DDY/NIGHT RANGER CLEARWATER LAST NIGHT

[Rockwriter]

Well being as cool as possible is the most important thing.

Dennis was cool when the picture in your avatar was taken.

That's all that matters then, right?

Current Styx and their fans are FAR too worried about being cool. Tommy and JY seem overly preoccupied with it.

Wanna know a secret? There's no such thing as cool. It's marketing, it's all in your head. The people behind that imaging are merely our fellow idiots and always were.


Sterling

[DarwinNebraska]

I thought being a Rock Star was cool. I guess if you only stay in the studio and never perform live, you can be a geeky as you want to be. When you come out on stage in a pink blazer with short hair and no facial hair when your fans were used to a certain image, you can have some negative feed back. I think Dennis dances as well as Billy Squire, and we know what happened to him when he tried to dance on Video. Dennis should get back behind the keys and dazzle us with his voice and his playing, not his air guitar.

Either way, I'd say it's far less embarrassing than when Gowan opens his mouth at a Styx concert.

[DarwinNebraska]

Wanna know a secret? There's no such thing as cool. It's marketing, it's all in your head. The people behind that imaging are merely our fellow idiots and always were.

Sterling

I agree.... some of the small minded here can't seem to grasp that, however.

[Roboto750]

Well being as cool as possible is the most important thing.

Dennis was cool when the picture in your avatar was taken.

That's all that matters then, right?

Current Styx and their fans are FAR too worried about being cool. Tommy and JY seem overly preoccupied with it.

Wanna know a secret? There's no such thing as cool. It's marketing, it's all in your head. The people behind that imaging are merely our fellow idiots and always were.


Sterling

You mean it's kind of like a........... grand illusion?

[MCM]

That's all that matters then, right?

Current Styx and their fans are FAR too worried about being cool. Tommy and JY seem overly preoccupied with it.

I thought being a Rock Star was cool. I guess if you only stay in the studio and never perform live, you can be a geeky as you want to be. When you come out on stage in a pink blazer with short hair and no facial hair when your fans were used to a certain image, you can have some negative feed back. I think Dennis dances as well as Billy Squire, and we know what happened to him when he tried to dance on Video. Dennis should get back behind the keys and dazzle us with his voice and his playing, not his air guitar.[/quote]

Yes, please Dennis, please just play and sing!!! No dancing, no running around on your toes.. leave the air guitar to the guy in the first row...

[Zan]

Yes, please Dennis, please just play and sing!!! No dancing, no running around on your toes.. leave the air guitar to the guy in the first row...

Yes! Is that asking so much?

Running around on your toes...Why does it feel like we're channeling Kevin Cronin now?

[MCM]

Yes, please Dennis, please just play and sing!!! No dancing, no running around on your toes.. leave the air guitar to the guy in the first row...

Yes! Is that asking so much?

Running around on your toes...Why does it feel like we're channeling Kevin Cronin now?

See, Zan gets it.. (or she's making fun of me )..another great voice in Kevin Cronin (well, years ago anyway, but still acceptable) Some vocalists you only want to hear and not see...last time I saw REO I was happy that I drew the lawn seats for that portion of the show, we switched tickets around and I got the 8th row seat for the Styx portion... I believe the quote from another in my group was "no one should be that close to Kevin Cronin"

[Zan]

Yes, please Dennis, please just play and sing!!! No dancing, no running around on your toes.. leave the air guitar to the guy in the first row...

Yes! Is that asking so much?

Running around on your toes...Why does it feel like we're channeling Kevin Cronin now?

See, Zan gets it.. (or she's making fun of me )

Not making fun of you. Denny's voice is a stand-alone talent, which, on its own merits, has the potential to be an outstanding show. But the air guitar and cheesy tactics, IMO, DETRACT FROM that talent. I understand the need (to a point) for the canned jokes to keep the audience entertained between numbers, but the goofiness comes off looking like he isn't sure what to do with himself on stage, rather than just "Dennis being Dennis."

For those of you score keepers and roving reporters, what I'm saying is that Dennis doesn't need the schtick - he's good enough (and would be even better) without it.

another great voice in Kevin Cronin (well, years ago anyway, but still acceptable) Some vocalists you only want to hear and not see...last time I saw REO I was happy that I drew the lawn seats for that portion of the show, we switched tickets around and I got the 8th row seat for the Styx portion... I believe the quote from another in my group was "no one should be that close to Kevin Cronin"

Truer words may never have been spoken, MCM! haha...I've actually met Kevin Cronin, and he is a delightful person, but his stage persona leaves a lot to be...afraid of.

I don't have a problem with his voice either, unlike some others here. I just think he needs to take a chill pill, relax, and focus on playing his songs more than which weird-ass tired story he's gonna tell before each of them.

