Love is the Ritual

[MtlLady]

Cripes, that Todd Sucherman blows my mind - his sticks just fly!

Todd is definitely a good drummer. I wish he would get back to some of the core parts, though. He's been in Styx now for 11 years and I think he's starting to deviate a bit too much at times. He was much more reigned in here.

He impressed me at the Montreal show two weeks ago. I was exhausted just watching the boy!!

[StyxCollector]

He impressed me at the Montreal show two weeks ago. I was exhausted just watching the boy!!

There's no question he's the best musician individually in Styx. Bar none. He and Glen were very, very tight as a rhythm section. It's a different feel with Ricky now.

[Zan]

NOooooooo - don't listen to him, Todd!!!!
Never surrender!!!
GO NUTS!!!!

Ha. Well, as a musician, I understand. Doing songs like "Grand Illusion" 100s of time a year, year in and year out, you want to keep it fresh. I don't have a problem with taking some liberties and making it your own in some way, but I think over time it morphs into something else. So it's a delicate balance to achieve - especially when you're playing someone else's parts.

I'm sure you face the same thing

Except I'm a singer in a party/cover band. Sticking to the basic melody isn't a huge problem for me, although I do understand how it changes a little from time to time due to the fact that I am not Linda Ronstadt, Gwen Stefani, or Shakira (and even original artists change the way the sing and play their stuff over the years, ask Elton John. Hell, ask Dennis DeYoung, even). Now, that said, Todd is a KICK-ASS, over-the-top UNBELIEVABLE drummer, and I *want* to hear his interpretations. I never get tired of listening to Todd play, and he can interpret the hell out of these songs if he wants to. I encourage him to. I wish he did more of it, in fact. When I want to hear Styx songs played like the recordings, I put in a CD. I *never* want Todd to try and mimic the original recordings, even if it's just to "keep the balance." I can't wait to hear wat he's going to throw out there next!


<-----Loves the rhythm section. A LOT.

[StyxCollector]

OK, I've been in Todd's position somewhat so let me explain what I mean: you can interpret all you want, but there's a "core" to a song that you need to maintain to some degree. I find his own drumming - meaning the songs he didn't originally played on such as stuff from BNW onwards - much more interesting. I also like the fact he arranged the current medley.

Maybe I'm more sensitive to it because I play bass and I'm in tune with the drummer more than most. I listen for these things.

Oh, I and I fully agree that Todd is the best thing to happen to Styx since ... well ... Glen! So by no means am I knocking him; I'd play bass with him in a heartbeat.

[Zan]

OK, I've been in Todd's position somewhat so let me explain what I mean: you can interpret all you want, but there's a "core" to a song that you need to maintain to some degree. I find his own drumming - meaning the songs he didn't originally played on such as stuff from BNW onwards - much more interesting. I also like the fact he arranged the current medley.

Maybe I'm more sensitive to it because I play bass and I'm in tune with the drummer more than most. I listen for these things.

Oh, I and I fully agree that Todd is the best thing to happen to Styx since ... well ... Glen! So by no means am I knocking him; I'd play bass with him in a heartbeat.

Oooh, you play bass. You just got sexier.

No, but seriously...unless we are miscommunicating something, I still have to disagree. I do hear the "core" element you're talking about (even though I'm not a drummer or bassist, like I said, I am a rhythm section fanatic), but I still like when Todd changes it to suit his style; it just makes it harder for me to air drum along with him.

'dat betterer? *g*

[StyxCollector]

Oooh, you play bass. You just got sexier.

Since 1980. I know my way around a fretboard. lol

No, but seriously...unless we are miscommunicating something, I still have to disagree. I do hear the "core" element you're talking about (even though I'm not a drummer or bassist, like I said, I am a rhythm section fanatic), but I still like when Todd changes it to suit his style; it just makes it harder for me to air drum along with him.

'dat betterer? *g*

I'm with the program now. I like what he does - and maybe that didn't come across - but this could be the inner Styx purist in me wanting a little less improv on the moldy oldies. Had I been the bass player in Styx for the past 12 years, I probably would have changed things up more than I protest to here.

EDIT: Funny story here. I got wind of Glen leaving and called Styx management to see if it was true. The person (who I had dealt with many times) was surprised someone knew. I did say I played bass and if they were going to have open auditions, I'd love a go. Clearly they had Ricky in mind, but it would have been fun to get the shot to try to play bass for 'em.

