First the Bad
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2005 6:01 amFirst the bad review:
Review: In leaving past behind, a revived Styx disappoints
09:42 PM CST on Sunday, January 9, 2005
By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
FORT WORTH – It would be ridiculous to yearn for the same Styx of the band's '70s and '80s heyday, especially since today's Styx contains only two members from that million-selling era – vocalists and guitarists Tommy Shaw and James Young. Dennis DeYoung, whose high-pitched voice was a signature Styx sound, is gone.
Yet given the handicaps, Saturday night's Styx performance at Billy Bob's Texas should have been a fun trip down memory lane, even with a few tunes from Cyclorama, the band's serviceable if unremarkable studio album from 2003. The guys have a catalog of staples to play. Let the good times roll, right?
Wrong. For about 90 minutes the five Styx members padded their set with grandstanding, album cuts, not enough instantly recognizable songs, an interminable medley and a useless cover of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus." The show felt long-winded, loud. The quintet wanted to prove they're hard rockers at the expense of the famed material.
Let's face it, whether you liked Mr. DeYoung's penchant for ballads or not, they were a hallmark of Styx.
From "Lady" to "Babe," "The Best of Times" to "Show Me The Way" the power ballads became a telltale part of the band. Styx began as a progressive rock ensemble, but it quickly tempered its noodlings with pop-rock hooks.
Plus, keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, who Saturday night sported a spinning electric piano, had Mr. DeYoung's pitch down pat. His "Lady" was right on. "Come Sail Away" and "The Grand Illusion" worked, too. The tunes still hold up in concert. Otherwise, Mr. Gowan was a showoff side man. He would've made a better impression by taking the lead mike more. Instead he kept wrapping his wiry body around the rotating keys.
Mr. Young was difficult to watch. He looks weathered and his flamboyant mannerisms are outdated. He sang "Snowblind," a who-cares cut from Paradise Theatre that proved a waste. Good thing Mr. Shaw slapped out a convincing rendition of "Too Much Time on My Hands," a hit from Theatre.
But Mr. Shaw was only so-so. He opened the gig with a rocking take on "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" from Pieces of Eight. Still, he seemed a reluctant front man. He's the name in Styx now, but didn't act like it.
It was funny, though, when he changed into a Damn Yankees T-shirt, the band he joined during his Styx hiatus. If only more of that humor permeated the performance.
E-mail mtarradell@dallasnews.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... a7611.html
Review: In leaving past behind, a revived Styx disappoints
09:42 PM CST on Sunday, January 9, 2005
By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
FORT WORTH – It would be ridiculous to yearn for the same Styx of the band's '70s and '80s heyday, especially since today's Styx contains only two members from that million-selling era – vocalists and guitarists Tommy Shaw and James Young. Dennis DeYoung, whose high-pitched voice was a signature Styx sound, is gone.
Yet given the handicaps, Saturday night's Styx performance at Billy Bob's Texas should have been a fun trip down memory lane, even with a few tunes from Cyclorama, the band's serviceable if unremarkable studio album from 2003. The guys have a catalog of staples to play. Let the good times roll, right?
Wrong. For about 90 minutes the five Styx members padded their set with grandstanding, album cuts, not enough instantly recognizable songs, an interminable medley and a useless cover of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus." The show felt long-winded, loud. The quintet wanted to prove they're hard rockers at the expense of the famed material.
Let's face it, whether you liked Mr. DeYoung's penchant for ballads or not, they were a hallmark of Styx.
From "Lady" to "Babe," "The Best of Times" to "Show Me The Way" the power ballads became a telltale part of the band. Styx began as a progressive rock ensemble, but it quickly tempered its noodlings with pop-rock hooks.
Plus, keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, who Saturday night sported a spinning electric piano, had Mr. DeYoung's pitch down pat. His "Lady" was right on. "Come Sail Away" and "The Grand Illusion" worked, too. The tunes still hold up in concert. Otherwise, Mr. Gowan was a showoff side man. He would've made a better impression by taking the lead mike more. Instead he kept wrapping his wiry body around the rotating keys.
Mr. Young was difficult to watch. He looks weathered and his flamboyant mannerisms are outdated. He sang "Snowblind," a who-cares cut from Paradise Theatre that proved a waste. Good thing Mr. Shaw slapped out a convincing rendition of "Too Much Time on My Hands," a hit from Theatre.
But Mr. Shaw was only so-so. He opened the gig with a rocking take on "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" from Pieces of Eight. Still, he seemed a reluctant front man. He's the name in Styx now, but didn't act like it.
It was funny, though, when he changed into a Damn Yankees T-shirt, the band he joined during his Styx hiatus. If only more of that humor permeated the performance.
E-mail mtarradell@dallasnews.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... a7611.html
I like that.
If he did and he wanted to, I'd probably run and hide from this group - LOL