[piecesofeight]

Yes, please Dennis, please just play and sing!!! No dancing, no running around on your toes.. leave the air guitar to the guy in the first row...

Yes! Is that asking so much?

Running around on your toes...Why does it feel like we're channeling Kevin Cronin now?

See, Zan gets it.. (or she's making fun of me )

Not making fun of you. Denny's voice is a stand-alone talent, which, on its own merits, has the potential to be an outstanding show. But the air guitar and cheesy tactics, IMO, DETRACT FROM that talent. I understand the need (to a point) for the canned jokes to keep the audience entertained between numbers, but the goofiness comes off looking like he isn't sure what to do with himself on stage, rather than just "Dennis being Dennis."

For those of you score keepers and roving reporters, what I'm saying is that Dennis doesn't need the schtick - he's good enough (and would be even better) without it.

another great voice in Kevin Cronin (well, years ago anyway, but still acceptable) Some vocalists you only want to hear and not see...last time I saw REO I was happy that I drew the lawn seats for that portion of the show, we switched tickets around and I got the 8th row seat for the Styx portion... I believe the quote from another in my group was "no one should be that close to Kevin Cronin"

Truer words may never have been spoken, MCM! haha...I've actually met Kevin Cronin, and he is a delightful person, but his stage persona leaves a lot to be...afraid of.

I don't have a problem with his voice either, unlike some others here. I just think he needs to take a chill pill, relax, and focus on playing his songs more than which weird-ass tired story he's gonna tell before each of them.

Exactly. Spot on..

[piecesofeight]

Yes, please Dennis, please just play and sing!!! No dancing, no running around on your toes.. leave the air guitar to the guy in the first row...

Yes! Is that asking so much?

Running around on your toes...Why does it feel like we're channeling Kevin Cronin now?

See, Zan gets it.. (or she's making fun of me )..another great voice in Kevin Cronin (well, years ago anyway, but still acceptable) Some vocalists you only want to hear and not see...last time I saw REO I was happy that I drew the lawn seats for that portion of the show, we switched tickets around and I got the 8th row seat for the Styx portion... I believe the quote from another in my group was "no one should be that close to Kevin Cronin"

So true.

[brywool]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H5HtklLbl0
Not dorky at all...
nor is his pitch out of wack

Nice coat though.

[sadie65]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H5HtklLbl0
Not dorky at all...
nor is his pitch out of wack

Nice coat though.

Oh geez, insert eye roll here...

Like the pinwheeling arm rolls the guys do isn't dorky? I think they all have their dorkiness and posturing down to a science. ALL of them.

[Zan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H5HtklLbl0
Not dorky at all...
nor is his pitch out of wack

Nice coat though.

Oh geez, insert eye roll here...

Like the pinwheeling arm rolls the guys do isn't dorky? I think they all have their dorkiness and posturing down to a science. ALL of them.

Agreed, and I'm NOT trying to dis anyone here, but there are degrees of dorky, and in the world of professional entertainment, I think the air guitar is way up at the top. Honestly, JY's "rock star" poses are cheesy, but they don't DETRACT from the enjoyment of the show. Trust me, Denny doesn't need a schtick to be entertaining. He's GREAT. But the air guitar is downright embarrassing to watch.

[sadie65]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H5HtklLbl0
Not dorky at all...
nor is his pitch out of wack

Nice coat though.

Oh geez, insert eye roll here...

Like the pinwheeling arm rolls the guys do isn't dorky? I think they all have their dorkiness and posturing down to a science. ALL of them.

Agreed, and I'm NOT trying to dis anyone here, but there are degrees of dorky, and in the world of professional entertainment, I think the air guitar is way up at the top. Honestly, JY's "rock star" poses are cheesy, but they don't DETRACT from the enjoyment of the show. Trust me, Denny doesn't need a schtick to be entertaining. He's GREAT. But the air guitar is downright embarrassing to watch.

I actually agree that the air guitar needs to go bye-bye. But I disagree that the cheesy rock star poses don't detract from the show. I think they actually make them look a satire on themselves. And honestly, I just think in the final analysis, it's what you as an individual find entertaining. Just a matter of personal preference. Not trying to start anything either.

[Abitaman]

I like the air guitar, I do it at least once a day too -ERIC

[StyxCollector]

Agreed, and I'm NOT trying to dis anyone here, but there are degrees of dorky, and in the world of professional entertainment, I think the air guitar is way up at the top. Honestly, JY's "rock star" poses are cheesy, but they don't DETRACT from the enjoyment of the show. Trust me, Denny doesn't need a schtick to be entertaining. He's GREAT. But the air guitar is downright embarrassing to watch.

I actually agree that the air guitar needs to go bye-bye. But I disagree that the cheesy rock star poses don't detract from the show. I think they actually make them look a satire on themselves. And honestly, I just think in the final analysis, it's what you as an individual find entertaining. Just a matter of personal preference. Not trying to start anything either.

