MR

Anyone heading out to the Shaw Blades show in Chicago? Flying out tonight to enjoy the last show of the tour. Should be fun...

styxfanNH wrote:Anyone heading out to the Shaw Blades show in Chicago? Flying out tonight to enjoy the last show of the tour. Should be fun...

Gimmie a call
I will met you there,

Just got back to the hotel. In some ways, this was a better show than the DC one I saw. In others, not.

They played MUCH longer and the encore was the best part of the show. The show was close to 2.5 hrs.

Unfortunately, I had a-holes around me most of the night so I'm not sure how (ahem) something came out. It would be a crying shame. The encore had "Come Again", "Where You Goin' Now", "Boat on the River", and the standard "Blue Collar Man". I'd have to compare the set list. Most of it was similar to the DC show with some differences. Still no "Girls With Guns". Drat.

A lot of the schtick/banter was the same as the DC show (i.e. stories mainly), but S/B has definitely settled into a groove. It was looser and tighter at the same time.

Jimmy wasn't the guitar tech tonight; wonder where he was.

froy wrote:Gimmie a call
I will met you there,

HOLY CRAP! froy has just acknowledged the existence of Tommy Shaw! The end is near!

7 Wishes wrote:

froy wrote:Gimmie a call
I will met you there,

HOLY CRAP! froy has just acknowledged the existence of Tommy Shaw! The end is near!

No I acknowledged the existence of Joes on Weed Street,

Allan,

It was a great show except for the guy that kept yelling out songs. The half hour forty minute sound check was great too. It is ashame we didn't get to hear some of that stuff either. - the Beatles medley, I Stumble In etc.

The schtick was much the same as the earlier shows in the tour. Jack's 30 year marriage vs Tommy's collective 30 years, Ted in a tree stand, BCM and the boat trip. But the two are definitely having a great time and seem that they are clearly eager to get back at it in November and December.

Hopefully Tommy has found his creative outlet. These are just the funnest shows out there. Tommy is really at home behind his acoustics.

Greg was the guitar tech - one of the normal Styx guys. Jimmy probably was on vacatio nas these wer rescheduled dates and this was supposed to be his time off.

StyxCollector wrote:Unfortunately, I had a-holes around me most of the night so I'm not sure how (ahem) something came out. It would be a crying shame.

Heh. I was at the show in Augora Hills CA, and I feel your pain..

Sadly, alcohol + certain concert attendees = major annoyance for other concert attendees.

Bugsy

bugsymalone wrote:Sadly, alcohol + certain concert attendees = major annoyance for other concert attendees.

Boy howdy. And that guy wasn't even involved in the brawl that broke out halfway through the show...

Greg teched Monday night in Vegas too!

Word was that Jimmy wanted to spend some time at home. Greg has 2 small children and could use some extra cash. He hooked me up with a Will E pic at the Akron show which was great too.
Denise

styxfanNH wrote:Allan,

It was a great show except for the guy that kept yelling out songs. The half hour forty minute sound check was great too. It is ashame we didn't get to hear some of that stuff either. - the Beatles medley, I Stumble In etc.

Damn. I missed soundcheck. What time did they do that? It was probably when I was across the street getting dinner at Whole Foods lol I would have loved to hear "I Stumble In".

The a-hole yelling out songs was right near me. 'nuff said.

styxfanNH wrote:The schtick was much the same as the earlier shows in the tour. Jack's 30 year marriage vs Tommy's collective 30 years, Ted in a tree stand, BCM and the boat trip. But the two are definitely having a great time and seem that they are clearly eager to get back at it in November and December.

The whole marriage thing wasn't done at the DC show, but the Paco story (which was a tad different in DC) and the pink pants were all there. I would agree that the two of them on stage is real - not a put on - in terms of their chemistry. I'll say it again - it's something I haven't seen in Tommy live in a long time. If Styx is "the paycheck", Shaw Blades is his passion.

