Current Styx vs. Current REO

[RumTumJM]

We all know that Styx and REO are great buddies. We also know, that while we all love Styx (or most of us), that they are getting rather stale on stage, since they tour sooo much with the same set list.

Interestingly, I was reading this recent message from Kevin Cronin to the fans (seen below) about what to expect in 2008. Then it dawned on me, this is why it seems REO has so much more spunk on stage than Styx. Look at the changes they are gonna do to keep it fresh (and the attention paid to the fans wants.) Of course there is the fact that they just released an album too. Maybe Styx can take the clue from their buds in REO. I would love see Styx revive themselves in a sense.

(P.S. - A second rocker like Smilin In The End? I guess they really do want to rock these days!)



HI GANG,

WELL, I SHOULD PROBABLY PREFACE THIS LETTER BY MENTIONING THAT MY CURRENT PHYSICAL STATE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A GIANT PILE OF POO, AND THE WAY I USED TO FEEL WHEN THE SUN WAS COMING UP AFTER A LONG NIGHT OF PARTYING, BACK IN 1983.

THAT HAVING BEEN ESTABLISHED, I AM HOPING YOU WILL UNDERSTAND IF THE TONE OF THIS LETTER IS RATHER SOUR. OR, YOU MIGHT SIMPLY HIT THE OLD DELETE BUTTON NOW, AND SAVE YOURSELF THE AGONY OF SHARING IN MINE.

ACTUALLY I FEEL A BIT OF RELIEF IN HAVING VENTED…SO THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SHOWN THE COURAGE TO VENTURE ON WITH ME TODAY.

COME TO THINK OF IT, THE DAYS LEADING UP TO MY BEING STRICKEN BY THIS HELLISH AMOEBA WERE SO FILLED WITH GREAT ENERGY THAT IT WAS PROBABLY INEVITABLE THAT MY BODY WOULD BE EVENTUALLY OVERWHELMED, AND THEREFORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS NASTY BUG.

IT ALL BEGAN LAST MONDAY WHEN THE REO FAMILY CONVENED AT OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME, MATES REHEARSAL STUDIOS. NOW THAT WE ALL LIVE SCATTERED AROUND THE COUNTRY, IT WAS ESPECIALLY GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE TOGETHER. AND WHEN WE STRAPPED ON OUR GUITARS, FIRED UP THE GEAR, AND STARTED JAMMING, IT WAS SUCH AN AWESOME FEELING. I WAS ONCE AGAIN REMINDED HOW FORTUNATE WE ARE TO STILL BE DOING WHAT WE LOVE TO DO.

WE JAMMED FOR A WHILE ON A NEW SONG I AM WORKING ON CALLED, “WHIPING BOY”. IT IS ANOTHER ROCKER, ALONG THE LINES OF “SMILIN’ IN THE END”…A TOTAL BAND SONG.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MADE THESE REHEARSALS SO MUCH FUN WAS THAT WE ALL KEPT UP OUR CHOPS IN THE OFF TIME. IT IS SO TEMPTING, ESPECIALLY AFTER A LONG TOURING SEASON SUCH AS THAT OF 2007, TO COME HOME AND LET YOUR INSTRUMENT COLLECT DUST. THEN WHEN YOU FINALLY PICK UP THE GUITAR, OR TRY TO SING A SONG, YOU ARE SO RUSTY THAT IT ISN’T ALL THAT MUCH FUN.

SO THIS TIME AROUND I PROMISED MYSELF I WOULD NOT FALL INTO THAT TRAP. I LITERALLY PLAYED AND SANG FOR AN HOUR OR SO, AT LEAST EVERY OTHER DAY. I NEVER REALLY GOT OUT OF ROAD SHAPE, AND I EVEN DISCOVERED SOME NEW PLACES IN MY VOICE THAT I’LL TRY OUT IN CONCERT THIS YEAR.

ONE OF THE SONGS I GOT INTO SINGING AT HOME WAS, “BUILDING THE BRIDGE”. IN THE PRESENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, I FIND THAT SONG TO BE ESPECIALLY ENJOYABLE TO PLAY. WE REWORKED THE ARRANGEMENT, REWROTE THE GUITAR SOLO SECTION, AND PLAN TO PLAY IT IN OUR 2008 THEATER SHOWS.

