Shaw Blades in Nashville

[Rockwriter]

WOW! This was a really great show. I'm assigned to write a review of this, so I will just give my most immediate impressions:

“Summer Breeze” Tommy departed from straight melody lines on guitar, Jack beaming throughout.

“Too Much Time On My Hands” Surprisingly good acoustic arrangement, with a TS chicken pickin' solo. Tommy's playing all night contained a lot of interesting choices that reveal his true talent.

Jack asks how many people own 'Hallucination' - Tommy joked that a lot of people have burned copies. He jokes that he burned his copy, and Jack says he got his off Ebay.

“I Stumble In” Perfect version of a song that should have been a hit.

Tommy says they have made a covers record, and Jack says they were nervous about having the original artists hear their versions of the songs. Tommy observes that the original artists were small people, and that if they objected, he and Jack could handle them. “Got a problem, Paul Simon? Bring it on!”

Into “Your Move” with perfect harmonies

Tommy talks about listening to Simon and Garfunkel records as a teen and smoking pot, and Jack chimes in about 4-finger lids. Tommy said it was only 20 dollars for a 4-finger lid back then, and Jack says in California it was only ten, but it was bad Mexican pot, and after you'd smoked fifteen joints you were still waiting to see if you were going to get high.

Into “I Am A Rock” with audience singalong.

Tommy talks about Bio-Diesel, and Jack talks about “Nature's Way”. How it was written 30 years ago and we are still going through the same issues now, have we learned nothing?

“Nature's Way”, weakest track of the night, though still very good.

“For What It's Worth” Tommy talks about listening to Buffalo Springfield, Jack jokes that Tommy gets freaked out around Stephen Stills, asking if he can get him coffee. Tommy says, “One sugar, two creams.”

Tommy launches into a bit of “Stop! In The Name of Love”, Jack ribs him. Tommy jokes about seeing a poster of Vixen in a used record store, then realizing it was Night Ranger. Jack responds by showing a blown-up pic of Tommy from 16 magazine, wearing a goofy outfit and skating. Jack sings a snippet of “Let's Get Physical”.

“Time Of The Season”

“Dirty Work”

“High Enough” with funny Ted stories

Xmas hats for “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

“Sister Christian” w/Tommy vocal, much more poignant than original recording.

“Fooling Yourself” w/Tommy on amazing keyboard parts transferred to guitar . . . segues into “Love The One You're With"

“Coming of Age” on mandolin

“Crystal Ball” to satisfy a frequently-shouted request

Kelly Keaggy comes on stage with a few others to sing backing vox for “California Dreaming”

“Lucky Man” with Tommy's amazing solos, huge ovation.

ENCORES

“Don't Tell Me You Love Me” not as great in this setting as the rest, but Tommy throws in the solo from “Hotel California”, which is cool

“Blue Collar Man” Working man's blues dirge. High point of the night. Huge ovation as they leave.


I just want to add that the singing was uniformly excellent all night. Tommy's guitar playing in many ways was better than what he has captured on record, and seeing him in this setting, I was reminded again that he is really a singer/songwriter who got turned aside by his success with Styx. This is what he was meant to do and where he seems the most comfortable.


I hope everyone is well.


Sterling

[Abitaman]

I missed a great show!!! Too close to Christmas for me to spend extra money. Wish I had -ERIC

[Ash]

All I can say is that this show was incredible. These guys really need to pursue this Shaw/Blades thing as their primary projects. It just shows in their performance how rewarding it is for them. You can also tell they loved being in Nashville.

Kelly Keagy was at the table about 3 tables away from where I was sitting and nobody knew he was there until Jack pointed him out after Sister Christian.

All in all, this was the best show I've seen Tommy do either with Styx or Damn Yankees. Just a really, really special night. The covers were good, the originals were good and it was just all plain damn good.

[tommyluvr2]

All I can say is that this show was incredible. These guys really need to pursue this Shaw/Blades thing as their primary projects. It just shows in their performance how rewarding it is for them. You can also tell they loved being in Nashville.

Kelly Keagy was at the table about 3 tables away from where I was sitting and nobody knew he was there until Jack pointed him out after Sister Christian.

All in all, this was the best show I've seen Tommy do either with Styx or Damn Yankees. Just a really, really special night. The covers were good, the originals were good and it was just all plain damn good.

I could not agree with you more for both Tommy and Jack this is their best work EVER! I would love to see Tommy take a long break from Styx and concentrate on Shaw/Blades.
Denise

[bugsymalone]

All I can say is that this show was incredible. These guys really need to pursue this Shaw/Blades thing as their primary projects. It just shows in their performance how rewarding it is for them. You can also tell they loved being in Nashville.



All in all, this was the best show I've seen Tommy do either with Styx or Damn Yankees. Just a really, really special night. The covers were good, the originals were good and it was just all plain damn good.

I could not agree with you more for both Tommy and Jack this is their best work EVER! I would love to see Tommy take a long break from Styx and concentrate on Shaw/Blades.
Denise

But.....but....WWJYD???





Bugsy

[styxfanNH]

All I can say is that this show was incredible. These guys really need to pursue this Shaw/Blades thing as their primary projects. It just shows in their performance how rewarding it is for them. You can also tell they loved being in Nashville.



All in all, this was the best show I've seen Tommy do either with Styx or Damn Yankees. Just a really, really special night. The covers were good, the originals were good and it was just all plain damn good.

I could not agree with you more for both Tommy and Jack this is their best work EVER! I would love to see Tommy take a long break from Styx and concentrate on Shaw/Blades.
Denise

But.....but....WWJYD???

Bugsy

HE could always resurrect the James Young Group, but he'd need a new bassist

[sega_102]

Yeah the concert was Awesome!!! I was about 2 tables back so I could almost touch them. I'm very impressed with Tommy's guitar playing. I didn't really know he could play that well. Jack was good too. I loved the picture of Tommy in the roller blades. I took a nice pic of that one I have to say that this is probably the most fun I've ever had at a concert. The sound was just incredible.

Did anyone notice a woman handed Tommy roses at the end? Jack didn't get any. I felt bad for him.

[Higgy]

But.....but....WWJYD???





Bugsy

Perhaps he could be a philosopher - you know with that intellect, wry wit, and gift for painting with words. He could ponder just WHAT the prisoner of war was fighting for. Like Wittgenstein, he could change the definition words like 'schizophrenic'. He could question the reality of the lesson that just can't be taught.

JY - Prinicipia Moronica.