Styx

This was the 5th time I've seen Styx live and this was there best one yet, amazing 19 song setlist! Whole crowd was being awesome to the band and singing all the hits! Styx is one a generation band from kids the age 12 to 20 to adults from from 30 to 70 plus! They never disappoint and I will see them again again again until they stop touring! They in my top 10 bands of all time and long live Tommy Shaw one of the greatest guitars players ever! Also, shout out Nancy Wilson Heart, they were amazing opening band!

The show was GREAT !! Wish I could have afforded close seats, would love to get a guitar pick. Disappointed that they did not do Our Wonderful Lives and Crystal Ball. Also would have liked to hear Boat On The River and Sing for the Day. I like REO but wish the concert was just Styx so I could hear more of their songs. I have been a Styx fan a long time, it was my 7th time seeing them. I took my grandkids ( 19 & 15) with us this time. They thought the show was awesome. A new generation of Styx fans.

WOW!!! To kick off the night Don Felder of Eagles fame opened the night with an amazing band performing many of the songs from the Eagles and originals from his own band. Top notch to say the least. Next we were treated to a blistering set from Blues Rock guitarist/vocalist Mr. Joe Bonamassa. Joe as always put his heart & soul into every performance. His band of course was off the hook & featured Josh Smith on guitar!! To add some sultry spice to an already amazing stew Joe has been touring with 2 of the finest female vocalists and they did not disappoint as they kicked the show up another notch in my opinion. Last but most definitely not least....STYX. STYX has been around for many years and i've been a huge fan for most all of them. It was a guitarmageddon!!! Each and everyone of the band members are spectacular in their own right, together it's pure magic. Not one of the band members has lost a single step instrument wise or vocally. The entire show was well worth the price of admission at the beautiful Bethel Woods Center for the Arts located on the site of the original Woodstock Festival. Great time and wonderful memories... Living Life through music! Rick Surrano

Styx is one of those bands that I don't really listen to on a regular basis, even tho I like the music. But I'll go see them live any chance I get, because they put on a great show. And it's a good thing, too, because logistically the state fair is a nightmare. Especially the parking. Word of advice: if you're going to a show there, go early in the day! Because of other commitments, I couldn't get there until around 6. And while I made it to the show in plenty of time, if I hadn't had a handicap placard, I might still be looking for a parking spot! But it was worth it. They did a good variety of songs, which is always tricky with a band that's been around so long. I was especially happy that they did my 2 favorites: Too Much Time On My Hands and Mr Roboto.

STYX rocked the house! They have been together for quite a few years and it shows in their chemistry they have on stage and within the music they play. I've seen them several times over the years and they sound the same each time. I never hesitate to get tickets when they come around my town. If you're contemplating whether you want to go see them or not, just GO. You will not be disappointed. Don't fool yourself into thinking they are a grand illusion, they are blue collar men looking for a lady to sing to and babes to attend their shows. If you have too much time on your hands, become a renegade and come sail away with me! STYX FOREVER

Great weather for an outdoor, evening event. Staff were *very* friendly and helpful, hardly any lines that lasted more than 3 minutes - except for the port-a-potty areas. It is what it is. Security was also professional and helpful and they got us out after the show with no issues, even opening a few of the side exits for faster flow. Prices for beverages were fair, as were the prices for the 3 or 4 food trucks with some really tasty looking treats. Nice to be able to enjoy a pour of bourbon without being forced to have a mixed drink as other venues do, and my compliments to the person who thought of better sipping options than standard well liquors. The chairs in the orchestra pit were pretty comfy and not all metal so there was some nice "give" on the back and seat. Acoustics and sound way up front were great and not overpowering or too loud. I really enjoyed the venue. Parking, ease of access in and out, ease and speed of getting in and out of the event, location in town - just about everything logistically was flawless. Then again, so was Styx, who, after 50 years, still provides their fans an outstanding show that is tight, professional, entertaining and memorable. This was a great night and I'll be sure to attend more shows at Lauridsen.

