Crystal Grand Theater 4-24

[Zan]

Wow, I couldn't agree less. "Miss America" for me, was never a favorite, but live...it takes on a certain energy that can't be compared. The original seems almost watered down now.

I disagree Miss America has been destroyed from Day 1 cutting the synth intro and adding a screaming OH Yea JY is enough for me.
Second of all Its not even a great song compared to other JY songs
Great White Hope, Double Life, Midnight Ride, You Need Love and Half Penny are much better choices but a lazy Styx is not interested in being smart.

I like the synth intro, for sure. I wouldn't have a problem if they put it back in there, but I'm talking about the whole vibe of the song, not just the first few seconds.

I would prolly wet myself if they played "Double Life," but that isn't going to happen either, so I'm safe.

[chowhall]

Great White Hope, Double Life, Midnight Ride, You Need Love and Half Penny are much better choices but a lazy Styx is not interested in being smart.

Smart and adding a song only geeks like us on this board would even be aware of don't go together. Miss America was a minor hit on Styx's seminal album and easily the most accessable song from JY's collection. It's not my favorite JY song either but in modern day Styx life with or without Dennis, it has to be there.

[Jodes]

Miss America is a staple of a Styx concert. Putting it up front doesn't make sense.

I'd rather they "get it out of the way" I loved the studio version, but really don't like what it's become live.

Wow, I couldn't agree less. "Miss America" for me, was never a favorite, but live...it takes on a certain energy that can't be compared. The original seems almost watered down now.

I disagree Miss America has been destroyed from Day 1 cutting the synth intro and adding a screaming OH Yea JY is enough for me.
Second of all Its not even a great song compared to other JY songs
Great White Hope, Double Life, Midnight Ride, You Need Love and Half Penny are much better choices but a lazy Styx is not interested in being smart.

So Froy, would you call Dennis "Lazy" for not playing "Queen Of Spades", "Born For Adventure" or even Best Thing? Its been years since he's done any of them live.. You've even complained on here about how "stale" his setlist is not that long ago. Face it Froy, Dennis like Styx is stuck doing "the hits" with maybe one or two "deep cuts" (Castle Walls/Pieces of Eight) thrown in every once in a while. Thats what the majority of the fans want.

If Dennis came out and said "tonight folks, I'm doing six songs from my new album" the majority of the crowd would be p*ssed.. Especially if it took away from the biggies.. Can you imagine a Dennis concert without him doing Come Sail Away, Best of Times or Babe?

Honestly I would love to hear six new songs instead of Rockin, Lorelei, and the gawd-awful Accapella Show Me The Way (sorry, the ladies voices on it just make me cringe). Unfortunately those are the ones that will stay and stuff like Castle Walls or Pieces will be the ones sacrificed.

And FYI, less then a year ago Styx was playing Midnight Ride in their setlist..

[kansas666]

best part was when i was able to get chuck to sign my copy of his book before the bow down.

You must have been standing right in front of us. I saw Chuck signing a book at the end of the encore.

I never thought Miss America was one of their better songs. Sometimes playing a song at the beginning can help it. There is a level of energy there that can elevate a mediocre song to a higher status. STYX is aware of that. They opened their 1999-2000 tour with a weak song off of BNW. They did the same thing for the last few years by opening with BCM.

I don't think STYX is creatively spent. They are not releasing new material because the music industry has changed with internet piracy. Why put something out if no one will buy it? There is still a market for greatest hits and live material. Plus the bulk of the money to be made today is in touring.

[Jodes]

Everything is Cool is a weak song?

I thought it was a great opener.. the other songs, I will be your witness, and Number One were the stinkers from that tour..

[Toph]

Miss America is a staple of a Styx concert. Putting it up front doesn't make sense.

I'd rather they "get it out of the way" I loved the studio version, but really don't like what it's become live.

Wow, I couldn't agree less. "Miss America" for me, was never a favorite, but live...it takes on a certain energy that can't be compared. The original seems almost watered down now.

I disagree Miss America has been destroyed from Day 1 cutting the synth intro and adding a screaming OH Yea JY is enough for me.
Second of all Its not even a great song compared to other JY songs
Great White Hope, Double Life, Midnight Ride, You Need Love and Half Penny are much better choices but a lazy Styx is not interested in being smart.

