Sold-out crowd surrenders to beat of Styx

[kmd2009]

The Forest Hills Fine Arts Center may never be the same again.

On Thursday night, the posh venue, home to august literary and theatrical gatherings, played host to searing guitar and drum solos and massive vocals -- classic rock ala Styx.

From the first rowdy bars of "Blue Collar Man," the five-piece unit -- James "JY" Young on guitar and vocals, Lawrence Gowan on keyboards and vocals, Tommy Shaw on guitar and vocals, Todd Sucherman on drums and Ricky Phillips on bass and vocals -- blew the lid off the sold-out auditorium and kept it blown off for almost two hours. It was loud -- good loud, but certainly more voluble than many in this sedate crowd had probably ever heard. If the fainter of heart came to hear Styx Lite -- "Babe," "The Best of Times, " etc. -- they were disappointed, not to mention fishing around their purses for ear plugs.

But if you love your Styx hard and vociferous, you were blissed out.

With skinny ties and tight, black pants on most members, the dudes of Styx looked the part of a band who peaked, sales-wise, in the 1980s. Still, with their matching mint-green Fenders, leaps and gyrating, they seemed more like a bunch of kids thrashing around with a grab bag of great vintage tunes.

Showcasing their big, juicy harmonies, Styx delighted the crowd with "Lorelei," "Lady" and "Too Much Time on My Hands."

Everyone sang along with Shaw as he took lead vocals on the latter.

Sucherman pounded on his new drum kit, offering blistering percussion and a granite core for the band. Young and Shaw delivered boisterous guitars and stellar vocals. Seriously, their voices sound fantastic live. There's little sign of the wear and tear of 30 years on the road here. And Gowan is a riveting, playful front man, swiveling on his keyboard stand and playing his instrument with masterful ease.

His classical piano solo sparkled midway through the show, serving as sort of a palate cleanser for the next course of hard rock.

The band's riotous cover of the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus," featured Gowan's cheeky vocals, big guitars and JY's diabolical chuckle for drama.

Though the band had a hard time getting the crowd as a whole to behave like rock crowds do -- screaming, pumping fists, shaking their booties -- even the most placid concertgoer began to melt by the end. The encore "Renegade" had most folks up on their feet.

After all, as JY put it, "What happens in Grand Rapids stays in Grand Rapids."

What happened in Grand Rapids last night was a sold-out crowd, giving in to the deliciousness of full throttle rock 'n' roll, Styx style.
http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grpr ... xml&coll=6

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

[Rowdy]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

[stmonkeys]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

was that the one you brought Bayla to? It was 7/6/02. I think REO was there too. VERY crowded- but i think the show was included in the price of admission. I just recently found my pictures from that show- it was lots of fun! Vicki got an autographed picture of the band on the ride home, because the tourbus was driving behind her car, and they liked her Msrobotto license plate. Jason knocked on our window and handed her the picture. it was very cool! i also have the show on dvd- once we get to texas i'll post some songs on youtube.

[Rowdy]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

was that the one you brought Bayla to? It was 7/6/02. I think REO was there too. VERY crowded- but i think the show was included in the price of admission.

Yes, that's the one Stacy. I couldn't remember if it was part of the GA ticket or if it was separate. I was sure it wasn't extra, but couldn't remember for sure.

Rowdy

[AnnieOprah]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

According to most Poll Star accounts, Styx rarely sells out their shows.

[froy]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

According to most Poll Star accounts, Styx rarely sells out their shows.

There has not been 1 show in the last 8 years that was sold out
You could have gone to any show and bought a tic and the box office,
More JY paid BS

[Rowdy]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

According to most Poll Star accounts, Styx rarely sells out their shows.

Most? Not all. I see, so if Equifax has your credit score at 730 and TransUnion and Experian say you're at 520, then obviously, the company(ies) that doesn't have all their information in is correct, right? According to MOST, then 520 would be your score despite the fact that there maybe new information that raised your score.