I’ve seen Styx at least ten times and this was definitely my favorite concert! They were fired up and ready to put on an amazing performance! They played two one sets with a twenty minute break, playing many songs I’ve never seen performed live. I loved the venue, MGM at Fenway in Boston is a great place to see a concert! Tommy Shaw was spectacular, as usual! Along with the guitars he usually plays, he played the mandolin and a banjo. He is an amazing musician!! The entire band was fantastic!!

One of the BEST concerts we have EVER been to, and I have seen STYX 5times. Will be seeing them again in July, the 27th at Pacific Amphitheatre. We had lower loge seats for The Show venue on Feb. 18th and we were right behind the sound/lighting Eng., IT WAS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As usual, STYX was awsome!!!!!, bought tickets for 7/27 that night!!! My Wife and I are devoted STYX fans and always will be!!!! Tell Tommy and JY we LOVE them, all the band really. Will see them whenever possible!! LOVE THEM!!!! Janine & Cal Taylor, janinegtaylor@yahoo.com, calvin.taylor50@yahoo.com

Awesome concert!!! It was the best one we have ever been to!! We saw them at Jonesboro on Dec. 2nd, 2022 at the First National Bank Arena. We sat 2nd row and the tickets were still a reasonable price! Our tickets came with an awesome VIP pack, that included a super comfortable T-Shirt, poster, VIP Lanyard and a lot more. All the band members did amazing, and they are always so spontaneously full of energy!! This concert was definitely a show and a half, as it was super entertaining. I would rate this show 1,000 stars if I could, instead of just 5. I highly recommend to everyone, of all ages. We hope to see them again soon!

