood Mac fans, definitely pick up their latest album (Say you Will). Another example of an old (ancient, elderly band coming up with a new album which sounds both new and edgy and yet very much like the best of their heyday. It's one sweet album.

[piecesofeight]

Nothing wrong with Christian rock. Much better than some of the lyrics are being put out by some.

[yogi]

Sunday nights Styx concert in San Antonio was FANTASTIC!!! First off, Nelson did not play MmmmmmmBop and they only played from 7pm until 7:35. Frampton hit the stage at 7:45 pm, and was GREAT. I had never heard him live before. Peter played until 8:55 pm, and I REALLY enjoyed his set.

Styx hit the stage at 9:18 pm. Their set was SMOKIN!!!!!! The highlight for me was Todd's A&M Cyclomeledy. There were 18 A&M album classics packed into around 16 minutes of music. Todd is by FAARRRR the BEST drummer I have EVER heard. Highlights of the Styx set were: One With Everything, More Love For The Money, and These Are The Times. Outside of those three songs I really thought Gowan stole the show. The Grand Illusion& Lady sounded GREAT. Rip him allllll you want the man CAN sing,play the keyboards and he is getting better!! Styx left the stage at 11:04 pm. Four minutes past what I heard was the Verizon curfew.

I truly enjoyed the show. According to the paper there were 9,300 in attendance for the first rock show of the season.

I will post a complete set list later including the A&M Cyclomeledy if I can remember it all.

Lastly Styx is selling a T-shirt that on the back says CLASSIC ROCK my ASS, over 600 shows in 5 years!!!! It was a GREAT show and a GREAT night, performed by a GREAT band!!!!

[Monker]

I'm beginning to wonder if he's going Christian Rock on us with all the GOD stuff recently (even though MGCBUYG is anti-organized religion).

Actualy, during the show he talks about writing a song about 9/11 and he came up with "My God Can Beat Up Your God"...He starts to play and sing a bit of it and says, "You thought I was kidding, didn't you?" Then he says, "Then I came to my senses and wrote this song, 'Hello God'."

So, I don't think it has to do with Christian rock...I think it has to do with coming up with a song for 9/11.

"Hello God" IS a good song. But, there is just something missing from it that I can't describe. Oh, well...Don't know about MGCBUYG...only heard the parody of it.

But, whatever...he still wants to get Hunchback on Broadway...That should tell people something. But, some just do not want to hear what it says. His heart is just does not seem to be into creating new pop/rock music any longer.

[bugsymalone]

So, I don't think it has to do with Christian rock...I think it has to do with coming up with a song for 9/11.

You are absolutely correct, Monker. He had two reactions to 9-11 and wrote the cynical piece about religious zealotry, My God Can Beat Up Your God, which is a really rocking song, btw. It would by far be the better choice for radio release, but he would get into all kinds of trouble over it and knows it.

Hello God was, as he said, the average Joe, wondering what it is all about and asking God for a little help here, maybe.

Bugsy

[bugsymalone]

If you are able to remember it, Yogi, I am one who would like to see the medley list from the show.


Perhaps the T-shirt should read :
"Classic Rock Until You Are SICK of US : 600 Shows in 5 Years. Styx: Running It Into the Ground"

I think there is room for that.

Bugsy

[yogi]

Ok Bugsy here it goes... this is how I remember it. The A&M cyclomeledy:
Put Me On( this was the longest song, probably lasted 3+ minutes), Light Up, Mademoselle, Crystal Ball, Heavy Metal Poisoning, Castle Walls( music only,no singing), Midnight Ride, Rock and Roll Shooze, Borrowed Time, Pieces Of Eight ( music only, no singing), Mr Roboto, Half Penny -Two Penny, Rockin the Paradise,Great White Hope, Man In The Wilderness, A.D. 1958 no singing.. It TOTALLY rocked ALLL the way through. Todd busted his ass, he worked his ass off during this. This is how I remember it. I REALLY wish these would be the songs they play at an actual concert.

The Full set included: Blue Collar Man, The Grand Illusion, One with Everything, Lady, Snowblind, Too Much Time On My Hands, Piano solo, More Love For The Money, These Are The Times, Fooling Yourself, Miss America, Come Sail Away & Renegade.


As for the way they took the stage..... It was in TRUE Styx fashion. They have ALWAYS been the MOST polished act out there. The critics ALWAYS hated this and still do. They came out like they ALWAYS have, acting like their the absolute best. A trait I believe they obtained from Dennis. The critics hated this then, they still hate this now. That is the one thing that has not changed. Todd ROCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[piecesofeight]

Glad you had a great time yogi. Thanks for the review! Can't wait to see them in New York City!


