Steve Augeri about Styx

[bugsymalone]

There IS an echo in here!!

Bugsy

[The_Noble_Cause]

Other members singing new songs or songs from before the band was famous isn't going over well in concert. People don't know these songs.

Journey - like Styx has become a nostalgia act. People want to hear the hits. And they want them to sound like they remember.

And that's that, huh?
The band should just resign themselves to the sobering reality that they are a nostaligia act and playing nothing EXCEPT for the greatest hits ad nauseum?
Is that they way you see it?

I personally think playing the pre-Perry jam band stuff was a brazen move on their part and they are to be commended!

[Monker]

Oh my gosh, have any of us ever stayed on the same topic with these threads?

Yes. The topic of this forum is almost exclusively, "Styx Sucks and Dennis doens't." Every single Styx related thread in this forum turns into it.

anyone who annoints THEMSELF a legend is bound to get a little ridicule from time to time.......

So, a Styx fan reads a post where a member of Journey compliments Styx for how they approach their music and the first thought is "JY sucks!" I must reply with that and post old interviews to prove it!

Makes perfect sense to me...sure it does.

Good old perception. It never ceases to amaze me that so many people only see or hear what they want to.

What I see is Steve Augeri complimenting Styx...not this or that version of Styx - but how Styx has ALWAYS approached their music. But, instead of recognizing that, all people see is "JY sucks!" and turning the conversation into something negative towards JY and the current version of Styx as a whole.

Oh and since when is JY the only member of Styx? I didn't realize JY was equal to Styx.
[/quoe]

Augeri wasn't talking ONLY about JY. But, this forum turned the thread into talking aboult JY. And, that, IMO diminishes ALL of Styx - including the time when Dennis was in the band...because, it seems to them, talking about how much JY sucks is more important then talking about the music of Styx.

Lighten up.

Perhaps the forum should stop turning everything about Styx into a 'joke'.

[jrnyman28]

Regarding the original post on this thread. Yes, Styx has multiple lead singers. They have always been that way and each singer has his own "hits" to sing.

Journey doing that doesn't make sense to me.

What doesn't make sense about it? Each member can sing. Each member brings something a little different to the band. The fans have responded positively from the past tours. Journey sees that Styx has always done that sort of thing and appreciates what it brings to 'the band'.

Journey is known for Steve Perry's voice.

True that Journey became known for Perry's voice. But since his voice is not here anymore (or anywhere else for that matter...) why not broaden the sound and style? Why not give more emphasis to the BAND?

Other members singing new songs or songs from before the band was famous isn't going over well in concert. People don't know these songs.

Actually, it is doing surprisingly well. It was a ballsy move and it helps the band keep enjoying themselves too.

Journey - like Styx has become a nostalgia act. People want to hear the hits. And they want them to sound like they remember.

But that doesn't mean they can't do things to keep themselves happy as well. In fact, IMO a band should do what pleases them FIRST. That is how it starts...a band makes music and THEN they find an audience. Of course they consider what that audience likes when they make future music. But it should still be what makes the band happy first.

Styx impressed me on the Main Event Tour BECAUSE they played four new songs even in a very short set. Journey played (at MOST) ONE new song in that same amount of time. But this year Journey has found a way to play music from EVERY era of the band...INCLUDING new material.

How many people on this board would like to here some Wooden Nickle sessions music played live? I have listened to those first 4 CDs, but I am not very familiar with the material. And I KNOW I would feel a little "lost" if Styx played the music in concert. But I would still listen, accept it, appreciate the musicianship, AND appreciate that the band is doing something special. That is what Journey is doing, too. I doubt they will ever play a set like this again. And I HOPE they start pruning some of the lesser-known Perry material as well, in favor of Augeri-era material.

Journey will still be playing their hits, as will Styx. But there is NO reason these bands can't stretch a little in concert. Take their audiences on a ride, on an adventure. Styx has done it in the past by playing new music in concert..no matter the set length! Journey took note, saw that it could be done, and commended/respected Styx for it.

[sadie65]

Yes. The topic of this forum is almost exclusively, "Styx Sucks and Dennis doens't." Every single Styx related thread in this forum turns into it.

Hardly. But you want to believe that so you see only that.

So, a Styx fan reads a post where a member of Journey compliments Styx for how they approach their music and the first thought is "JY sucks!" I must reply with that and post old interviews to prove it!
Makes perfect sense to me...sure it does.

