Styx in South Bend

by **sadie65** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:02 am

A very nice review from South Bend. Read on:

http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories ... ertainment

Veteran version of Styx better than in glory days
REVIEW

By TOM CONWAY
Tribune Correspondent

SOUTH BEND -- If it's hard for a new band to break into the music industry, imagine the difficulty that an established group with a 30-year history has of generating new buzz. With scant radio airplay, no music television exposure and little attention from the print media, how can a band that hasn't had a significant hit in 20 years regain its place in the rock marketplace?

For the "classic rock" veterans Styx, the tipping point may come from their live performances. As evidenced by their sold-out concert Sunday night at the Morris Performing Arts Center (or the "Morris Civic," as Styx singer/guitarist and former Niles resident Tommy Shaw remembered it), they are "classic rock" in name only. Not only did they play with youthful abandon throughout the night, they also featured songs from their 2003 release, "Cyclorama," that stand with their best work in the past.

Just before the group took the stage, The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" played over the public address system, with the appropriate refrain of "Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss." Having seen Styx in concert in the '80s, I can say that this current incarnation is just like the Styx that you remembered from their glory days, only better.

Beginning the show in true rock star fashion, the five members appeared from the back of the stage through a cloud of smoke, and tore into the rocking "Blue Collar Man," sung with true conviction by Shaw. His voice and guitar prowess has not diminished one bit. The same can be said for James "JY" Young, the other remaining member from the salad days of Styx.

Young shone on classic Styx songs like "Snowblind" and "Miss America," and provided a highlight of the evening with "These Are The Times," from "Cyclorama." This soon-to-be-a-classic proved that Young had been vastly underused in the past.

Shaw furiously ripped through his repertoire of Styx songs, such as "Too Much Time On My Hands," "Fooling Yourself" and "Renegade," but also could be tender on the delicate "Crystal Ball." Again, a highlight of the night was Shaw's "One With Everything," from "Cyclorama," showing that the members of Styx are not content to rest on their laurels and just become a nostalgia act.

Keyboardist Lawrence Gowan has been handed the task of performing the songs originally sung by former member Dennis DeYoung. While "The Grand Illusion" and "Come Sail Away" sounded great, his singing on "Lady" gave the evening its only off-kilter moment. He seemed to be channeling the Mayor of Munchkinland, but, then again, the same could be said for the original.

Gowan redeemed himself with the band's version of "I Am The Walrus," the first single off their covers-only CD "Big Bang Theory," which is due to be released in May. Styx was faithful to The Beatles' original, all the way to the nonsensical coda.

Gowan also sang lead on the band's rip-roaring version of Humble Pie's "I Don't Need No Doctor," another song from the upcoming album.

The rhythm section of drummer Todd Sucherman and the band's newest member, bassist Ricky Phillips, was solid throughout the evening. Sucherman was the anchor for the 13-minute medley of Styx songs from the band's vinyl days. Included in the medley were forgotten songs like "Suite Madame Blue" and "Light Up."

Sadly, this is where they decided to dump "Mr. Roboto." Yes, it is a dumb, kitschy song, but it is our dumb, kitschy song, and judging by the audience's reaction to the few seconds heard, it should be given its own spot in the set list.

The revelation of the evening was the surprisingly mixed ages of the audience. The expected longtime middle-age fans were present, but there was also a large percentage of teenagers who were not even born when Styx had their last hit in the mid-'80s.

Opening the show was Denny Snyder, the hardest-working man on the local music scene. Whether fronting the Southside Denny Band or playing solo, he can always be expected to deliver the goods, and did not disappoint on this night. Playing in front of thousands of Styx fans could be daunting for lesser talents, but Snyder never faltered, showing the appreciative audience what an acoustic guitar in the right hands could do. In addition to the instrumentals "Chicken Feed" and "Melancholy Mood" from his solo CD "Eclectic," his too-short solo set featured an acoustic version of the Southside Denny Band favorite "Slidin' " and a new song about having to wear "too many hats" as a self-employed musician.

by **Hippie** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:01 am

Having seen Styx in concert in the '80s, I can say that this current incarnation is just like the Styx that you remembered from their glory days, only better.