Don't believe everything you read... Feel the pulse of what's happening around you or call for tickets next time a show comes to town. Don't just take someone else's word for it.

Rowdy

[DavidD]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

According to most Poll Star accounts, Styx rarely sells out their shows.

There has not been 1 show in the last 8 years that was sold out
You could have gone to any show and bought a tic and the box office,
More JY paid BS

Wrong - Here in Baltimore - Rams Head Live was sold out. Not a huge venue. But, it was sold out.

[froy]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

According to most Poll Star accounts, Styx rarely sells out their shows.

There has not been 1 show in the last 8 years that was sold out
You could have gone to any show and bought a tic and the box office,
More JY paid BS

Wrong - Here in Baltimore - Rams Head Live was sold out. Not a huge venue. But, it was sold out.

I would bet the farm tix were sitting at the box office
Unless it was a 200 seater.

[Zan]

I would bet the farm tix were sitting at the box office

You have a farm too?? Are your sheep scared?

:::ducking:::

[chowhall]

I would bet the farm tix were sitting at the box office

You have a farm too?? Are your sheep scared?

:::ducking:::

Voted "Best Joke" in Australia

Stan walks into his bedroom with a sheep under his arm and says: "Darling, this is the pig I have sex with when you have a headache."

His girlfriend is lying in bed and replies: "I think you'll find that's a sheep, you idiot."

The man says: "I think you'll find that I wasn't talking to you."

[froy]

I would bet the farm tix were sitting at the box office

You have a farm too?? Are your sheep scared?

:::ducking:::

You know about my farm zan remember the barn?
You said it was the biggest thing you have ever seen.
Ohhh.

[Grotelul]

I didn't know they still have a "sold out" crowd.

I don't think I've ever been to a Styx show that wasn't "Sold Out" Only exception might be Six Flags 4th of July show a few years ago. I can't remember if I had to pay for that or if it was General Admission. If it wasn't G/A, then it was "SOLD OUT" because if I got any crowded any closer to a few people, they woulda wound up pregnant.

Rowdy

According to most Poll Star accounts, Styx rarely sells out their shows.

There has not been 1 show in the last 8 years that was sold out
You could have gone to any show and bought a tic and the box office,
More JY paid BS

More Froy BS. Lets see the proof. Why should I go on the word of someone who randomly tosses shit into the wind. AND...I don't give a shit if they sell out or not. For a band that has been around as long as Styx and whose leading songwriter decided to be selfish and stay home, I would say they are doing quite well. At least they have a PAID attendance.

[Rowdy]

These results are as of June/July. Check out Styx's avg attendence/venues. They may not sell out all their shows, but they are the 5th Highest Grossing tour in 2007 along with partners Def Leppard and Foreigner... This doesn't include solo shows or the shows they did without one or both of these groups. Those figures were separate. I'm sure the 5th highest grossing Tour had ZERO sell-outs in 2007. lol


Tour Grosses

Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Sara Evans, Pat Green
Saturday 7/7/07
Qwest Field-Seattle, WA
Gross: $3,281,121
45,939/45,939 (100%)
Ticket prices: $91.50/$51.50

Rush
Monday 7/2/07
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY
Gross: $860,671
12,300/13,851 (88.8%)
Ticket prices: $125.50/$29.50

John Mayer, Ben Folds, Brett Dennen
Friday 6/22/07
Smirnoff Music Centre, Dallas, TX
Gross: $748,881
19,552/19,552 (100%)
Ticket prices: $55.50/$35.50

Friday 6/1/07 (with Rocco DeLuca instead of Brett Dennen)
Amphitheater in Clark County, Ridgefield, WA
Gross: $384,594
9,505/17,650 (53.9%)
Ticket prices: $53.50/$29.00


True Colors Tour: Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Deborah Harry, The Dresden Dolls, Margaret Cho
Thursday 6/21/07
Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA
Gross: $486,801
6,687/6,687 (100%)
Ticket prices: $79.00/$39.00