No the first thought was how did he come up with the nickname "reluctant legend". Nobody must reply with old interviews to prove anything. That Suite found them to answer her own question (which I'd point others acknowledged as well) only shows that to some people JY comes across as how you perceive others peoples perception of him to be. In this forum, most people know more than the average fan, so yes, they will gravitate away from the original post. I posted what I thought to be a fair review of Styx recently. That post got lost in a see of crap that the thread turned into.

What I see is Steve Augeri complimenting Styx...not this or that version of Styx - but how Styx has ALWAYS approached their music. But, instead of recognizing that, all people see is "JY sucks!" and turning the conversation into something negative towards JY and the current version of Styx as a whole.

Yes Mr. Augieri did compliment Styx. And some people acknowledged that. That the thread changed into something else happens with nearly every thread here, not just the "Dennis v. Styx" ones. And if all people see is JY sucks, then perhaps a.) they aren't looking very hard, b.) perhaps there is some validity to what they read. c.) Sometimes even good things turn negative, regardless of intent or topic.

Augeri wasn't talking ONLY about JY. But, this forum turned the thread into talking aboult JY. And, that, IMO diminishes ALL of Styx - including the time when Dennis was in the band...because, it seems to them, talking about how much JY sucks is more important then talking about the music of Styx.

You are right. Augieri wasn't speaking only of JY, but since the conversation had evolved (or devolved) into how JY got his name and the perception of his attitude about himself, that's what people took issue with.
Music of Styx...hmmm...it has been discussed many times here. This time it wasn't. And perhaps that's a shame, but I believe all of us have had a topic derailed or changed from what we hoped to discuss.

Perhaps the forum should stop turning everything about Styx into a 'joke'.

Perhaps they shouldn't give us so much room to make jokes. One can see humor in things and still show support.

[kansas666]

But there is NO reason these bands can't stretch a little in concert. Take their audiences on a ride, on an adventure.

Well actually there is a very good reason. It is called putting butts in seats. When it comes right down to it, the majority of the fans are there to hear the hits. Ask any member of any classic rock or "nostalgia" band and they will tell you the same thing. I am sure most bands would like to play their new material in it's entirety. But they know what brings people to the concert. I have heard many reports from Journey concerts this year that people are all up and cheering for the hits but they leave for the bathrooms and beerstands during the material they don't know. The concessioniers are making a killing.

There is nothing profound about this. This is not new. Rick Springfield even jokes about it during his concerts.

Sure, the hardcore fans want to hear the obscure and new stuff. But hardcore fans don't fill concert halls.

[Monker]

Regarding the original post on this thread. Yes, Styx has multiple lead singers. They have always been that way and each singer has his own "hits" to sing.

Journey doing that doesn't make sense to me. Journey is known for Steve Perry's voice. Other members singing new songs or songs from before the band was famous isn't going over well in concert. People don't know these songs.

That is mostly true...

Except, Journey is at a point in time where they can choose to do whatever they want. You can say it's not going over well, and I would somewhat agree, but they are still selling 10,000+ tickets. So, they can afford to take some chances and let others sing, or experiment in other ways.

Also, Styx DOES perform songs outside of the 'classic' years...both Cyclorama and BBT songs.

There has to be a 'balance' (as Dave would say) between giving the GH crowd what they want, giving the 'diehards' what they want, and the band performing to satisfy themselves.

Styx, I think, leans a little towards giving the crowd what they want and still finds time to throw in 'new' songs. The crowd comes first and then they add BBT or whatever new songs they have for the album they are promoting...it has been that way for years.

Journey, it seems, now leans a little more towards playing for their own satisfaction and giving the GH crowd just enough to keep them happy. So, they add 45mins of pre-Perry songs, a bunch of 'new' songs, 'obscure' "classic" years songs, and sprinkle the hits in there to keep people happy. As they see people are not as happy as the band expects, they adjust the set.

And, they adjust it so often that I can't even make a point about complaining about it...cuz someone will pull up a set that contradicts what I try to say.

[The_Noble_Cause]

It is called putting butts in seats. When it comes right down to it, the majority of the fans are there to hear the hits. Ask any member of any classic rock or "nostalgia" band and they will tell you the same thing.

That doesn't mean Journey is prohibited from playing anything outside of solely their hits collection. Journey always makes sure to play their hits for the casual listeners and they throw a little something extra in there, as well (for the die-hards).
What's the problem here?
You make it sound as if Journey plays none of their hits whatsoever.