Well, I tend to agree with Sadie here. On both sides of the fence things can be retired. The "Rockin' the Paradise" shuffle I think had its heyday, and it honestly doesn't bother me, but I wouldn't miss it either.

Oh, as for pitch, notice DDY was futzing with is IEMs. So it's clear besides the cold, he was having some problems hearing himself. And it looks like Hank is picking up some of the stuff (like the yell towards the end).

BTW, isn't that Kyle playing drums in this clip or is that the new drummer? If so, he looks just like Kyle.

I do have to say - DDY going to a two guitar format permanently sounds MUCH better.

[bugsymalone]

BTW, isn't that Kyle playing drums in this clip or is that the new drummer? If so, he looks just like Kyle.

Kyle rotates with the other guy.

I do have to say - DDY going to a two guitar format permanently sounds MUCH better.

So agree!!!

I actually agree that the air guitar needs to go bye-bye. But I disagree that the cheesy rock star poses don't detract from the show. I think they actually make them look a satire on themselves.

SO subjective. One person's embarrassing cheese is another person's fun stage antics. The problem comes, I believe, when you see any performer multiple times. All of what they do on stage can get old, or silly, or embarrassing to someone who has seen it 4, 5, 200 times. What they say becomes repetitious only to those who are seeing them repeatedly.

A person seeing either Dennis or Current Styx for the first time may come away with an entirely different perspective. The "stories" are new. The intros are cool. Yada yada.


Bugsy

[froy]

BTW, isn't that Kyle playing drums in this clip or is that the new drummer? If so, he looks just like Kyle.

Kyle rotates with the other guy.

BUT it is Kyle with a hair cut

[BidForGreen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H5HtklLbl0
Not dorky at all...
nor is his pitch out of wack

Nice coat though.

Looks like about 40,000 are enjoying the dorkiness to me...

[Barbara]

The one thing I would say is over-done is the robot-like moves. Other than that, it seems fine. I don't see any other moves a person could make while singing that song.
Either way, I guess I'll see for myself. I only wish I had a better recording camera.

[stabbim]

Wanna know a secret? There's no such thing as cool. It's marketing, it's all in your head. The people behind that imaging are merely our fellow idiots and always were.

Let's not get too carried away with the reductionism here -- after all, if everything is about marketing, then nothing is. You can't discount that some folks just have an honest, visceral reaction to the stage presence of a performer that isn't entirely based on consumer conditioning.

Like the pinwheeling arm rolls the guys do isn't dorky?

Hmmm....I dunno if the windmill comparison is necessarily apples to apples. I'd liken the windmill moves more to that thing DDY used to do with the portamento, where he would hold the note down and then raise his opposite hand while the pitch climbed, as if he was lifting it by the Power of Grayskull or something.

The problem comes, I believe, when you see any performer multiple times. All of what they do on stage can get old, or silly, or embarrassing to someone who has seen it 4, 5, 200 times. What they say becomes repetitious only to those who are seeing them repeatedly.

A person seeing either Dennis or Current Styx for the first time may come away with an entirely different perspective. The "stories" are new. The intros are cool. Yada yada.

Ayup.

[SuiteMadameBlue]

BTW, isn't that Kyle playing drums in this clip or is that the new drummer? If so, he looks just like Kyle.

I do have to say - DDY going to a two guitar format permanently sounds MUCH better.

That is Kyle, with a new hair cut and looking 10 years younger, IMO!!

Kyle is working on his project/s and will be at a few dates here and there. Tom Sharpe is Dennis' drummer and will be at most of the upcoming dates. He played at the recent Florida dates

I love his concerts with 2 guitarists!!!! GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!!!!

[StyxCollector]

That is Kyle, with a new hair cut and looking 10 years younger, IMO!!

Kyle is working on his project/s and will be at a few dates here and there. Tom Sharpe is Dennis' drummer and will be at most of the upcoming dates. He played at the recent Florida dates

I love his concerts with 2 guitarists!!!! GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!!!!

Well, I hope the shows if I see any this year are w/o Kyle. Was never a huge fan as I've basically stated every time lol He has been the weakest link in DDY's touring group. I hope the new drummer is better.

[Classicrockr]

Was this in clearwater, Florida? I grew up in Dunedin & love that area of the state. How close did you get to them?

[brywool]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H5HtklLbl0
Not dorky at all...
nor is his pitch out of wack

Nice coat though.

Looks like about 40,000 are enjoying the dorkiness to me...

It's NY's at one of the most beautiful spots in the world. It's not going to look like he's playing at the Waffle Hut in Bugtussel. Yeah, they're all there for Dennis. NOT.
That clip is from Niagra Falls, not the Clearwater date.