Styx at the Casino Ballroom, Hampton Falls, NH

Review and Photos by David Nebbia
Show photos HERE, also see the interview HERE.
When I got the chance to shoot the band STYX, along with the added task of reviewing the show… I was more than excited and up for it. This was a band I loved back in my teens and early twenties. Even then they were considered “classics”. They have so many timeless songs so many that stretch over decades.
This was a sold out show at a very intimate venue. The Casino Ballroom at Hampton Beach, NH is one a great place to see a Live show. The crowd and the venue was ready! This was a seated show, but that did not mean the crowd snoozing with their legs crossed and arms folded. As soon as the band started with the song “The Grand Illusion”, the place came alive and you could see the energy fill the band on stage. This was one of the first songs I remember from this band,  making me realize just how amazing they were. To see Tommy Shaw and James Young running around and singing and playing flawlessly, it was like it was 1977 all over again! With past members of Tommy Shaw (vocals, guitar), James Young (vocals, guitar) and Chuck Panozzo (bass – only joined on a few songs) and newer members Ricky Phillips (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums), and Lawrence Gowan (vocals, keys) gracing the stage… it was sure to be a night of all of their great songs done perfectly. And it was.
They came right out of the gates after the opening song with “Too Much Time on My Hands” and “Fooling Yourself.” They were just great. The vocals, the chemistry, and the energy was timeless and ageless. Then they playes one of their all-time hits, “Lady.” It made you realize (bringing up the elephant in the room) that missing Dennis DeYoung was that that big of a problem…. at least for me. Mr Gowan made us all realize he was more than capable of filling the void. He was spot on all night with the keys and his vocals and was a great showman as well. Right out front on his revolving keyboard, jumping, dancing, and circling his way through a great performance all night.
The band broke into some great covers with Lawrence Gowan leading the charge. They did “I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles, and “Space Oddity” by David Bowie with songs of their own… “Light Up”, “Snowblind” and “Miss America” in between.
When bands take an intermission, it can be such a letdown. Not here, when they came back out after a short set break, it was like they never left the crowd. They were connecting with each other on stage just as much as they were connecting with the crowd. You could see them really having a great time being there and they just played all the greats we were hoping for. After “Pieces of Eight” and “Blue Collar Man”, Lawrence Gowan got the spotlight here for a nice medley of covers. He stood at his keyboard and went through pieces of songs from The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Boston, Queen, and even Otis Redding. He did a great job not only in singing them, but playing them on the keys.
Then they finished the night with a powerful, almost coup de gras, strike… finishing with “Come Sail Away”, “Rockin’ The Paradise” and “Renegade”! I must say, I was really taken back in time. The band pulled you back and forth over their Platinum and Gold records, song after song after song. It was a wonderful journey of hits and memories for sure. I hope I get the chance to see them again. It was only my second time seeing Styx, and I can’t wait to do it again!
Setlist:

• The Grand Illusion
• Too Much Time on My Hands
• Fooling Yourself
• Lady
• Lorelei
• Man in The Wilderness
• I Am The Walrus
• Light Up
• Snowblind
• Suite Madame Blue
• Miss America
• Lights
• Space Oddity
• Crystal Ball
• The Khedive
• Pieces of Eight
• Blue Collar Man
• Song medley of – You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Rocket Man, Bohemian Rhapsody, (Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay
• Come Sail Away
• Rockin’ The Paradise
• Renegade