[kansas666]

Journey is at a point in time where they can choose to do whatever they want. You can say it's not going over well, and I would somewhat agree, but they are still selling 10,000+ tickets. So, they can afford to take some chances and let others sing, or experiment in other ways.

I am not sure where you are getting your numbers. Check out Pollstar. Journey is playing theaters, casinos and county fairs, not much different than STYX.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

kansas says:

I am not sure where you are getting your numbers. Check out Pollstar. Journey is playing theaters, casinos and county fairs, not much different than STYX.

BUT, if you do check Pollstar and ticket sales, Journey has been selling more tickets and at higher ticket prices than Carrot Styx.

Just look at this past Summerfest in Milwaukee, Carrot Styx played the "free" stage and Journey played in the Marcus Ampitheater with paying seats. That's a huge difference right there.

Also, Journey has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they have had more fan support than the current Carrot Styx has.

TheNobleCause says:

You make it sound as if Journey plays none of their hits whatsoever.

Oh my gosh, when I seen Journey a few months ago, it was great for every Journey fan with the variety of songs they played. To me, and the tons of fans around me, it seemed the whole second half was ALL "hits"

[jrnyman28]

But there is NO reason these bands can't stretch a little in concert. Take their audiences on a ride, on an adventure.

Well actually there is a very good reason. It is called putting butts in seats. When it comes right down to it, the majority of the fans are there to hear the hits.

True. But my point is that there is no reason why a band cannot do BOTH!
Journey and Styx still play their hits. Styx impressed Journey and myself by playing new music as well. Journey is now playing hits and new music and obscure music. Best of ALL worlds.

[jrnyman28]

am not sure where you are getting your numbers. Check out Pollstar. Journey is playing theaters, casinos and county fairs, not much different than STYX.

Here are some listings:

Blossum is listed at "capacity 19,551"!
Coors states "Capacity 19,492"

Konocti has 5,000 seats.

The PNC Bank Arts Center "accommodates 17,500 guests"

Jones Beach "now seats 14,000 people comfortably." and features the following schedule:

05/13/05 Sting Broken Music Tour Buy Tickets
05/14/05 Velvet Revolver Buy Tickets
06/10/05 Stevie Nicks / Don Henley Buy Tickets
06/17/05 Judas Priest with Queensryche Buy Tickets
06/21/05 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Special Guest The Black Crowes Buy Tickets
07/01/05 James Taylor Buy Tickets
08/16/05 Motley Crue with Sum 41, The Exies and Silvertide Buy Tickets

I looked those up before the tour had started. They added many more mid-size venues. 10-15,000 seems to be the norm.

[Monker]

Exactly, and there isn't a single 'county fair' in the tour. Perhaps kansas should check HIS facts again.

Journey tours mostly amphitheaters and casinos...NOTHING wrong with that. Styx tours twice as hard and probably plays close to the same number of people as Journey over all- nothing wrong with that either.

But, when Journey hits a stage, they have a lot more room to experiment - because people are buying their tickets regardless of the number of songs that are not "hits'.

Styx doesn't have that much flexibility - but they still find a way to mix in new songs every tour.

That's just the way things are.

am not sure where you are getting your numbers. Check out Pollstar. Journey is playing theaters, casinos and county fairs, not much different than STYX.

Here are some listings:

Blossum is listed at "capacity 19,551"!
Coors states "Capacity 19,492"

Konocti has 5,000 seats.

The PNC Bank Arts Center "accommodates 17,500 guests"

Jones Beach "now seats 14,000 people comfortably." and features the following schedule:

05/13/05 Sting Broken Music Tour Buy Tickets
05/14/05 Velvet Revolver Buy Tickets
06/10/05 Stevie Nicks / Don Henley Buy Tickets
06/17/05 Judas Priest with Queensryche Buy Tickets
06/21/05 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Special Guest The Black Crowes Buy Tickets
07/01/05 James Taylor Buy Tickets
08/16/05 Motley Crue with Sum 41, The Exies and Silvertide Buy Tickets

I looked those up before the tour had started. They added many more mid-size venues. 10-15,000 seems to be the norm.

[Monker]

Also, Journey has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they have had more fan support than the current Carrot Styx has.

THAT has nothing to do with amount of 'fan support'. A star on the HOF has to do with money and politics - and that's about it.

True, fans had a LOT to do with Journey's star...But, if you look at some of the names on other stars it is VERY obvious that money and politics put it there.