STYX Brings All of Us Together

As I was preparing to go spend yet another night lugging gear to and from my car, to the Hollywood ( Florida) Hard Rock Live, not that I am really complaining, I found out I would have that one huge opportunity to payback my sister for the times she was forced to attend concerts only her bratty little sister wanted to see.

All images and story by Belinda Reedy Hinton

Everything is different when you see something through someone else’s eyes. I have always loved sharing my music experiences with other people. Yet is was in this moment I realized there is exactly one person to ” blame” for all my rock and roll crazy life. She better appreciate this. It was back in, well, let’s leave the year out of it, there is Google after all, when an album titled Pieces of Eight debuted. From the moment that vinyl hit the turntable I have been a fan. I still remember my sister playing along to Renegade repeatedly on her pawn shop purchased Ludwig pearl drum kit. I think that may be where this ringing in my ears came from. I couldn’t get enough of the album either, to be honest. So, when I got a rare extra ticket, I jumped at the chance to road trip it with her 250 miles round trip to be exact, for her to see STYX live for the first time ever. I’ve seen them three times in the last two years so I was struggling for what angle was I going to capture a proper write up. This article has been quite more fun than I expected.

Who would have thought that not only would I be in this situation, but I would find some commonality in it. Not to worry, dear reader, there’s a review in here too. During the opening, my sister sent me a text from her seat, asking “isn’t this the band I took you too for your first concert?” Admittedly, yes, technically Loverboy WAS the first artist we saw together, but it was on their first real tour opening for Journey, the Steve Perry era Journey. Loverboy gave a solid performance and Mike Reno, while a bit shaking starting at, got warmed up quickly and turned in a really good ahow and trip down memory lane. The songs could easily be called the IDGAF tunes of the MTV generation. Don’t discount this catalogue Loverboy has four multi platinum albums to back them up.

At one point, his daughter came out to relay a message, and it was then it occurred to me, maybe this is the angle I want to take. Having done this a long time, it is sometimes lost how utterly addictive the feeling of home is when you find commonality amongst strangers. From many of my collogues in the pit to the artist on stage we are bound together by a single thread of music.

Meeting Craig Kelley, in his 2011 STYX Tour shirt, in the pit helping escort us with his daughter Marina was certainly serendipity, fate, sign from the universe, however you’d like that to be said. Marina shared this : “Classic rock was a cornerstone of my childhood, with some of my fondest memories rooted in the moments spent rocking out to music in the back of my dad’s M5 on our way home from elementary school. Attending a live concert featuring Loverboy and Styx, with my dad by my side, was a truly full-circle experience—one that I will treasure forever. I am deeply grateful to John Valentino and AEG for making this unforgettable moment possible, and I eagerly anticipate many more incredible shows like this in the future.” Craig was incredibly proud of his daughter, and exuded a child like excitement about seeing STYX again. it’s this kind of energy that powers our generation to continue celebrating the music of our time over and over again and STYX doesn’t dissapoint.

From the first note of Grand Illusion to the last note of previously mentioned Renegade, STYX brings an unrivalled energy to the stage. They don’t really slow down for a full hour and a half, save for the occasional ballad, until the house light come up for the final bow. This, they savor and deservedly so. The joy with which they play and the comradery that is unlike a band with much fewer years on th road is, in my opnion, what keeps this fresh and new even if you see them every time. They don’t leave you satisfied, they leave you wanting more. Musically they are completely togehter, and vocally a fierce sound that is unrivalled. Very few bands can perform at this level night after night with such precision and joy.

Chuck Panozzo, founding member joined for several songs including Lady and Renegade. Tommy Shaw still has a great voice and was smiling more than I’ve ever seen. John”J. Y.” Young, while a cool disposition, still manages quite a few smiles himself. Todd Sucherman and Will Evankovich are incredibly talented. Lawrence Gowan, subject of a recent interview, is an incredible master of the keyboard and his vocals have been a perfect fit for nearly three decades. The recent addition of his brother Terry Gowan has made this an even bigger musical family. The dynamic between everyone transfers seamlessly to the audience. During Come Sail Away, it was hard to hear the band because it became a rousing, heartfelt, sing along.

Following this brief tour, STYX will have a short residency in Las Vegas at the Venetian January 24-February 1, 2025. Visit STYX.com for more information. They will be heading back out May 28, 2025, with Kevin Cronin on the “Brotherhood of Rock” Tour along with Don Felder.