Photos by:  Greg Walkowiak
Review by: Cheryl
Show photos HERE
There’s a lot to be said for a band that has been around for over two decades and can still fully engage the crowd.  I was excited at the prospect of seeing Styx perform at the Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. Call it nostalgia-hearing their songs brought me back to high school days. I’ll admit that I prepared myself that after all these years; they may not sound quite the same. That apprehension was quickly dispelled the minute the band took center stage.
They opened with “Blue Collar Man” with intoxicating energy and those distinctive riffs–as if the music took human form and grabbed you by the shoulders. The crowd was immediately out of their seats dancing, waving, applauding- and the night was underway.
After an explosive introduction, the band down shifted into old favorites like “Grand Illusion”, “Lady”, and “Come Sail Away”-sans Dennis DeYoung, but extraordinary nonetheless. Some of the players may have changed, but the game remains the same. The band performed with such incredible synchronized harmony throughout their set list, you couldn’t resist becoming completely absorbed in the music.
Tommy Shaw never disappoints and this show wasn’t any different. “Crystal Ball”, “Fooling Yourself”, and the rock staple-“Renegade” were performed with the momentum and élan that only Tommy Shaw can deliver.  For the naysayers who claim that he has ridden on the coat tails of Styx’ success; experience one of his charged performances and then we’ll debate…
The show closed with “Renegade”, and just like it’s opening with “Blue Collar Man”; the soft, steady introduction culminating into an explosive verse-I feel like I just took a wild ride on a symphonic roller coaster. And what a ride it was. Styx still has it-they never lost it. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see them in concert yet, I highly encourage it. Fasten your seatbelt….
 

MEET THE BAND:

Tommy Shaw
Lawrence Gowan
James “JY” Young
Todd Sucherman
Ricky Phillips
 
 

SETLIST:

Blue Collar Man
Grand Illusion
One With Everything
Fooling Yourself
Lady
Lorelei
Man In The Wilderness
Miss America
I’m Ok
Crystal Ball
Light Up
Pieces Of Eight
Too Much Time
Come Sail Away
 
ENCORE:
Rockin’ The Paradise
Renegade