Styx, REO Speedwagon, Loverboy: 9/14/22 “I was back on the road again riding the storm out, sailing away to Greenville, SC for a midweek show, you could say I’ve been working for my Wednesday. LIVE NATION’s $25 ‘all in’ special was my friend granting me access to some good lower bowl side seats. Running into a personal friend in the concourse, it turned out to be my lucky day. Don asked me if I wanted to sit with him in Luxury Suite 120, ‘Ummm YES sir’! It was my 4th time seeing any combination of the bands within recent years so I mostly expected a recap performance, I WAS WRONG! Billed as the ‘Live And Unzoomed Tour’ aptly named for an official signing out of the pandemic and the reemergence of live in your face rock n roll to the masses. What made this show different was a combined 148 years of rock n rolling, 59 charted singles, a 35 song combined set list, all arena staples… i.e. a powerhouse triple-bill event in sound, production, and energy. With only four dates left on the tour it was a fine-tuned machine. Styx and REO sharing top billing have been alternating co-headliners. Tonight REO got the closing set, and there was no loss of momentum between lightning quick stage turn-arounds. You’d better be quick if you want to get that second or third beer between bands or a diet coke if you’re like me. Loverboy performing as ‘special guest’ opened at precisely 6:45 delivering an 8 song set. The Canadian bred band featured the entire original line-up save bassist Scott Smith who passed away in a 2000 boating accident.‘ Spider’ Sinnaeve (bass) known for his extended solos who’s been with the band since did a first-rate job, and the band as a whole did much better than when I saw them last. Their stage set was mobile featuring dual bass drums mid stage with the red on black logo with a backdrop of the trademark type face font logo, a stack of Marshalls on wheels stage R, a stack of ‘Mark Bass’ amps which looked like double 8 domino tiles stage L also on wheels. Paul Dean (guitar) came out from behind his Marshalls. Mike Reno 67 (vocals) took the stage in trademark bandana, sunglasses and sleeveless shirt. Mike carried himself as talkative and interacted with the audience nearly every song. ‘How you doin’ Greenville?’ ‘It’s good to be back with a live audience, we missed you guys.’ On ‘Lucky Ones’ intro Reno spotted a lady in what appeared to be a wedding dress close to the front, ‘You must be one of the lucky ones’. Later we would come to know her as ‘Kelly’, it was her 21st birthday and Mike had her stand up, turn around and face the audience as he dedicated ‘Hot Girls In Love’ to the young birthday girl. Finishing off the song, Spider showed out one of his famous pounding bass riffs. On ‘Queen Of The Broken Hearts’ Doug Johnson (keys) used the synthesized talk-box. Before ‘Lovin’ Every Minute’ Mike told us how during a tour bus fire nothing was saved except Paul Dean’s boots, ‘Let me see those babies, I thought I smelt something burning.’ The audience sang along on the whoa-oh, whoa-whoa part. At one point a roadie came out handing Reno a microphone while his appeared to have been working fine, ‘What’s that a karaoke mic? Does it play the next song?’ On ‘Turn Me Loose’ I waited for it… and Mike delivered perfection on the scream, ‘I’m gonna pack my bags and FLYYYYYY’, one of the highlights of my evening. It was 1-2-3 on the cowbell and the band brought it all together on ‘Working For The Weekend’. Notably missing from the set were ‘When It’s Over’ and ‘Take Me To The Top’. By this time the half filled arena had grown to about three quarters. Styx was next delivering an hour and fifteen minute/15 song set. The Chicago IL band’s set understandably did not including the DDY ballads as the two entities are long since removed parting separate ways. The band featured Tommy Shaw (who turned 69 Sunday) and his full head of hair that seemed to always fall back perfectly in place all evening long. J.Y. Young 72 an underrated master on the Strat and his signature green axe. Lawrence Gowan 65 (keys since ‘99) who has more than proven himself an effective, energetic, and sometimes humorous frontman. Todd Sucherman, a superhuman on the drum kit. Will Evankovich also on guitar (formerly Guess Who) who produced and cowrote the new album. Co-founder Chuck Panozzo 73 who had battled two life threatening illnesses made an appearance on stage for 4 songs looking happy, healthy, and vibrant. The stage featured 4 person-height light and video screens main stage with 7 step risers on each side leading up to a cat walk with 7 sets of rotating lights in its forefront. Drums were center, a ‘TS’ logo for Todd on each bass drum and Gowan’s custom platformed keyboard with the classic STYX logo on a rotating pole stage R. Tommy Shaw controlled the whole of stage L. Opening with the first of 4 songs interwoven from their ’21 release, they could get away with it ‘cause the new Styx IS the old Styx. On ‘Blue Collar Man’ Lawrence showed off some backward playing on keys. On ‘Grand Illusion’ Tommy ascended up to the catwalk for the solo, standing right on the edge you could see each foot movement up and down on the wah-wah, descending he gave a high kick all the way up to his head during the final instrumental piece. On ‘Lady’ a sea of phone screens could be seen capturing video of the moment in time. The new song ‘Crash’ came across sounding almost ‘Queen-like’. JY introduced the next song, ‘We wrote this next song to decriminalize this wonderful natural plant… LIGHT UP EVERYBODY’! During ‘Rockin The Paradise’ Gowen dressed in a white tie put on a multi color striped jacket and black top hat, dancing, waving, and running in place whenever he was not actually behind the keys. Chuck took the stage for ‘Fooling Yourself’ with JY and Lawrence both on keys, Tommy played acoustic and once again Lawrence played the solo facing backwards. On ’Too Much Time On My Hands’, Tommy switched out the words to: ‘and the fun never ends as long as James Young keeps on buying’. Khedive was next, an instrumental showing off some of Gowen’s classical styled piano playing skills. For ‘Come Sail Away’ once again it was Lawrence taking the lead standing a top his keyboard, walking the catwalk during the chorus, then descending into an Irish or rather a Scottish jig. ‘Mr Roboto’ and ‘Renegade’ were the encore with and a one leg split onto the keyboard by Gowen as if it were a parallel bar. The set ending with a full band final bow. It was possibly my first time ever seeing someone other than the final band perform an encore. Topping off the evening was REO (also from Illinois) with a 13 song set. The band still features original member Neal Doughty 76 (keys) who has played on every album and has never missed a concert, Kevin Cronin 70 (vocals since ‘72) who sounds amazing and got better each song in, plus Bruce Hall 69 (bass since ’77). The stage featured 6 upright light bars, 3 to the R, 3 to the L increasing in height outward with a beacon a top each. The drum platform was center and slightly stage R with the ‘Hi Infidelity’ logo, KORG Keys a top a Hammond B3 were stage R, a grand piano stage L. Behind was a backdrop of the classic REO logo with light bars projecting outward like sun rays sometimes pinwheeling, sometimes pulsating, sometimes radiating. Cronin and his gorgeous Ovation in hand led like a seasoned frontman should. ‘Greenville South Carolina check your selves out (spotlights on the audience)… thank y’all for coming out on a school night and partying with the big boys baby’. A beach ball had landed center stage, waiting for the right moment he kicked it back into the audience at the final note of ‘Don’t Let It Go’. Introducing ‘Live Every Moment’ Kevin informed us, ‘I just turned seventy years old right? I figured I would have some idea of what’s going on around me — I don’t know S**T!’ The song ended with CSN’s ‘Doo doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo doo doo’ from Suite Judy Blue Eyes. ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ prompted am arena-wide singalong. Between ‘Time For Me To Fly’ and ‘Back On The Road Again’ Hall performed a rousing bass solo the likes of which resembled to me the Courageous Cat theme. For ‘Keep On Loving You’ Cronin took his place on the grand piano. Prior to the final song, ‘Roll With The Changes’, he introduced a good friend of his for years and years to the stage, it was ‘local boy’ Edwin McCain. Kevin left the Greenville stage by saying, ‘We love you, always have and always will’! Notably missing from the set were ‘In Your Letter’ and ‘Keep The Fire Burnin’ (one of their three ‘Keep’ songs). There were no video screens the entire evening lending to the old school feel and everyone appeared to be fine with it. Styx proved themselves the all around official headliner for numerous reasons (but it was close). Styx has described their live events as ‘a gospel caravan trying to send out positive messages wherever we go’, and the entire evening was exactly that. One could easily have knocked 20 years off each member of any of the bands actual age at any given point during the performance. The only thing that could have been better is if individual members of the three bands shared the stage together, now that would’ve be epic.” Review and photo by DAve. (Concert #703-705)