So Froy, would you call Dennis "Lazy" for not playing "Queen Of Spades", "Born For Adventure" or even Best Thing? Its been years since he's done any of them live.. You've even complained on here about how "stale" his setlist is not that long ago. Face it Froy, Dennis like Styx is stuck doing "the hits" with maybe one or two "deep cuts" (Castle Walls/Pieces of Eight) thrown in every once in a while. Thats what the majority of the fans want.

If Dennis came out and said "tonight folks, I'm doing six songs from my new album" the majority of the crowd would be p*ssed.. Especially if it took away from the biggies.. Can you imagine a Dennis concert without him doing Come Sail Away, Best of Times or Babe?

Honestly I would love to hear six new songs instead of Rockin, Lorelei, and the gawd-awful Accapella Show Me The Way (sorry, the ladies voices on it just make me cringe). Unfortunately those are the ones that will stay and stuff like Castle Walls or Pieces will be the ones sacrificed.

And FYI, less then a year ago Styx was playing Midnight Ride in their setlist..

Would love to hear Born For Adventure! I agree with you on a few of these - I actually wish Show Me The Way would go back to the non acapella version - with the instruments etc. But I think that one has to stay. I remember that he took it out for about a month because he was having voice issues and there were quite a few postings on "the crib" that demanded it back. So, it probably falls into the Babe, BOT, etc. category. After all it did go up all the way to #3 and also was a sentimental song for lots of folks. What is wrong with RTP? Classic Styx sound and a pretty big single in its day.

I would love to hear Born, Borrowed Time, Pieces of Eight, I'm Okay, Lonely People, Black Wall, Harry's Hands as deep cuts to name a few.

[froy]

So Froy, would you call Dennis "Lazy" for not playing "Queen Of Spades", "Born For Adventure" or even Best Thing? Its been years since he's done any of them live..

2 things JY has much less to choose from when it comes to songs
Dennis has played all you mentioned except Born and I have no idea why.
He played Im OK, Back To Chicago Best Thing Queen and Borrowed Time
JY has never played You need Love or Great White hope all he knows is Miss America which is so burned out.

You've even complained on here about how "stale" his setlist is not that long ago.

Yea it is getting old GI into Lady into Desert Moon
GI is dead get rid of it

Face it Froy, Dennis like Styx is stuck doing "the hits" with maybe one or two "deep cuts" (Castle Walls/Pieces of Eight) thrown in every once in a while. Thats what the majority of the fans want.

Styx more so than Dennis thats for sure.





If Dennis came out and said "tonight folks, I'm doing six songs from my new album" the majority of the crowd would be p*ssed.. Especially if it took away from the biggies.. Can you imagine a Dennis concert without him doing Come Sail Away, Best of Times or Babe?

Honestly I would love to hear six new songs instead of Rockin, Lorelei, and the gawd-awful Accapella Show Me The Way (sorry, the ladies voices on it just make me cringe). Unfortunately those are the ones that will stay and stuff like Castle Walls or Pieces will be the ones sacrificed.

And FYI, less then a year ago Styx was playing Midnight Ride in their setlist..[/quote]

[KWH17]

As great as it would be to hear those songs, my personal choices for JY songs would be Young Man and Man of Miracles. Even if they did decide to switch up their set list they would not likely play either of those two songs. I sent an e-mail to their official website, suggesting that they add those songs to the set, I got a reply from some PR that said they would "take it into consideration." ya, not likely.

[hoagiepete]

If Dennis came out and said "tonight folks, I'm doing six songs from my new album" the majority of the crowd would be p*ssed.. Especially if it took away from the biggies.. Can you imagine a Dennis concert without him doing Come Sail Away, Best of Times or Babe?

Honestly I would love to hear six new songs instead of Rockin, Lorelei, and the gawd-awful Accapella Show Me The Way (sorry, the ladies voices on it just make me cringe). Unfortunately those are the ones that will stay and stuff like Castle Walls or Pieces will be the ones sacrificed.

And FYI, less then a year ago Styx was playing Midnight Ride in their setlist..

I'd rather hear Castle Walls and Pieces played twice than having to hear Best of Times and Babe in concert. Oh wait...I do have to get rid of the beer sometime. Don't get me wrong...I like DDY and don't mind those songs...just not in concert.

By the way...you have gained added respect from me for offering critiques of DDY's concerts. For whatever that's worth. Nice.

