Original Styx vocalist Dennis DeYoung closed out the 2014 Gratwick concert series in North Tonawanda, NY last Sunday night with a vivacious performance. DeYoung showed he can still deliver a high quality performance with his 6-piece band, which includes his wife, Suzanne, on backup vocals. The rest of the band consists of John Blasucci on keyboards, Jimmy Leahey on lead guitar, August Zadra on rhythm guitar, Tom Sharpe on drums and birthday boy Craig Carter on bass. This is the same band that DeYoung carried with him a few years ago the last time he played the area (Lockport, NY in July of 2011).
DeYoung took the stage at about 7:20pm swinging his arms around like he was playing air guitar while getting the crowd energized as his band kicked into “Grand Illusion.” DeYoung made a lot of eye contact and gestures to the crowd and interacted with them the entire night. He showed he still has the vocal chops as he sounded just like the records on classics “Lorelei,” “Babe” and “Suite Madame Blue.”
Zadra was a perfect compliment, handling the songs that his former band member Tommy Shaw used to sing lead on. He truly did justice to the songs “Blue Collar Man” and “Too Much Time.” Leahey handled most of the lead guitar work and acoustic work all evening. Bassist Craig Carter enjoyed a small “Happy Birthday” celebration which was sung to him during the show.
DeYoung played a heartfelt “Show Me the Way,” a song that was written for his son during the first Gulf War back in 1991. DeYoung was excited and pumping a new video that is currently being shot for a DVD release later this year. He added a local flavor as he talked about how the “Paradise Theater’ tour wrapped up in Buffalo, NY. He quipped on how he remembered it very well before the band went into “Rockin’ the Paradise.”
What a dream week it’s been here in WNY if you’re a Styx fan. The band Styx performed early this week on Tuesday at Artpark and then Sunday original vocalist Dennis DeYoung performed with his band at Gratwick Park. DeYoung’s band was up to the task and was every bit as good as Styx was. If you get a chance to see them, please do, you won’t be disappointed!
Setlist:
Grand Illusion (Styx song)
Lady (Styx song)
Lorelei (Styx song)
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) (Styx song)
Show Me the Way (Styx song)
Mr. Roboto (Styx song)
Crystal Ball (Styx song)
Desert Moon
Too Much Time (Styx song)
Happy Birthday (sang to bassist Craig Carter- Patty and Mildred Hill cover)
Rockin’ the Paradise (Styx song)
Babe (Styx song)
Fooling Yourself (Styx song)
Prelude 12 (Styx song)
Suite Madame Blue (Styx song)
Best of Times (Styx song)
Encore:
Renegade (Styx song)
Come Sail Away (Styx song)
We would like to thank Kathy Paradowski for the credentials to review the show.
