Styx
May 26, 2019
Atlanta, GA
Chastain Park Amphitheatre
At a sweltering 94 degrees, one would think that this would not be an ideal night for a concert. The humidity was so intense my shirt was stuck to my back and I even gave up my lower level seat where the crowd was packed in like sardines for a seat further back where I could actually breathe and not get stuck to some dude with a 38 Special tanktop on.
Styx took the stage to the nearly sold out shed as “Overture” filled the air. The crowd went absolutely nuts as the band opened up with “Gone Gone Gone” from their latest album The Mission. This song has become somewhat of a classic Styx staple in its own right. If anyone doubts this, hearing it followed by classics like “Blue Collar Man” and “The Grand Illusion” proved that it could stand along with the greats of their past.
Guitarist Tommy Shaw urged the crowd to light up their cell phones for “Light Up” from the Equinox album and as cool as it was, I would’ve much rathered see folks light up what people most likely lit up back in ’76. “Radio Silence” from The Mission is always a welcome song and honestly it made me wish that they would have done The Mission in its entirety. It’s such a stellar album but I get it that most fans want the hits.
Styx was absolutely killing it and they were playing with more fire than I have seen them play the last three times I’ve seen them play. James “JY” Young took the mic for “Miss America” and this song is always a highlight for me. This song kicks so much ass and they know it. The energy they put into this song is off the charts and these guys could give any younger bands a run for their money without even losing breath. It really is something to see.
“Rockin’ The Paradise”’ is always a blast to hear and it’s so much fun to see singer/keyboardist Lawrence Gowan step away for this one to really take over the stage. He is a frontman of the highest degree and he really knows how to captivate an audience. With his David Lee Roth meets Fred Astaire stage presence, he dances around the stage with all the energy of a 20-something. It actually made me feel pretty bad about myself and reminded me that I need to get back to the gym.
Throughout the night, the band was having a great time and they seemed to be so much more playful than I’ve ever seen them. Running up the stairs, doing goofy little dances, and interacting with each other on stage playfully shows just what a great relationship they have as a band. It also shows that they having a great time and that the element to kept them from having this kind of fun is gone, gone, gone (pun intended).
“Fooling Yourself” is such an emotional song for me as this was one of my dad’s favorite Styx songs. Hearing this one always brings a tear to my eye because I remember being that angry young man and even though my father never really had the best relationship, listening to this song with him is a memory that will stay with me forever.
After closing with the epic “Come Sail Away,” Styx returned to the stage for an encore of “Mr. Roboto” and a version of “Renegade” that brought down the fucking house with a roar. This song is the ultimate closing song for Styx and this is where they leave it all on the stage as they bid everyone a good night earning themselves a much deserved standing ovation and deafening cheer from the audience.
Styx is a band that never ceases to amaze me. After all these years, Styx is one of the few bands of their era that can still put on an amazing, high energy performance and truly give the audience 110%. If I had one bit of criticism it would be that I wish they would dig a little deeper into some of those deep album cuts or maybe even include a few more tracks from The Mission. Just ditch the opening acts guys and give us An Evening with Styx. I know its wishful thinking but all in all, I’ll take what I can get and what I get is still more than I could imagine.
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