WE ALSO TOTALLY RETOOLED, “IN YOUR LETTER”, FROM THE HI INFIDELITY ALBUM. THAT TUNE WAS ALWAYS KIND OF A NOVELTY SONG FOR US…A LITTLE TRIBUTE TO THE DOO-WAP GROUPS THAT WE USED TO HEAR ON OUR TRANSISTOR RADIOS, BEFORE THE BEATLES CAME OUT. BUT THE FACT IS, THERE IS AN EMOTIONAL SIDE OF THAT SONG WHICH WAS LOST IN THE ORIGINAL ARRANGEMENT. THIS NEW APPROACH HAS MADE IT FEEL LIKE A WHOLE NEW SONG, HOPEFULLY WITHOUT ABANDONING ITS NOSTALGIC CHARM.

I KNOW A LOT OF YOU HAVE BEEN SUGGESTING THAT WE PLAY SOMETHING OFF OF THE “GOOD TROUBLE” ALBUM. I KNOW…I KNOW. I AM REALLY LOOKING FOR A SONG FROM THAT RECORD THAT EXCITES ME ENOUGH TO WANT TO SING IT TODAY. I PROMISE I WILL KEEP TRYING TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.

WE HAVE ALSO GOTTEN NUMEROUS REQUESTS ON THE WEB SITE FOR, “SON OF A POOR MAN”. SO DON’T BE SURPRISED IF WE TROT THAT ONE OUT THIS YEAR. WE DIDN’T PLAY, “LIKE YOU DO”, LAST YEAR FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, SO THAT SONG WILL BE FINDING ITS WAY BACK ON TO THE SET LIST. AND WE REALIZED HOW MUCH A PART OF OUR HISTORY “GOLDEN COUNTRY” HAS BECOME, SO YOU WILL BE HEARING THAT ONE THIS YEAR TOO.

IN GENERAL THE BAND IS SWINGING MORE THIS YEAR. EVEN BALLADS LIKE, “CAN’T FIGHT THIS FEELING”, ARE BEING TREATED WITH LESS OF A PLODDING TYPE OF FEEL. THAT APPROACH WORKED GREAT IN THE 80S, BUT WITH A FEW SUBTLE CHANGES, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SINGING THAT SONG MORE THAN EVER.

OUR SHOWS WITH STYX AND DEF LEPPARD WILL BE VERY COMPACT… FULL OF NON STOP ENERGY. THEN FOR OUR HEADLINE SHOWS, WE WILL STRETCH OUT A BIT, AND DIG A BIT DEEPER INTO OUR CATALOGUE.

OKAY, THAT WASN’T TOO HORRIBLE, WAS IT? BUT ALL THIS TYPING IS MAKING ME DIZZY, GOTTA RUN,

KC

[jrnyfan74]

I agree with you...Styx needs to revitalize themselves. I was at the Dallas show last year (Leppard, Styx, and Foreigner), and I got to talk to the drummer in the VIP lounge. I asked him why we don't hear songs like Crystal Ball or Suite Madame Blue, and he said it was due to the short set they had. I have seen Styx many, many times in the post DeYoung era, and I get the feeling they sing the songs that the older members are most associated with.

I saw REO last year as well....and they ROCKED! I have been to numerous REO concerts, and I have never been disappointed!

[chowhall]

I agree with you...Styx needs to revitalize themselves. ...

I saw REO last year as well....and they ROCKED! I have been to numerous REO concerts, and I have never been disappointed!

If Kevin would shut up, I might agree with you.

[Everett]

I agree as well. I love both styx and reo it is good that reo keeps changing there set list. I wish styx would do the same but we all know that's never gonna happen unless you know who get's back in. As far as kc yapping all the time so what that's the kind of preformer he is I don't care and a lot more people I know don't care as well. I can't wait to see reo next month in the dells. It's gonna be an awesome show.

[styxfanNH]

The problem is that when Styx digs deep into its catalog, they pull out Crystal Ball, Suite Madame Blue, Boat on the River. THey are the same songs that use to be part of the 2+ hour set that they don't do much of anymore.

They could still dig deep into the rest of the catalog with one or two additional songs in the set that weren't attributed to Dennis. If they simply took 4 or 5 songs in the set and gave them alternates, they could realy give the perception that there are different sets. But we all know they are programmed up there like a bunch of robotos, delivering the same set for 100+ shows a year with little variation.

As far as Kevin goes, he does talk way to much.

[froy]

I agree with you...Styx needs to revitalize themselves.

Why?
They are playing for the money now
There not even a band anymore


Please no to Madame Blue
No to anything that has Gowan opening his mug.

I was at the Dallas show last year (Leppard, Styx, and Foreigner), and I got to talk to the drummer in the VIP lounge. I asked him why we don't hear songs like Crystal Ball or Suite Madame Blue, and he said it was due to the short set they had.

Which means its due to them being reduced to an opening act.