Speaking of polished acts. Stryper's cd, 7 Weeks Live In America 2003 just came out. It was made from their tour last year.
Now I am VERY picky and have been to many concerts. After seeing them many times last year and just last night listening to new live cd, I am blown away. I have NEVER heard a better sung, played or produced live cd/album ever.
Put aside the message if you must and this is one insane live ROCK album. I have been playing it for people without telling them who it was and they are TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY.
These guys came back last year so tight and polished. Michael's voice is one of the best in the biz, their harmonies are awesome, Robert's drum playing is insane, musically they were right back on the money, and it was the best they have ever sounded, in many ways, in thier career. Then you have that produced/mixed by a great guy and you get the best live rock cd ever. The quality of the cd along with how they played is just great.
I am not trying to push Stryper or religion on anyone in any way. Just trying to talk about a great new rock cd that is out their. Period.
I never thought I would have said that Stryper was the best concert ever, but after seeing them five times last year at all completely different style venues, I now have to say that to this date, for me, they are the best concert I have ever seen.
If anyone hear wants to ROCK out to a great/positive message, this is the cd to get.
Peace.

[classicstyxfan]

Pieces.....I thought R&R was the Devil's music....????? Some preacher said it, so it's got to be true, doesn't it ?

Do you think there will be Marshall Amps and Fender Stratocasters in Heaven ?

Yogi, Your review has me considering buying a ticket to see the boys this summer.........your saying Gowan can really sing ? I'll never accept anybody but DDY on Lady and CSA though.

[yogi]

A couple of final notes on the concert. Styx & Frampton drew 8,600 in Dallas according to the Styxworld lounge. San Antonio outdrew them. Their attendance is very good. The show is WELL worth the money!!!

As for comparing Gowan to Dennis. You cant.. Dennis is Classic Coke, where as Gowan is Jolt cola. The Jolt may take some getting used to, and will NEVER be as good as the Classic Coke, but it does have a little moore bite to it. Gowan TRULY has gotten better. I LOVED his rendition of Lady, and espically The Grand Illusion, which is a Styx song that has never been my favorite. His piano solo leading into More Love For The Money was probably the shows highlight after the A&M medley.

EXCELLENT show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bugsymalone]

Ok Bugsy here it goes... this is how I remember it. The A&M cyclomeledy:
Put Me On( this was the longest song, probably lasted 3+ minutes), Light Up, Mademoselle, Crystal Ball, Heavy Metal Poisoning, Castle Walls( music only,no singing), Midnight Ride, Rock and Roll Shooze, Borrowed Time, Pieces Of Eight ( music only, no singing), Mr Roboto, Half Penny -Two Penny, Rockin the Paradise,Great White Hope, Man In The Wilderness, A.D. 1958 no singing..

Those sound like a great medley of songs, I must say. Too bad, as you say, they don't do some of them in their complete form in concert --- at least the non-Dennis ones. Half-Penny is a good JY song and so is Great White Hope.

As opposed as I am to this lineup, I would guess that Put Me On would sound pretty good with that close harmony. All but the dreamy middle section that Dennis sings.

As to how Styx opens its shows, you know, it's a SHOW! It should be over the top. Why not? They are there to entertain you and you are there to be entertained. And I think a band, or a singer of the quality of Dennis DeYoung, should be full of confidence. If not, you get a second rate show in my book. Complaining about someone's "ego" is just a silly, stupid argument to make. Give me someone who knows he is good any day.

Bugsy

[piecesofeight]

[quote="classicstyxfan"]Pieces.....I thought R&R was the Devil's music....????? Some preacher said it, so it's got to be true, doesn't it ?

Do you think there will be Marshall Amps and Fender Stratocasters in Heaven ?
quote]

[yogi]

I almost forgot Queen Of Spades was also in the A&M Medley. Styx also sung a couple of short Texas songs. Yellow Rose of Texas or something like that, plus some song about San Antonio, that everyone seemed to know but me. I'm a transplanted Texan.

[styxfanNH]

I think when Larry first came to the band, he tried to mimic dennis vocally with the songs. But over time, has become more comfortable with them and really made them his own. We are starting to see the same thing with the bass lines between Ricky and Chuck. I agree with Yogi that Larry is just more af on active musician on stage than dennis and that just makes him different. (partly because technology allows him not to be behind a wall of keyboards).

The medley is just that, a medley: a blending together of a portion of a number of songs in their vast catalog of music. It is amazing to hear and they change it up every so often. I think this is the third version of it.

Like any band with this many albums, it is difficult to make everyone happy with the songs they are playing. But at least the medley give you a taste of the larger catalog.

"put me on" open and closes the medley.

There is no secret that JY and Tommy are leading towards the rockers in this incarnation of the band. They are leaving the softer side to Dennis. And if you honestly think about it, it probably is more appropriate that they do seeing that is where both of there strengths lead them.