Kick-ass concert. 2 things... #1 - Loverboy was up first and when I say their performance was shortlived, I mean it was almost non existent. They only played a couple of songs when it started storming a little bit. Since it was an outside concert, they evacuated the venue. That changed everything. So we didn't get to see Loverboy. #2 - When I bought the tickets, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts were on the schedule. Since the purchase, I never heard another word about them. They definitely weren't there but if they had have been, they wouldn't have been able to do their set either. Both Styx and REO Speedwagon we're great but so much time was lost due to the storm, their sets were shortened too. I feel like we should have been able to get a partial refund because of the time lost but it was just one of those things. We thoroughly enjoyed what we did get to see and hear.

They still got it! I've been following Styx since the early 70's and I'm amazed how good they still sounds. At this point in a band's existence, most singers either can't reach those higher notes or can't hold them like before. Everyone's voices show little signs of normal "wear & tear". And instrumentally - - tighter than ever. I only wish that I had purchased seats in a better location - I was too far off to the side to see very well. Luckily the music didn't care about location.

Fabulous, fantastic, amazing, best ever! Absolutely loved it! This time we spent some coin and paid for front row seats and it was worth every bit of it we were right there at the stage right in front and it was amazing. Along with REO Speedwagon and Loverboy this was a fabulous concert. The only thing that was hard was the parking lots were so far away from the venue, if if you had general parking, that by the time you walked there you were worn out, and it was hot and there was virtually very little shade. My suggestion to White River amphitheater is please line the area with benches and places to sit. Otherwise the concert was absolutely fantastic 😍

To sum it up quickly, in 3 words to describe Styx at this show and every other performance I've attended by them: Insanely Phenomenal - Amazing!!! Blown away!! You guys killed it!! The sound was crystal clear and your musicianship was top notch, like always!! I was in awe throughout your set!! It was astounding!! Everyone of you just killed it!! I saw you last year at Azura Amphitheater with Collective Soul too! Another epic Styx show in the books!! I'm over 20 of them, for sure! What a way to celebrate 50 Years of Styx!! I can't wait to see you guys again at the end of the Summer up in Des Moines!!