Froy's gonna Hiroshima!!! :wink:

by **Adam** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:28 am

And the survey says: FROOEY'S GONNA HEMORAGE!

by **Zan** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:53 am

Hippie says:

Froy's gonna Hiroshima!!!

Adam says:

FROOEY'S GONNA HEMORAGE!

LMAO!

You know...dozens of people spontaneously combust every year, it's just not really widely reported.

by **kansas666** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 4:55 am

When did they add Suite Madam blue to the medley?

And for some reason I thought JY sang I don't need no doctor. Pehaps the notes I read from Tommy just referenced his guitar playing on that song.

by **Hippie** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 5:07 am

And for some reason I thought JY sang I don't need no doctor. Pehaps the notes I read from Tommy just referenced his guitar playing on that song.

I thought that too. I know he has at least 2 tracks on the new disc; "Manic Depression" and "Locomotive Breath". Both songs are a perfect fit for him!

by **froy** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 12:00 pm

Hippie wrote:
Having seen Styx in concert in the '80s, I can say that this current incarnation is just like the Styx that you remembered from their glory days, only better.

Froy's gonna Hiroshima!!!

Yea those South Bend paper writers are really up on things
:roll:

by **Adam** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:38 pm

So what's wrong with not seeing the band in awhile? YOU haven't seen them in EIGHT YEARS, Freud.

by **froy** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 11:53 pm

Adam wrote:So what's wrong with not seeing the band in awhile? YOU haven't seen them in EIGHT YEARS, Freud.[/quote

]

Is it name calling time now Adam ? :roll:

by **Adam** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 2:52 am

FROY: Is it name calling time now Adam ?

ADAM: No, it's question asking time. What's wrong with not seeing the band in awhile? YOU haven't seen them in over EIGHT YEARS, yet you continue to review their performances, Frob.

by **froy** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:18 am

Adam wrote:FROY: Is it name calling time now Adam ?

ADAM: No, it's question asking time. What's wrong with not seeing the band in awhile? YOU haven't seen them in over EIGHT YEARS, yet you continue to review their performances, Frob.

What band ?
Styx sorry they broke up .
Its the blind leading the blind
Get some glasses you may see the light Madam

by **Zan** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:20 am

froy wrote:What band ?
Styx sorry they broke up .
Its the blind leading the blind
Get some glasses you may see the light
Madam

Is that haiku? ;-)

by **froy** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:25 am

Zan wrote:
froy wrote:What band ?
Styx sorry they broke up .
Its the blind leading the blind
Get some glasses you may see the light
Madam

Is that haiku?

What is Haiku?

Haiku is one of the most important form of traditional japanese poetry. Haiku is, today, a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Since early days, there has been confusion between the three related terms Haiku, Hokku and Haikai. The term hokku literally means "starting verse", and was the first starting link of a much longer chain of verses known as haika. Because the hokku set the tone for the rest of the poetic chain, it enjoyed a privileged position in haikai poetry, and it was not uncommon for a poet to compose a hokku by itself without following up with the rest of the chain.

by **Zan** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:31 am

froy wrote:What is Haiku?

Haiku is one of the most important form of traditional japanese poetry. Haiku is, today, a 17-syllable verse form consisting of three metrical units of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. Since early days, there has been confusion between the three related terms Haiku, Hokku and Haikai. The term hokku literally means "starting verse", and was the first starting link of a much longer chain of verses known as haika. Because the hokku set the tone for the rest of the poetic chain, it enjoyed a privileged position in haikai poetry, and it was not uncommon for a poet to compose a hokku by itself without following up with the rest of the chain.

Thanks for the lesson
I will cherish it always
Froy, you rock the house.

by **bugsymalone** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:34 am

You know, Froy, I just noticed something. While I am not any kind of fan of some of your extreme posts, I gotta hand it to you.

You pop up and pop off, by yourself, and I count 8 members who go ballistic responding to you. They pile on, one after another, to be sure they get their slams on you asap.

Then, you just rise up out of the scrum and pop all of them again and, boom! more responses!

LOL. It just struck me as funny how the one can get this overwhelming response from the many.

Carry on all. I read and, sometimes, I enjoy.

(Note: Humor is not allowed in the Monker zone. All things fun and funny cease to exist in that strange Monker world).

