Styx returned to the Artpark outdoor stage for the 1st time in 7 years. This time, the band is on tour in support of its 17th studio album titled ‘Crash of the Crown’ via Universal Music Enterprises. The new album reached #17 on Billboard’s Rock chart and followed 2017’s ‘The Mission.’ Even with the band still filling their creative juices, they had a hard time fitting in the new tracks with the hits that the fans love to always hear. For the 1st time ever, the band decided to add a 3rd guitar player. They added former Guess Who guitarist Will Evankovich. Evankovich has a history with Styx and Tommy Shaw. He played an integral part of Styx’ ‘Crash of the Crown.’ He toured with the Shaw/Blades project in addition, he has played on a few of Shaw’s solo tracks as well. So you can say he was the right person for Styx to pick for the job.
The band took the stage with the energetic Lawrence Gowan leading the charge. Styx went into a new track playing “To Those.” Gown used every inch of that stage belting out the lyrics and also jumping behind his rotating keyboard. The band immediately went into the classic “Blue Collar Man.” Shaw sounded amazing and as all three guitarists including JY Young made its way around the stage making eye contact with the audience and tossing out guitar picks. For this show, what I really paid attention to was the drumming of Todd Sucherman. He is so polished as a drummer and precise with his playing. Sucherman along with veteran bass player Ricky Phillips really drive the rhythm Styx train. Sucherman’s playing all night was just stupendous. Evankovich played acoustic for “Lady” and “Crash of the Crown.” The latter track featured the keyboard wizardry of Gowan. Shaw hasn’t lost anything in voice or his playing. His performance on “Crystal Ball” proved that. Young took over the lead vocals for the 3rd new track in “Our Wonderful Lives.” For the 1st time I can remember Styx played one of Gowan’s solo tracks in “Criminal Mind.” They closed the set with a barrage of hits that included “Too Much Time” and “Come Sail Away.”
For the encore, the band tackled “Mr. Roboto.” The last few years the band has added this to the setlist. I find that very interesting consider this album and tour was the start of issues within the band that eventually led to the departure of Dennis DeYoung. It was fun to hear and hope the band leaves in in the set as its still a part of the Styx legacy. I thought the band never sounded so tight and locked in. This was probably the best I ever heard them. So, kudos to the band after all of these years that they are still able to deliver a high quality performance!
Setlist:
To Those
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
Grand Illusion
Lady Light Up
Crash of the Crown
Lorelei
Miss America
Crystal Ball
Rockin’ the Paradise
Our Wonderful Lives
A Criminal Mind (Gowan song)
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Too Much Time on my Hands
Come Sail Away
Encore:
Mr. Roboto
Renegade
We would like to thank Amanda Cagan from ABC Public Relations for the credentials to review the show.