I do hope the swap up the core set a bit when they hit the road again.

styxfanNH wrote:Hopefully Tommy has found his creative outlet. These are just the funnest shows out there. Tommy is really at home behind his acoustics.

I said that last time ... and I've always said TS is more of a down home acoustic guy than a rocker (but he can do that, and he's a MEAN slide player). It's in his roots. Now if only they could get their shit together and do a proper new Damn Yankees album. I'd prefer that to a Styx album ...

StyxCollector wrote:

styxfanNH wrote:Allan,

It was a great show except for the guy that kept yelling out songs. The half hour forty minute sound check was great too. It is ashame we didn't get to hear some of that stuff either. - the Beatles medley, I Stumble In etc.

Damn. I missed soundcheck. What time did they do that? It was probably when I was across the street getting dinner at Whole Foods lol I would have loved to hear "I Stumble In".

The a-hole yelling out songs was right near me. 'nuff said.

styxfanNH wrote:The schtick was much the same as the earlier shows in the tour. Jack's 30 year marriage vs Tommy's collective 30 years, Ted in a tree stand, BCM and the boat trip. But the two are definitely having a great time and seem that they are clearly eager to get back at it in November and December.

The whole marriage thing wasn't done at the DC show, but the Paco story (which was a tad different in DC) and the pink pants were all there. I would agree that the two of them on stage is real - not a put on - in terms of their chemistry. I'll say it again - it's something I haven't seen in Tommy live in a long time. If Styx is "the paycheck", Shaw Blades is his passion.

I do hope the swap up the core set a bit when they hit the road again.

styxfanNH wrote:Hopefully Tommy has found his creative outlet. These are just the funnest shows out there. Tommy is really at home behind his acoustics.

I said that last time ... and I've always said TS is more of a down home acoustic guy than a rocker (but he can do that, and he's a MEAN slide player). It's in his roots. Now if only they could get their shit together and do a proper new Damn Yankees album. I'd prefer that to a Styx album ...

I bet this Shaw Blades stuff makes JY really nervous..From what is written here, Tommy seems to be having a great time doing the Shaw Blades thing. Where does that leave him with Styx? Is he having as much fun these days in Styx? It seems to me that based on past history/behaviour that Tommy will go whereever he is having the most fun. And since Shaw Blades has tasted a little success, what happens next? Styx seems to be in a bit of a rut...Does Tommy jump ship for a Shaw Blades/DY full time gig?

JY wouldn't dare try to tour Styx without both DDY and TS, would he? (although the Beach Boys do it) Should make for interesting developments over the next few months....

AnnieOprah wrote:I bet this Shaw Blades stuff makes JY really nervous..From what is written here, Tommy seems to be having a great time doing the Shaw Blades thing. Where does that leave him with Styx? Is he having as much fun these days in Styx? It seems to me that based on past history/behaviour that Tommy will go whereever he is having the most fun. And since Shaw Blades has tasted a little success, what happens next? Styx seems to be in a bit of a rut...Does Tommy jump ship for a Shaw Blades/DY full time gig?

JY wouldn't dare try to tour Styx without both DDY and TS, would he? (although the Beach Boys do it) Should make for interesting developments over the next few months....

Nah. JY I doubt is nervous. Tommy seems fully committed to Styx - I don't think he'd make nearly as much money if he did S/B only. Same with Jack and Night Ranger. Although it's all ironic given JY's solo project comment to me back in my interview with him in 2003.

Tommy is certainly having some fun in Styx - Tommy has a history of "acting out" or not fully committing when there's nothing much more in it for him. I mean, look at 1983. He sabotaged himself via drugs and smashing his hand, or look at that aborted DY project a few years back where it was between Styx and DY for him.

Without one of the marquee singers, Styx doesn't work. You can lose Tommy OR DDY, but not both.

Soundcheck was at about 5:15ish and lasted for about a half hour.

Next time, lets meet.