[Jodes]

2 things JY has much less to choose from when it comes to songs
Dennis has played all you mentioned except Born and I have no idea why.
He played Im OK, Back To Chicago Best Thing Queen and Borrowed Time
JY has never played You need Love or Great White hope all he knows is Miss America which is so burned out.


When did he do Best Thing and Borrowed Time? I heard he did Back To Chicago once, and I'm Okay.

Well I think Great White Hope was done in 78 and then it was pretty much put to rest. As for You Need Love, again very very very few of their fans are into the Wooden Nickel stuff, so it would be pointless.

Unfortunately Miss America and Snowblind are the two Styx tunes of JY's thats on the GH CD Hence why it would stick. Would I love to hear Half Penny, These Are The Times, Midnight Ride, Hell even Heavy Metal Poisioning instead of Miss America? Damn Straights, again though, those tunes aren't for the casual fan.

You've even complained on here about how "stale" his setlist is not that long ago.

Yea it is getting old GI into Lady into Desert Moon
GI is dead get rid of it

Face it Froy, Dennis like Styx is stuck doing "the hits" with maybe one or two "deep cuts" (Castle Walls/Pieces of Eight) thrown in every once in a while. Thats what the majority of the fans want.

Styx more so than Dennis thats for sure.


Well Styx and Dennis do have their "10-12 Must plays" with each having 4-5 "deep cuts" they can pull out.

I guess thats why I loved the shows in 99 so much.. you got full renditions of Queen of Spades, Half Penny Two Penny, Boat On the River, Man In The Wilderness, etc..

Its also why I won't go and see them in the States anymore, at least when Styx comes to Canada they do change up the setlist.. they do Criminal Mind, Suite Madame Blue, Midnight Ride, Boat on the River, Snowblind, etc.

Also when I saw Dennis in Calgary in 06, they new it was a party crowd so him and Glen did Great Balls of Fire and "Gonna Have Some Fun Tonight".. It was great to hear those tracks also.. they were just soundcheck bits and when it came time to do the show, they added them. A few months later in Edmonton it was more of a "Styx" crowd so they stuck with the favs, and Desert Moon..

[froy]

2 things JY has much less to choose from when it comes to songs
Dennis has played all you mentioned except Born and I have no idea why.
He played Im OK, Back To Chicago Best Thing Queen and Borrowed Time
JY has never played You need Love or Great White hope all he knows is Miss America which is so burned out.


When did he do Best Thing and Borrowed Time? I heard he did Back To Chicago once, and I'm Okay.

House of Blues Chicago also Unfinished Song was in the set.
Best Thing was killer

Well I think Great White Hope was done in 78 and then it was pretty much put to rest. As for You Need Love, again very very very few of their fans are into the Wooden Nickel stuff, so it would be pointless.

I disagree they would think its a new song

[StyxCollector]

Dennis specifically addressed the setlist thing ... and we talked about it not on tape as well. It's not like he's not aware people want to hear other stuff. Styx I would say the same - they know some people want to hear deep cuts. But the majority of their paying customers are casual fans who want to hear the hits, and nothing but. Anything else is a pee break or beer run.

Let's face it - outside of any "special" shows (like DDY's acoustic ones), we know for both Styx & DDY, we may get one or two songs (if we're lucky) for the die hards, and the rest are hits.

[KWH17]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

[StyxCollector]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

Look at Metallica (disclaimer: don't really like 'em that much, but I respect them). All of their albums have sold fairly well, even the ones that have been panned. But what do the fans want to hear? The old shit and the hits.

Human nature is what it is - we tend to stray to the familiar. It's why cover bands do better than original ones on the bar circuits.

[DerriD]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

I would say that Bon Jovi and U2 are bands that would fit that category. They can both play new material since it is still getting airplay. Ditto somebody like Bruce Springsteen.

Jimmy Buffet has his 'must play' list, but can play just about anything since his concert is an 'experience' and most everyone is drunk.

Prince is a guy who plays all kinds of shit. He writes so much material that often times half the songs he plays haven't even been released so almost nobody knows the songs. Yet he seems to get away with it. Of course he rarely tours, or has few stops on them so you take what you can get.

Van Halen on the recent tour with Dave did only material from Van Halen I through 1984. No new material at all (not even Me Wise Magic) and nothing from the Hagar era or Cherone (can't really call Gary's contribution an era can we?).

[kansas666]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

Aerosmith - They have so many hits new and old that they can't play them all.

