Styx review

[sadie65]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainm ... story.html

Styx belie their age with energetic show


By Lynn Saxberg, The Ottawa CitizenJuly 17, 2009


OTTAWA — Has Styx discovered the fountain of youth? At Bluesfest last night, it sure looked like it. Sporting some of the best hair in the biz, the aging classic rockers not only sounded terrific, but also played with loads of energy and seemed determined to please the thousands of fans who came out to their headlining show. And with fewer than 20,000 or so of them in attendance, it was a much more enjoyable concert experience than the previous night's overly packed KISS performance.

Still, the goal was the same. "We came here to rock. What about you?" demanded guitarist Tommy Shaw. "We shall rock."

A majestic version of Miss America kicked things off on a high note, followed by the melodic Too Much Time, sparking the night's first mass singalong.

Original members Shaw and J.Y. Young shared vocals with none other than Lawrence Gowan, the Canadian rock star of the '80s who's been singing with Styx for a decade, and become a permanent replacement for co-founder Dennis DeYoung.

A dynamic entertainer with a sweet voice who plays a mean piano, Gowan may be one reason for the band's renewed energy. He darted around the stage, zipping away from his spot at the keyboard stand to mug with the others, at one point reaching over Shaw's shoulder to help him out on guitar. His keyboard was a revolving model that spun wildly when he swung it.

Their multi-part harmonies on Grand Illusion and Lorelei were exhilarating, but it was on Suite Madam Blue where Gowan really demonstrated his value to the band. While the soulful singer doesn't sound exactly like DeYoung, he brought his own passion to the song.

As a vocal trio, Shaw, Young and Gowan also shone during the chorus of Renegade, the final pearl in a string of thumpers that also included Blue Collar Man and Come Sail Away.

To liven up the selection of vintage Styx anthems, Gowan brought one of his own Cancon tunes, the infectious Criminal Mind. Another highlight was a powerful reworking of the Beatles' I Am The Walrus.

Earlier in the evening, close to an hour after Busta Rhymes was scheduled to perform, the rap star's tour bus finally pulled in behind the Bank of America main stage. It took him another few minutes to make it to the stage. In the crowd, restless fans chanted his name and wondered if the bad-boy rapper was going to show. A contingent of Ottawa police officers suddenly appeared backstage, and stood watch.

After a prolonged intro based on classic-rock riff, Busta finally appeared on stage with his sidemen. To the obnoxious throb of an overloud bass beat, they forced as much sex and violence as possible into a shortened set. If there was an explanation for the delay, I missed it.

To the dismay of the crowd, organizers gave Busta the signal to cut it short after about 25 minutes. Fans booed, but as soon as Live began their show on the Rogers stage, the tension dissolved. As the focus shifted down the plaza, much of the audience migrated over to Live's uplifting rock songs and found themselves getting nostalgic for the 1990s.
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[Everett]

What the hell are styx and busta rhymes doing on the same bill?

[Babyblue]

What the hell are styx and busta rhymes doing on the same bill?

I was thinking the very samething here.Strange