All in all, the divorce of the classic lineup was worked out to where everyone came to some sort a terms with the name and catalog. They are not unlike many marriages that over time find key people grow into different tastes and directions and in the end decide to go different ways. With this band it just seems more like "the war of the roses" seeing it was played out in public so much. I remember the breakup of Pink Floyd and how nasty that was and most recently the issues that Dave Mason and Steve Winwood still have today with Traffic when they were inducted into the hall of fame. Some divorces just aren't pretty.

I am just gonna support both bands and let the music stand on its own and try to enjoy what they have and will give us. These guys put on a rocking 90 minute show that the energy and music of the band always leaves you fulfilled wanting more. And I think that is what we want from any band.

[ek88]

Good post.

[yogi]

I almost forgot in the S.A. Express news last Friday they had a Styx article to promote the concert. The writer gave these facts:

Styx has sold over 32 million albums worldwide

Styx still sells over 250,000 CD's every year.

Finally, and I MEAN it, we were sitting 12th row to the left of the stage. There was a group of about 10-12 young people that looked to be late high school/college age pressed up against the stage. They seemed to be having the ABSOLUTE best time up there. They knew the words to every song Styx sung. Including the three songs from Cyclorama. They were going crazy, and made quite an impression. All the people around us noticed them. It brought me back to 'The Day'.

[ek88]

Styx still sells over 250,000 CD's every year.

I've always wondered if all the current touring by the band is boosting their catalog sales. We're always quick to look at Cyclorama, but from the perspective of a newer Styx fan, a compilation of some sorts would look a lot more attractive. Perhaps this also explains why so many different compilations have been released. Maybe they're trying to put together as many combinations as possible to have a wider appeal. Just thinking out loud!

[bugsymalone]

I have always thought that Amazon.com would represent a broad cross-section of the country and its buying habits.

That said, Styx Greatest Hits I has consistently ranked in their top 1000 sellers, more often in the top 500, and very often in the 100's and 200's in sales. I asked Amazon about this and anything in the top 1000 is a very good seller. If you look at their sales listings for Styx, you will see Grand Illusion and Paradise Theater are always selling some copies as well. GI rose up into the 1200's range not long ago.

Last week, The Anthology ranked 136 in sales and GHI was about the same. THAT was also interesting to me.

The touring has GOT to help sales and I think what goes on at Amazon reflects this as a sort of nationwide trend.

An interesting side note. Since Dennis has been touring, he has apparently sold copies of The Ultimate Collection as its Amazon ranking went from down in the 12,000's up to the 8,000's and ranking it ahead of Cyclorama recently. Don't know if that is still the case, but I thought that was noteworthy.

I think you are right, ek. I believe there's a method to the madness of all the compilations. New fans will buy them in one form or another so why not have them out there and collect the $$$.

Also thinking out loud.

Bugsy

[styxfanNH]

As much as I hate the releasing of the compilation albums, it does give exposure of the catalog to the casual fan and is also a way to bring the music of old to a new fan base.

I know as I breeze through my cd collection, I must have 30 greatest hits collections to bands i listen to every now and then. The reality is that i would never buy most of the catalogs of these bands, but I will buy the most recent greatest collection of my more casually listening music groups.

I guess i can't have it both ways. The compilation albums do have a place. But with groups i listen to religiously, I would rather have new music.

[Panjandrum]

Seeing kids loving the music is great. Kids/young adults like a *lot* more music than they usually get exposed to (or will admit to, depending on peer pressure). I expose my daughter to a tremendous variety of music to try and offset the radio hegemony she'll be getting all too soon when she hits that age.

It is a lot different than the Edge of the Century tour. In that tour (saw it in Columbus Ohio), the *only* people enjoying the new songs from EOTC were a group of about 5 teenagers. The rest of the audience (older STYX fans) just sat through every EOTC song in the set. It must have been hard up on stage to see that, but I think everyone there (save the 5 teenagers) was in the same mind-set; we all thought the new CD sucked (to this day, EOTC is my least favorite STYX CD outside of STYX (1), which I have to admit I never listen to anymore). It's nice to see STYX with a sound that appeals to both new and old fans.

Personally, I think "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" would have a good chance of being hit if they could ever get it on the radio ;-)

[ek88]

Personally, I think "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" would have a good chance of being hit if they could ever get it on the radio

I agree. If airplay was the main goal, I think I would've released this as the first single and given it some serious promotion. I listen to a lot of modern rock and I find it hard to believe that KYAG wouldn't have found a niche somewhere. It has a very mainstream sound to it.

[styxfanNH]

On Glen's new album, he has rerecorded Kiss your..... Maybe he will release it as a single.