Def Leppard, Styx, Foreigner
Saturday 6/30/07
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL
Gross: $614,249
15,848/28,534 (55.5%)
Ticket prices: $264.00/$23.50


Nelly Furtado
Thursday 6/7/07
The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Gross: $316,400
4,992/4,992 (100%
Ticket prices: $65.00/$45.00


Live/Collective Soul
Sunday 6/10/07
NOKIA Theatre Times Square, New York, NY
Gross: $90,255
1,800/2,100 (85.7%)
Ticket price: $55.00

[froy]

These results are as of June/July. Check out Styx's avg attendence/venues. They may not sell out all their shows, but they are the 5th Highest Grossing tour in 2007 along with partners Def Leppard and Foreigner...

Im not sure you know this but they were the opening act for the 5th largest tour.
They got paid 15 grand a show and were done by 730
Your not this stupid are you?

This doesn't include solo shows

Your right it does not
Are they the 5th highest solo show?




Those figures were separate.

Well hidden



I'm sure the 5th highest grossing Tour had ZERO sell-outs in 2007. lol

Im sure also

[froy]

More Froy BS. Lets see the proof.

You could have gone to any STYX show in the last 8 years and bought a ticket at the box office the day of
ANY show anywhere.

Why should I go on the word of someone who randomly tosses shit into the wind. AND...I don't give a shit if they sell out or not.

You tell em
You dont care your going to follow Gowan around no matter what



For a band that has been around as long as Styx

There an opening act
Says it all




and whose leading songwriter decided to be selfish and stay home,

Stay home?
Maybe you should




I would say they are doing quite well.

We dont care what you say
Hows that



At least they have a PAID attendance.[/quote]

And your one of the dummies

[Everett]

These results are as of June/July. Check out Styx's avg attendence/venues. They may not sell out all their shows, but they are the 5th Highest Grossing tour in 2007 along with partners Def Leppard and Foreigner... This doesn't include solo shows or the shows they did without one or both of these groups. Those figures were separate. I'm sure the 5th highest grossing Tour had ZERO sell-outs in 2007. lol


Tour Grosses

Def Leppard, Styx, Foreigner
Saturday 6/30/07
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL
Gross: $614,249
15,848/28,534 (55.5%)
Ticket prices: $264.00/$23.50

$264? yikes even I wouldin't pay that much unless I would know for sure that I would be in the front row. That is way too much just to go see a concert.

[Zan]

You know, Froy, if you download Firefox instead of Internet Explorer, it has a built-in spell check.

Just sayin'.

(Not that it detects the correct forms of Their, they're, there, and you're/your, but it might help a little)

[rajah2165]

These results are as of June/July. Check out Styx's avg attendence/venues. They may not sell out all their shows, but they are the 5th Highest Grossing tour in 2007 along with partners Def Leppard and Foreigner... This doesn't include solo shows or the shows they did without one or both of these groups. Those figures were separate. I'm sure the 5th highest grossing Tour had ZERO sell-outs in 2007. lol


Tour Grosses

Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Sara Evans, Pat Green
Saturday 7/7/07
Qwest Field-Seattle, WA
Gross: $3,281,121
45,939/45,939 (100%)
Ticket prices: $91.50/$51.50

Rush
Monday 7/2/07
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY
Gross: $860,671
12,300/13,851 (88.8%)
Ticket prices: $125.50/$29.50

John Mayer, Ben Folds, Brett Dennen
Friday 6/22/07
Smirnoff Music Centre, Dallas, TX
Gross: $748,881
19,552/19,552 (100%)
Ticket prices: $55.50/$35.50

Friday 6/1/07 (with Rocco DeLuca instead of Brett Dennen)
Amphitheater in Clark County, Ridgefield, WA
Gross: $384,594
9,505/17,650 (53.9%)
Ticket prices: $53.50/$29.00


True Colors Tour: Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Deborah Harry, The Dresden Dolls, Margaret Cho
Thursday 6/21/07
Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA
Gross: $486,801
6,687/6,687 (100%)
Ticket prices: $79.00/$39.00


