Dennis DeYoung in Memphis

[Ash]

Hey Guys;

just got back from the Memphis show. Got to meet up with Abita and his lovely wife and had a great time. We hooked up with Tim Orchard at the show and scored some post-show VIP action and Abita realized his "dream of 30 years" to meet dennis.

Abita was wearing his "Return To Paradise" tee-shirt and when Dennis noticed he, he pointed it out. Abita responded something to the effect of "Last great tour they had" to which Dennis replied "I love it when they talk dirty to me"... very funny.

Dennis had great energy and the show sounded absolutely fantastic. Outdoor venues with everything open-air sound SO much better than indoor venues - even if it was 85 degrees at 10pm. I don't think Dennis missed a note the whole show. Honestly - this show sounded BETTER live than it did on the CD that was recorded. Just really amazing.

The show itself was a mix of "lawn" which was more general admission since everything was on the "lawn". The lawn was segregated into two areas - an area with tables, and an area without. At the tables you had a lot of southern socializing... TONS AND TONS of food, wine and what looked to be a large degree of upper-crust socelite crowd from the greater Memphis area. By the end of the show, there were a lot of really hot, really drunk rich people all around. Dennis himself was very well received - and I was really surprised how well some of the obscure Hunchback stuff was received... heck after WIth Every Heartbeat half the place gave a standing ovation. The only times a standing ovation happened to any degree was after Show Me The Way, With Every Heart Beat and Ave Maria and of course, Come Sail Away.

I'm so glad I went to this show - Outstanding time.

I got my 8x10 of Dennis and I autographed. This is the one from when Dennis came to WLAC in Nashville with Michael Eldred to promote the Hunchback musical at TPAC prior to the styx reunion in 1996/1997.

[jimmy19029]

Good for you Ash. Cool! Glad you got to see yet another classic DeYoung show! He's really getting around this year.

[Abitaman]

Hey Ash, you bet me to it. SO tired when I got home last night, and with my ankle bothering me, I was out like a light when my head hit the pillow. Was good meeting up with someone from the board, got to "talk" Styx and Journey with someone.
Song list not in order
Lady
Suit Madame Blue
Loreli
Light Up
Grand Illusion
Castle Walls
Come Sail Away
Pieces of Eight
Babe
Rockin the Paradise
Best of Times
Mr Roboto
Don't Let it End
Show Me the Way
Desert Moon
With Every Heartbeat
Eva Maria

As Ash said, the place was a little laid back, besides the songs he mentioned (Hunch back tunes, Show me... Come Sail...) Suite Madame Blue got a lot of People whooping and Hollering AMEVRICA ( some were drunk and their speech was slurred).
But I was very impressed with the show. Really did not know what to expect. STYX maybe the "rock Group", but Dennis is "STYX". Styx is playing here in less than a week, and my wife mentioned if I wanted to go see them on the way home, my reply was, I just saw STYX. I was that impressed. Not to say I will not go see them, like hearing the Tommy Shaw songs too, and some of the other songs, not by DDY or TS.
But I was one of the best sounding shows I have seen, anywhere. Very clear sound.
Dennis was in a very entertaining mood up on stage, joking around between songs. Never mentioned Styx but did mention Tommy Shaw bring his girlfriend Linda Blair on a plane ride with the group, sometime after Exorcist came out, and the looks Chuck was here and being scared.
Must say was good to get to meet Dennis, very surprised when Ash brought back backstage passes. And Yeah, I had a Styx shirt on, saw only one other person there that had one on. But Dennis was very cool about it, and got to joke around with him about it. He signed my back stage pass and Styx cd i had (which I had to run out to the car and get along with the camera). Signed my wife's pass and ticket and even sang to her about being in love, and she got to finish the lyrics about me. Asked how long we had been married, and so one. Even my wife was impressed.

So yes I had a good time. Great music, company, and just a great place to see a show, even though you were dripping with sweat before the show started-ERIC

Now he needs a new cd

[bugsymalone]

Thanks guys!!! Eric! So glad you FINALLY got to see Dennis! Sounded like a very special night, indeed.

Bugsy

[Abitaman]

Indeed, seen him many a time with Styx, but first time solo. Boots are nothing like being there.-ERIC

[bugsymalone]

...but first time solo. Boots are nothing like being there.-ERIC

Bugsy

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I wish I could've been there!! I was SO close to going if it wasn't for that party!! UGH UGH UGH!!

I'm happy to read about the standing ovations!!

Thanks again Ash for calling me during "Lady", I loved it!!!

I'm so glad you guys had a great time and you were able to go backstage!! Isn't he fun????