Well, I got stuck in traffic and the long line of cars entering the venue. Loverboy was playing when I parked and by the time I entered REO was starting their set. I thought REO did very well. I was really disappointed with Styx. I started being a Styx fan when I was in high school, they were named TW4 at the time. Over the years I've been to about 20+ of their concerts. This concert by far is the worst performance of theirs that I ever saw. I don't know what's happening but they sounded like they were trying different versions of their songs. They were all over the place trying to mix the audio and it wasn't good. Did you notice that future concerts will either have REO or Styx headline? Something is declining when Styx plays back-up to REO.

Styx was awesome! REO Speed Wagon was awesome!! Loverboy was awesome. Rain/lightning delayed Blossom opening the venue...let the people in who had pavilion tickets...that is safer and you stay dry in the pavilion vs. stand outside in rain and lightning. Loverboy played a short set due to the late start....overall it was good, but open up and let people in even if it is raining...better to be under the pavilion then standing outside in the rain.... Only other negative is very poor cell phone reception there and the Blossom wifi is bad...even employees had trouble running credit cards and they don't take cash...take cash if you cant process credit cards....

Performance review: I thought it was a great show and the band seemed to be into it as well. Last time I saw Styx live was back in the early 80s, so this was obviously a bit of a different band lineup, but they did a great job present a mostly greatest hits laden performance. Looking forward to seeing them again in August when they are out touring with REO Speedwagon and Loverboy. (Note- originally bought this ticket back in December 2019 for 2020 show- while it got postponed/rescheduled a couple times due to the pandemic, I'm glad it didn't get cancelled like a few others did.) Venue review: seating consists of padded chairs attached to each other is a bit cramped. Cup holders attached to the back of the seat row in front of you is a nuisance is you have long legs like I do. Sound was good, video screens on each side are quality. Because all the seats are on a level floor, is someone stands up in front of you you may have to stand as well to see, but the stage is elevated enough that sightlines are good if people stay in their seats. Security was very present and kept people where they belong... no one allowed to "rush the stage" or linger in the aisles.

Styx was amazing. Their vocals and music were clear and succinct; the lighting and staging were fabulous. I loved the vibrant colors and love the motif that the band chose for their backdrop—I thought it looked like an eyeball, but, the more I saw the more it took on other worldly significance. This was truly a “must see” tour for Styx freaks. Before the show, the band offered up a new guitar with all band members’ autographs up for raffle. All profits went to a local charity. For $20 anyone could buy a raffle ticket and receive copy of the newest Styx album, Crash of the Crown. At the end of the concert, the charity promoters pulled one raffle ticket and OMG! My friend won the guitar! What a great night! Thank you, Venetian Theatre and LasVegas , for the good vibes, and overall, awesome experience!

Tesla was great, although far more acoustic songs than I expected. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts exceeded my expectations (even better than when I saw them in 1983). Joan put on a great, high energy setlist, and delivered. Styx... what can I say... the were phenomenal. They far exceeded my high expectations. Such phenomenal musicians, singers, & performers. They had the hardest, rocking setlist of the 3 bands, and killed it as you could see the fun & joy they had while performing a killer set (even with Mr. Roboto in the encore)! (Even co-founder and semi-retired original bassist, Chuck Panozzo made a rare surprise visit and played on 5-6 songs... what a treat!)

Of course it was great to hear Styx play tons of their fantastic songs from their library. They played most of their fantastic songs from their fantastic career, and it was a good long show. They still amaze me (having seen them in 1977) and they are still on top of their game. Tommy Shaw and James Young are both still great singers. The only thing that wasn't perfect to me was the sound mix, wish I could'a heard them more clearly. But unlike some bands from previous years that really need to hang it up, Styx in 2017 does not fall into that crowd.