This was a great way to spend Valentines Day. I went with my wife and sister and brother in-law. We bought the complete package. Dinner at the Dream Dance was a very fine experience and the show in an intimate theater with Champaign was superb. And the women were even given long stem roses at dinner and before the show. Walking out into the drone of the slot machines afterward was a jolt however. We gambled a little. But I had the most fun throwing 35 cents directly into a trash can and watching the look on everyone’s face. That was much better than putting it into a slot machine.
Now, on to the show. I must admit it was better than I expected. It wasn’t perfect, but pretty good.
The show didn’t get off to a very good start. Dennis began with a couple of rockers; Rocking the Paradise and The Grand Illusion. These two openers made it painfully obvious that Dennis isn’t a rocker. From there we were treated to a couple of essential but not great songs with Lady and Lorelei, although the bolero in Lady was a nice touch. We also got Desert Moon. I have two problems with this song. This concert was billed as “The Music of STYX”. I don’t recall Desert Moon being on any STYX album. And why didn’t he play this song about two thirds of the way through the show when I reeeeaaallllyyy had to use the men’s room.
After that, the show took off. I was really impressed with Pieces of Eight. Hall of the Mountain King in the middle of it was a real treat. Show Me The Way was done acapella and brought chills down my spine. Clair de Lune/Don’t Let it End really showed off the orchestra. Mr. Roboto was much better than I expected it to be. His bass player wore some really interesting headgear during this song. Castle Walls was the best song of the evening. Light Up was a surprise. And Sweet Madam Blue is a classic.
Finally he played Babe and I was able to step out for a moment.
Best of Times and Come Sail Away were the perfect ending to a great evening.
Notes:
How did they get all those people on that stage?
I thought the orchestra was under-utilized.
Dennis’ backup band isn’t nearly as talented as the musicians in STYX
Why was his wife on stage trying to sing and dance?
I wish he had played I’m Okay.
The sound system was only average.
Was that chick looking at me?
I left the show with the feeling that Dennis is a great performer. He has a spectacular voice and has written some wonderful songs that I have enjoyed listening to over the past 30 years or so. But it became painfully obvious that Dennis is doing very well where he is and STYX is doing very well where they are. And the two are diametrically opposed.
I knew that Dennis would crack a few jokes on stage. But he was a regular comedian. And it wasn’t just canned material. He was topical and interacted well with the audience. When he mentioned that the drive from Chicago to Milwaukee was really nice if you like cheese, porno and guns, not to mention the Bong Recreational Area “wink wink nudge nudge” I about fell out of my seat. I have driven that stretch of highway a number of times and knew exactly what he was talking about.
I have to admit, and this is not a put down, that I think his show would go over very well in Las Vegas.
I only saw the classic lineup of STYX a couple of times, once in 1978 and again in 1996. And each time there seemed to be a dichotomy on stage. The rest of the band rocked and Dennis didn’t. Don’t get me wrong. Dennis tried to rock and the rest of the band tried to smile when he treated them like children. But they couldn’t quite pull it off.
I have come to the conclusion that the split was a good thing. Each faction has gone further in the direction they wanted to go. And they each have done very well in their pursuits. STYX is a well oiled concert machine and has become classic rock all-stars, and Dennis is a great entertainer and lounge singer. I don’t see the two acts getting back together. And I don’t think they should.
I have been a fan of this band since I first heard Equinox. And I have to admit that it is somewhat of a guilty pleasure. STYX/Dennis has never been hip or cool and the critics have never liked them. But I will continue to go see both acts and buy all their albums, even after STYX becomes the next Spinal Tap and Dennis DeYoung becomes the next Engelbert Humperdinck.