Bugsy

by **Adam** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:47 am

I hate to admit it, but you're right, Bugsy. What would we do, were it not for Frob - have mature dialogue? Where's the entertainment value in that?

It's a can of beer, American Idol and the Writings Of Chairman Froy for me, baby.

by **Monker** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:51 am

LOL. It just struck me as funny how the one can get this overwhelming response from the many.

Yeah, very much like when JY says, "Geez, Kilroy sucked. I hated Dennis at that time..." Then the same people all jump on the topic and tell JY to shut up.

I guess that means that Froy and JY are a LOT alike. Well, except JY is probably a bit taller and more legendarily famous, reluctantly.

by **Zan** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:51 am

Adam wrote:It's a can of beer, American Idol and the Writings Of Chairman Froy for me, baby.

So, who'd ya vote for last night? *g*

by **Zan** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 4:56 am

Monker wrote:
I guess that means that Froy and JY are a LOT alike. Well, except JY is probably a bit taller and more legendarily famous, reluctantly.

...and a rocket scientist.

by **Adam** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:00 am

I voted for the little Arabic ex-singer/dancer judge and her apparent overindulence in diet aids.

by **Monker** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:13 am

Zan wrote:
Monker wrote:
I guess that means that Froy and JY are a LOT alike. Well, except JY is probably a bit taller and more legendarily famous, reluctantly.

...and a rocket scientist.

Well, I wasn't so sure about that one. I mean, spending a lot of time inhaling the exhaust of rockets could explain some things...

"I guess I picked the wrong day to stop inhaling rocket fumes....>sniffffffffff<....Wheeeee!"

by **bugsymalone** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:15 am

I voted for the little Arabic ex-singer/dancer judge and her apparent overindulence in diet aids.

Man! She was all the enterainment anyone needed on THAT show last night! I kept waiting for her head to explode.

Oh. And to anyone who happened to vote last night. Get yer phone fingers ready because none of the votes last night counted and they are doing it all again tonight.

Bugsy

by **Zan** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 5:29 am

bugsymalone wrote:
Oh. And to anyone who happened to vote last night. Get yer phone fingers ready because none of the votes last night counted and they are doing it all again tonight.

They're singing again too! can I really take another round of Mikalah? I think I'd rather have a pap smear.

I thought Paula was going to give Simon a lap dance last night.

by **SuiteMadameBlue** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:07 am

I thought Paula was going to give Simon a lap dance last night.

No kidding. Maybe they'll have that tonight!!

Oh. And to anyone who happened to vote last night. Get yer phone fingers ready because none of the votes last night counted and they are doing it all again tonight.

And it will be on again tomorrow night. Do you think Fox did this on purpose so they could get another night of American Idol? :roll:

by **bugsymalone** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:43 am

And it will be on again tomorrow night. Do you think Fox did this on purpose so they could get another night of American Idol?

Suite! You and those conspiracy theories! What do you think? Fox is in this for MONEY? And RATINGS? And MONEY?
Heaven forbid! I am sure it was just a "clerical error."

Bugsy

by **SuiteMadameBlue** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:53 am

Yeah, I know - LOL I was reading on another board that they think Fox did it on purpose. American Idol is doing really good in the ratings that they really wouldn't need to air another night on purpose - just my opinion.

by **ek88** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 9:44 am

Sadly, this is where they decided to dump "Mr. Roboto." Yes, it is a dumb, kitschy song, but it is our dumb, kitschy song, and judging by the audience's reaction to the few seconds heard, it should be given its own spot in the set list.

I agree. It always gets a great response, at least at the shows I've been to. C'mon guys, what the heck, PLAY IT!!!!!!

by **Zan** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:06 am

SuiteMadameBlue wrote:
I thought Paula was going to give Simon a lap dance last night.

No kidding. Maybe they'll have that tonight!!

Well, you'll have to let me know. I'm going to miss it...Tuesdays are designated "no life" night in this house. lol

Ok, so most of the others are too...I just happen to have plans tonight. lol

by **styxfanNH** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:20 am

I can hear it now.

"They are playing another Dennis song in the set..." They truly can't win

by **ek88** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:44 am

"They are playing another Dennis song in the set..." They truly can't win

That would be the downside of playing Roboto live, I can't argue that. :roll:

MR

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