Although I do have an absolute problem with the way Ricky plays "Blue Collar Man". Every time he plays it, he changes that dotted quarter/8th note pattern under the verse and the solo as straight quarters and it totally changes the feel of the tune. It loses its swagger. The switch to the straight quarters in the chorus is a nice change and helps make the song. Instead, it's the whole way all the way through now. Again, it's his gig, so I'm playing armchair quarterback here, but that is way more egregious than some improvising but keeping the core of the tune.

[stabbim]

Re: Todd...

I agree with Allan that he tends to step off the page quite a bit more these days, and I also agree with Zan that I'm not at all bothered by it, at least not in a principle-of-the-thing kinda way. If I straight up didn't like what he was playing, that would be different (I agree with the BCM bass line gripe, for example.)

When I saw Styx earlier this year, both TS's were riffing up a storm (in addition to all the Todd stuff, nearly all of Tommy's guitar solos were improvised to a large degree, and he was scatting much more than usual.) I hadn't seen them since 2003, so maybe all the shows are like that now, or maybe it's just because they were in a smaller, not quite as formal venue and thus felt more comfortable stretching out, but either way it was a real treat to see & hear.

[stmonkeys]

hey does anyone have a clip of " Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" live? That's one I'm sorry I missed seeing.

It's on "21st Century Live".

http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Live ... 90&sr=1-46

ask, and you shall receive!!!!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6Eh_sflNU

[ratcity10]

hey does anyone have a clip of " Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" live? That's one I'm sorry I missed seeing.

It's on "21st Century Live".

http://www.amazon.com/21st-Century-Live ... 90&sr=1-46

ask, and you shall receive!!!!


Sorry...I just had no time to look on youtube.....I got lazy!




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6Eh_sflNU

[styxfanNH]

always thought it shoulda been the last song prior to the encore

[stmonkeys]

always thought it shoulda been the last song prior to the encore

i always thought it should've been the first single off of Cyclorama.... and, i agree with your statement!!! KYAG ROCKS!!!!!!!!

[StyxCollector]

Re: Todd...

I agree with Allan that he tends to step off the page quite a bit more these days, and I also agree with Zan that I'm not at all bothered by it, at least not in a principle-of-the-thing kinda way. If I straight up didn't like what he was playing, that would be different (I agree with the BCM bass line gripe, for example.)

When I saw Styx earlier this year, both TS's were riffing up a storm (in addition to all the Todd stuff, nearly all of Tommy's guitar solos were improvised to a large degree, and he was scatting much more than usual.) I hadn't seen them since 2003, so maybe all the shows are like that now, or maybe it's just because they were in a smaller, not quite as formal venue and thus felt more comfortable stretching out, but either way it was a real treat to see & hear.

Some of this could very well be, "Well crap. We're doing our version of the dirty dozen again. I need to make it interesting after 30 years." Todd riffing/going off is much more acceptable since he still stays in the pocket. Glen didn't stay true to all of the Chuck bass lines at times, but what he did worked. Ricky is the first personnel move - and I am a fellow bass player so I tend to listen more - that hasn't quite worked for me since 1999. Ricky also uses a 5 string which adds some color to the live stuff, but I'm not sure it works at times.

With Tommy, I think it's partially a boredom thing, but it could be that SHaw/Blades thing creeping into Styx a bit. The S/B version of BCM is not the version we all know (nor the 2120 version, either), but wow was it good. I wish the band as a whole had the balls to rearrange some of the classics and play them in a different way. Now that would be a show I'd pay to see. Throw out the old book, write a new one.

[Bearded Clam]

hey does anyone have a clip of " Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" live? That's one I'm sorry I missed seeing.[/quot




ask, and you shall receive!!!!






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6Eh_sflNU

Thanks Stacey, You're the best!

[stmonkeys]

hey does anyone have a clip of " Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" live? That's one I'm sorry I missed seeing.[/quot




ask, and you shall receive!!!!






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6Eh_sflNU

Thanks Stacey, You're the best!

awww... thanks! i have been searching for a cyclorama tour bootleg for the longest time, and i completely forgot that the 21st century dvd had some of the songs on it. ::::smackshead::::


anyway, thanks to harry for reminding me that it was on that dvd!!!! I uploaded most of the newer songs. check 'em out!