[jrnyfan74]

I agree with you...Styx needs to revitalize themselves.

Why?
They are playing for the money now
There not even a band anymore


Please no to Madame Blue
No to anything that has Gowan opening his mug.

I was at the Dallas show last year (Leppard, Styx, and Foreigner), and I got to talk to the drummer in the VIP lounge. I asked him why we don't hear songs like Crystal Ball or Suite Madame Blue, and he said it was due to the short set they had.

Which means its due to them being reduced to an opening act.

If that is truly what they have come to froy, then I wish they would just hang it up. Even though KC does tell the same long stories at all of REO's concerts, you can tell a huge difference in the energy they have compared to Styx. How do you think a band get's reduced to an opening act anyway? If you don't want Gowan singing, then you have seriously limited the ability to pull from the catalog and perform what people want to hear.

[DerriD]

Styx had some energy when I saw them in 2005. Last year at the Def Lep/Foreigner/Styx show they were going through the motions. I first blamed it on them only having 45 minutes, but Foreigner came out and blew the lid off of the place. They too only had 45 minutes, but it was non stop action. I would dare say that they were a better show than Def Lep.

[bugsymalone]

Current Kevin Cronin is going to be a celebrity guest on "Don't Forget the Lyrics". I think it may be next week, but not sure of the dates.


Bugsy

[onestilllearning]

Joined: 14 Apr 2006
Posts: 385



Styx had some energy when I saw them in 2005. Last year at the Def Lep/Foreigner/Styx show they were going through the motions. I first blamed it on them only having 45 minutes, but Foreigner came out and blew the lid off of the place. They too only had 45 minutes, but it was non stop action. I would dare say that they were a better show than Def Lep.

Are you kidding ? Foreigner has one origanal member and unlike Styx who have two of the three origonal vocalists Foreigner without Lou Gramm is nothing but a really good cover band. To me the main attraction is seeing Jason Bonham playing drums.

I would dare say that they were a better show than Def Lep. - Are you f-cking kidding Def Lep is the real thing there newest member has been with them 15 years and everyone else are the origanal line up.

[piecesofeight]

Yes..Kevin needs to shut up.

In Your Letter..excellent song.

[Higgy]

Yes..Kevin needs to shut up.

In Your Letter..excellent song.

...written by Gary

[kansas666]

This is an interesting topic.

We saw STYX in October at The Crystal Grand Theater in The Wisconsin Dells.

We saw REO at the same place last Saturday.

I consider myself much more of a STYX fan than an REO fan, and I have to say I enjoyed the STYX show a lot more.

REO did play a couple of songs from their new album and we got Golden Country because they were the only act and we got a longer set. But other than that, every song was predictable.

These bands are similar with their high energy and choreographed moves. But in my mind, STYX pulls it off more convincingly. My wife commented on how staged and unnatural REO looked.

I think STYX is bringing in a younger crowd too. Saturday night we were surrounded by middle aged fat women.

Interestingly, tickets for the REO show were $10 higher than for STYX. But the crowd seemed a little smaller.

My guess is REO can charge more because they still have their main lead singer.

[Higgy]

I think STYX is bringing in a younger crowd too. Saturday night we were surrounded by middle aged fat women.
.

Ever seen a Styx fan?

[elmotano]

I think STYX is bringing in a younger crowd too. Saturday night we were surrounded by middle aged fat women.
.

Ever seen a Styx fan?

I am guessing you haven't seen one in a while since, again, I am guessing you havent seen a Styx show since maybe 1997? But, please do tell us about "the Styx fan".

[Higgy]

I think STYX is bringing in a younger crowd too. Saturday night we were surrounded by middle aged fat women.
.

Ever seen a Styx fan?

I am guessing you haven't seen one in a while since, again, I am guessing you havent seen a Styx show since maybe 1997? But, please do tell us about "the Styx fan".

It was some guy with a mullet, mustache, and "What If" tour shirt. He was bitching about my Asia shirt. I think his name was Elmo something. Do you know him?

[Zan]

It was some guy with a mullet ... I think his name was Elmo something.

Oh, now that's funny!

[elmotano]

I think STYX is bringing in a younger crowd too. Saturday night we were surrounded by middle aged fat women.
.

Ever seen a Styx fan?

I am guessing you haven't seen one in a while since, again, I am guessing you havent seen a Styx show since maybe 1997? But, please do tell us about "the Styx fan".

It was some guy with a mullet, mustache, and "What If" tour shirt. He was bitching about my Asia shirt. I think his name was Elmo something. Do you know him?

I'm sorry, I don't get it...what about that says Styx fan?