They basically had 2 careers seperated by a layoff of about 10 years. Many bands have done the same thing. But most can only play their golden hits from yesteryear and their new stuff just doesn't pan out. STYX anyone?

Aerosmith is one of the few that came back and continued to put out quality new music that the fans wanted to buy.

[Bearded Clam]

I would flip the fuck out if I ever saw Styx do Man of Miracles live. Also 22 Years.

[Jodes]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

Aerosmith - They have so many hits new and old that they can't play them all.

They basically had 2 careers seperated by a layoff of about 10 years. Many bands have done the same thing. But most can only play their golden hits from yesteryear and their new stuff just doesn't pan out. STYX anyone?

Aerosmith is one of the few that came back and continued to put out quality new music that the fans wanted to buy.

I don't know about that.. the last few Aerosmith CD's have been gawd awful.. Their sales of their last few cds have been also nowhere near their numbers from the late 80s or early 90s.


When you had albums sell five or six million a piece then now can't even sell a million, you're fan base has started sending you a message. (Just Push Play just squeeked into platinum and honkin on bobo only sold about 600,000 units)

Lets just hope that Rick Rubin can steer them in the right direction.. and lets hope its not the exact same sound as the Permanent Vacation, Pump and Get A Grip sessions..

[froy]

Jodes

When you had albums sell five or six million a piece then now can't even sell a million, you're fan base has started sending you a message.

Plug in Styx and you will see they are so blind they don't get the message

[Jodes]

But Froy, Styx hasn't had a platinum studio album in 26+ years...


Some could say that "Kilroy" was the start of their decline in the public's eyes..

[sadie65]

But Froy, Styx hasn't had a platinum studio album in 26+ years...


Some could say that "Kilroy" was the start of their decline in the public's eyes..

Given that they split for nearly 10 years, regrouped briefly, and then weren't heard from again for another 5-6...yeah I'd say that would be the public's perception.

[DerriD]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

Aerosmith - They have so many hits new and old that they can't play them all.

They basically had 2 careers seperated by a layoff of about 10 years. Many bands have done the same thing. But most can only play their golden hits from yesteryear and their new stuff just doesn't pan out. STYX anyone?

Aerosmith is one of the few that came back and continued to put out quality new music that the fans wanted to buy.

I damn near said Aerosmith. Nice call.

As others have said, the last couple albums have kinda sucked. But there were some minor hits on them.

[froy]

But Froy, Styx hasn't had a platinum studio album in 26+ years...


Some could say that "Kilroy" was the start of their decline in the public's eyes..[/quote

They would take another Kilroy right now if they could find one

[Jodes]

I'm sure Dennis would too..

[KWH17]

No, Styx wouldn't take another Kilroy, they have too much pride to do more songs about dystopias and robots.

[DerriD]

No, Styx wouldn't take another Kilroy, they have too much pride to do more songs about dystopias and robots.

JY would shit all over it, unitl he found out that Volkswagen had interest in it.

[KWH17]

you know what, If they did a whole album based around the supposed end of the world in 2012; you know do the usual political, and maybe even some religious satire along with some kick ass songs about the world ending, and made it sound like a modern day version of their old sound, it would probably sell pretty well. I'd say that with good promotion [like what they've been getting this year] they could go Gold. The slogan for the tour could be "Either the world ends, or our careers do!" just j/k

[foolintherain]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

just look at Rush. half the set is new stuff and everyone eats it up.

[Ehwmatt]

One thing I've wondered is this: What if by some miracle there was a rock group that came out with record after record for decades, and each one was a hit on the Modern Rock radio charts, would they still be forced to play old faves, or would there be as much demand for the newer stuff? I'm talking strictly hypothetical, where their popularity in the early years was mirrored by their "golden years". Sorry to go off topic, but I just wanted to know what other people thought about this.

just look at Rush. half the set is new stuff and everyone eats it up.

Progressive rockers like Rush and Yes always have more leeway than an arena rock band when it comes to live shows and their fan bases. Although Rush had significant mainstream success, especially during the 80s synth-styled sound, they are still hardly analogous to the likes of Journey and Styx, who have to play the hits or face a huge dip in ticket sales once word of mouth gets around...

[ItsMyLife]

I don't think STYX is creatively spent. They are not releasing new material because the music industry has changed with internet piracy. Why put something out if no one will buy it?

A decade of nothing but mediocre material signifies creatively spent to me.

Meanwhile, Dennis is getting some of the best reviews of his career.