DDY Review - 7/15/12 Columbus :)

[SuiteMadameBlue]

I noticed how the DDY show was compared to the Styx show from the year before.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories ... sical.html

Picnic with the Pops: Styx singer, symphony mix pop with classical


Dennis DeYoung dazzled and delighted an audience that went to high school between 1975 and 1983 in a dynamic concert called “The Music of Styx” with the Columbus Symphony last night at Columbus Commons.

In fact, this might have been one of the best Picnic with the Pops shows ever: a perfect blend of pop, rock and classical music. This show actually blew away the show last year at the LC Pavilion by the group that has the rights to the name Styx. Last night, the songs were outstanding, the playing inspired, and the showmanship cool but not over the top. Leading the way was DeYoung, 65, the former voice of Styx.

Conductor Arnie Roth led the symphony in an overture of Styx music, and then DeYoung joined his band for Grand Illusion, playing Hammond and Yamaha keyboards.

Along the way, portions of classical music’s finest works turned up in the show — a few measures of Ravel’s Bolero graced Lady, Mozart’s Eine Klein Nachtmusik preceded Lorelei and Debussy’s Claire de Lune started Don’t Let it End. The symphony sounded great when they could be heard over the six-man band. Sonically, this show was good and loud — the poor concertmaster appeared to be wearing ear muffs. Special mention goes to drummer Tom Sharpe, who stood at his kit a lot to play castanets and hit the cymbals.

DeYoung’s twin guitarists, August Zadra and Jimmy Leahey, look and sound like Tommy Shaw and James Young from the original Styx, but they didn’t mind soloing on Desert Moon, acting robotic on Mr. Roboto, hitting the high notes on Rockin’ the Paradise, Suite Madame Blue and Best of Times; or grabbing the spotlight on Renegade, Blue Collar Man and Too Much Time on My Hands.

There was a lady who stood behind DeYoung during much of the show and sang backing vocals. It turned out to be Suzanne DeYoung, his wife of 42 years. He said he wrote the song Babe for her in 1979 in lieu of jewelry. She said she got the jewelry later, and good for her. Later, the DeYoungs slow-danced at the end of the closing encore, Come Sail Away.

[Boomchild]

Hmm... This must have been written by one of those DeYoungian Groupies!

[SuiteMadameBlue]

Hmm... This must have been written by one of those DeYoungian Groupies!

You would think so

....... but actually it was written by a real critic for a real newspaper in Columbus

[Ash]

Hmm... This must have been written by one of those DeYoungian Groupies!

Yeah because everything these days is a conspiracy perpetrated by members of various camps.

[bugsymalone]

Honestly. over the past several years, Dennis is mostly getting positive reviews for his solo shows.

Good for him!

His symphony show is still, I think, the gold standard on these types of shows. His integration of the orchestra into Styx music is just wonderful.

Bugsy

[scarab]

Until Dennis gets one of those lazy suzan keyboards, he wont reach the current Styx greatness.

[Boomchild]

Until Dennis gets one of those lazy suzan keyboards, he wont reach the current Styx greatness.

He needs to one up them. Like have his keyboard rig mounted in a roll cage so they can spin Dennis around in all directions even upside down.

[kansas666]

DeYoung’s twin guitarists, August Zadra and Jimmy Leahey, look and sound like Tommy Shaw and James Young from the original Styx, but they didn’t mind soloing on Desert Moon or acting robotic on Mr. Roboto

August and Jimmy combined thought bubble: 'Oh man, I'm not getting paid enough for this.'

[pinkfloyd1973]

DeYoung’s twin guitarists, August Zadra and Jimmy Leahey, look and sound like Tommy Shaw and James Young from the original Styx, but they didn’t mind soloing on Desert Moon or acting robotic on Mr. Roboto

August and Jimmy combined thought bubble: 'Oh man, I'm not getting paid enough for this.'

Looks like they have a lot of fun to me

[ManOfMiracles]

Until Dennis gets one of those lazy suzan keyboards, he wont reach the current Styx greatness.

He needs to one up them. Like have his keyboard rig mounted in a roll cage so they can spin Dennis around in all directions even upside down.

They tried this for Keith Emerson from ELP back in the 70's... as I recall, didn't he throw up all over himself? LOL

[Boomchild]

Until Dennis gets one of those lazy suzan keyboards, he wont reach the current Styx greatness.

He needs to one up them. Like have his keyboard rig mounted in a roll cage so they can spin Dennis around in all directions even upside down.

They tried this for Keith Emerson from ELP back in the 70's... as I recall, didn't he throw up all over himself? LOL

Oops! In that case, they need to install a barf bag dispenser in the set up just in case.

[Boomchild]

DeYoung’s twin guitarists, August Zadra and Jimmy Leahey, look and sound like Tommy Shaw and James Young from the original Styx, but they didn’t mind soloing on Desert Moon or acting robotic on Mr. Roboto

August and Jimmy combined thought bubble: 'Oh man, I'm not getting paid enough for this.'

Looks like they have a lot of fun to me

Something tells me August probably still can't believe that he went from playing in a Styx cover band to playing with one of the founders of Styx itself. Certainly it's better exposure for him then the other.

[Zan]

Hmm... This must have been written by one of those DeYoungian Groupies!

Yeah because everything these days is a conspiracy perpetrated by members of various camps.

I know. As if any of those guys had a shred of real talent.

Speaking of which, I'll be at the DDY show this Monday. Pretty cool since the only time I've ever seen his show was back with the orchestra in 2004

[Ash]

Hmm... This must have been written by one of those DeYoungian Groupies!

Yeah because everything these days is a conspiracy perpetrated by members of various camps.

I know. As if any of those guys had a shred of real talent.

Speaking of which, I'll be at the DDY show this Monday. Pretty cool since the only time I've ever seen his show was back with the orchestra in 2004

Nice! Let me know if you like it. I've not been to a DDY show since the Burtnik shows back in Atlantic City and New York City. :/ It's been too long

[Zan]

Hmm... This must have been written by one of those DeYoungian Groupies!

Yeah because everything these days is a conspiracy perpetrated by members of various camps.

I know. As if any of those guys had a shred of real talent.

Speaking of which, I'll be at the DDY show this Monday. Pretty cool since the only time I've ever seen his show was back with the orchestra in 2004

Nice! Let me know if you like it. I've not been to a DDY show since the Burtnik shows back in Atlantic City and New York City. :/ It's been too long

Nothing is the same without Glen.

(tongue-in-cheek)

Good news though - he is fabulous with The Orchestra. And his Tribute shows are mind-blowing.

[Ash]

If I still lived in the Northeast, I'd likely be a Burtnik groupie. I've heard his shows are really, really good and the ones I've seen I have really enjoyed. Nashville is just no man's land for Styx (most times), DeYoung and Burnik.

[mr.v]

If I still lived in the Northeast, I'd likely be a Burtnik groupie. I've heard his shows are really, really good and the ones I've seen I have really enjoyed. Nashville is just no man's land for Styx (most times), DeYoung and Burnik.

Speaking of Styx and Nashville, did you know they are back at the Ryman in November?

[Ash]

Yeah, I posted about the Ryman show on another thread. Need to make sure it at a time I can go. I'd like to check it out.

The Ryman is SUCH a great place for a band like Styx.