Styx in South Bend
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 3:02 amA 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.
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.