Def Leppard, Styx, Foreigner
Saturday 6/30/07
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL
Gross: $614,249
15,848/28,534 (55.5%)
Ticket prices: $264.00/$23.50


Nelly Furtado
Thursday 6/7/07
The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Gross: $316,400
4,992/4,992 (100%
Ticket prices: $65.00/$45.00


Live/Collective Soul
Sunday 6/10/07
NOKIA Theatre Times Square, New York, NY
Gross: $90,255
1,800/2,100 (85.7%)
Ticket price: $55.00

So lets see here, brilliant picks out one show. And the show was not where Styx was the headliner, but they were opening band (or maybe they were second, on this date, who knows - regardless, they were far from the headlinger). This is also a show I might add was held in their hometown and they barely filled half of the arena. Or I should say, Def Leppard barely filled half the arena. Funny, 2 years ago, when Def Leppard teamed with Journey, those dates sold out...why not now?

I hope you aren't a lawyer, because facts like that would have gotten your client thrown in jail..

[sadie65]

Hmmm...seems that both camps sell out and they don't. Of course...defining "selling out"...can be interpreted a whole lot of ways...

Enjoy what you like and be thankful that each performs...cuz as had been stated as nauseum...they just aren't gonna be doing this forever.

[Rowdy]

These results are as of June/July. Check out Styx's avg attendence/venues. They may not sell out all their shows, but they are the 5th Highest Grossing tour in 2007 along with partners Def Leppard and Foreigner... This doesn't include solo shows or the shows they did without one or both of these groups. Those figures were separate. I'm sure the 5th highest grossing Tour had ZERO sell-outs in 2007. lol


Tour Grosses

Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Sara Evans, Pat Green
Saturday 7/7/07
Qwest Field-Seattle, WA
Gross: $3,281,121
45,939/45,939 (100%)
Ticket prices: $91.50/$51.50

Rush
Monday 7/2/07
Nikon at Jones Beach Theater, Wantagh, NY
Gross: $860,671
12,300/13,851 (88.8%)
Ticket prices: $125.50/$29.50

John Mayer, Ben Folds, Brett Dennen
Friday 6/22/07
Smirnoff Music Centre, Dallas, TX
Gross: $748,881
19,552/19,552 (100%)
Ticket prices: $55.50/$35.50

Friday 6/1/07 (with Rocco DeLuca instead of Brett Dennen)
Amphitheater in Clark County, Ridgefield, WA
Gross: $384,594
9,505/17,650 (53.9%)
Ticket prices: $53.50/$29.00


True Colors Tour: Cyndi Lauper, Erasure, Deborah Harry, The Dresden Dolls, Margaret Cho
Thursday 6/21/07
Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA
Gross: $486,801
6,687/6,687 (100%)
Ticket prices: $79.00/$39.00


Def Leppard, Styx, Foreigner
Saturday 6/30/07
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, IL
Gross: $614,249
15,848/28,534 (55.5%)
Ticket prices: $264.00/$23.50


Nelly Furtado
Thursday 6/7/07
The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Gross: $316,400
4,992/4,992 (100%
Ticket prices: $65.00/$45.00


Live/Collective Soul
Sunday 6/10/07
NOKIA Theatre Times Square, New York, NY
Gross: $90,255
1,800/2,100 (85.7%)
Ticket price: $55.00

So lets see here, brilliant picks out one show. And the show was not where Styx was the headliner, but they were opening band (or maybe they were second, on this date, who knows - regardless, they were far from the headlinger). This is also a show I might add was held in their hometown and they barely filled half of the arena. Or I should say, Def Leppard barely filled half the arena. Funny, 2 years ago, when Def Leppard teamed with Journey, those dates sold out...why not now?

I hope you aren't a lawyer, because facts like that would have gotten your client thrown in jail..

I didn't pick and choose any of the shows. I Googled results for 2007 Concert Receipts and this list popped up. Try it, but please give me the definition of a headlinger first please.

Rowdy