by Ellen Kozisek
Now, in Kansas City, on the first stage, were the Snotrockets, and the SuperNauts. In Kansas City, the first stage is out of the way of the main pathway into the venue (unlike at Riverport in St. Louis) and it's shady, which makes it a real nice place to hang out if you get there early and aren't guarding a spot on the lawn. I didn't get there early enough for the Snotrockets... with being at the concert in St. Louis the night before, that was a bit much... I took a nap instead. But I got to see the SuperNauts. They won a battle of the bands contest for the privilege to play there. They are young... 13, 14, 16, and 17 (I read about them beforehand), but surprisingly good. I enjoyed them.
Now, I went to see Eddie Money this past winter. And was kind of disappointed. But I liked it better Friday and Saturday. I'm not sure if it was better audiences, or if it was because my expectations were lower. Probably some of both. The last two songs in his set are especially good... two of his big hits, ones most everyone there recognizes I'm sure, and by then the venue is mostly filled up, and he and his band do them well.
After seeing two more shows of REO with Styx, I've reached a conclusion. Now, REO started out as a bar band. REO are still a bar band... they just play really big bars. :-) Some Styx fans have said REO don't have the energy Styx does. And some REO fans have said Styx don't have the energy Styx has. Which always makes it sound like one band has more energy than the other. But, in a conversation, someone pointed out, that it's that the bands are different. And after seeing both bands live together again, I see that. Both bands have lots of energy. But, they are different. So, the Styx fans and the REO fans are both right.
REO were awesome as usual. And... the cool thing... I got to watch Neal play! So, now he no longer needs to get one of those spinning keyboards... lol... I was so totally thrilled to be looking right directly at his hands while he played piano. Oh, this was in Kansas City, where I was up close. I could see Kevin's too, of course, when he was at the piano. Which was cool. But it was Neal I was thrilled to watch play in person.
REO are such an awesome band. They thrill me time after time.
And, since it was still light out when they started playing in Kansas City, I think I got some good pictures of Bryan Hitt, the drummer. Oh, and, I was right by the speakers, and, during REO's set, I could really feel the bass drum. Which was cool.
With, REO, more so than with Styx, I'm really a fan of the band... the unit. And, while Kevin Cronin is the largest part of why I like REO, he was there, and I've only ever heard one thing he's done apart from REO (singing on Tommy's solo album). Styx though... it's like Dennis is the biggest part of why I'm a Styx fan, and he wasn't there but then there are these two other guys, Tommy and Glen -- who I'm a fan of quite apart from being a Styx fan. It's like, Tommy I discovered from Styx, but soon after I became a fan of him and Styx, he left Styx, and being a Tommy Shaw fan became something quite independent of being a Styx fan. And with Glen, while Styx was my introduction to him as a performer (Edge Of the Century) before I got that album there were already too songs he wrote that I quite liked... so it wasn't Styx that first introduced me to Glen musically. So, it's like, my Styx fandom... it's a bit more eclectic than my REO fandom, and that makes watching Styx a bit different than watching REO. Of course, then there's the fact that the two guys I most like to watch in REO are way in the back. Which is why I make sure I don't get seats to the side for REO. I want to watch Neal and Bryan!!!
Let me share one of Kevin Cronin's stories he told... a "new" band member story... Kevin says, a couple weeks back, in Las Vegas, backstage, he overheard one girl saying to another that she really enjoys REO's new blond lead singer (which is, of course, the same guy with a new hair color). Kevin comments that he's been with the band since 1972. (Actually, it was 1976 when he joined for good, after leaving a year after he joined, but why worry about things like details.) Kevin said though, that in a way they were right, because he feels like a new man.
Okay, now, once upon a time, back in the 80s, I decided Tommy Shaw is the most gorgeous man on the planet. I haven't changed my opinion of that. So, how come I'd really rather watch the bass player? Meaning Glen (live with Styx) and Jack (on video with Damn Yankees). I did lots of Glen watching at the shows. Glen's cool. Actually, I think it's their smiles, their energy, and their songwriting talent. Okay, and their singing contributes too. Sigh... yeah, that all applies to both Jack and Glen. :-) Oh yeah, and both are nuts. :-) (Tommy said "Glen Burtnik is a maniac... and you all are encouraging him!" -- or something like that -- this after "Edge Of The Century".)
Anyway... the Styx concert. I did pay some attention to the other guys. A little. :-)
For the St. Louis show I was way back in row MM. I had my binoculars though. The bad thing about binoculars, though, is you can't dance with them. But, at least I was in the middle. Which, for Styx I think closer up on the side would have been better, but for REO, I definitely want to be where I can see the guys in the back.
In Kansas City, I was 2nd row on the left... way left. Not the greatest spot for an overview of the stage, but a great spot for Glen watching. Which I did. It seemed like he played just to us in that corner... like we were his part of the crowd. He made sure we didn't feel neglected. :-) Tommy's the only one who didn't come up close while I was there (he did, but I switched spots with someone for a song... so she got to see Tommy up close). I guess this end was Glen's and the other end Tommy's.
First song "Everything Is Cool". Now, on Kilroy Was Here, I loved the two part Dennis/Tommy harmony in "Haven't We Been Here Before", and I wanted more. I got more on Brave New World. And "Everything Is Cool" is one of the songs with the Dennis/Tommy two part harmony. And I quite enjoy it. But, you know what? Tommy/Glen (live) sounds just as sweet as Tommy/Dennis. :-)
One thing I can't help wondering... how did Styx ever manage with just 3 vocalists? Yeah, I know Chuck sang on occasion too, but basically, mostly, they had just 3 guys to do the harmonies... and I just can't imagine Styx with just 3 rather than the 4 they have now. But, then again, I guess they must have done okay, because, back in the Damn Yankees days on Rockline, Jack said to Tommy, talking about Styx, "you guys had the best harmonies live"... okay, Jack being Jack he may have been exaggerating about "best" (or maybe he wasn't, heck if I know), but, none the less, he expressed definite appreciation for Styx's live vocals (of way back when).
2nd song... Grand Illusion. In St. Louis, the first of the two shows, when I was way in back, the song sent me into Dennis mode. I was a Dennis DeYoung fan enjoying hearing one of his songs. I closed my eyes and pictured Dennis at his concert back in February. That's a great song. In Kansas City though, I was really enjoying watching Gowan performing it. And watching him. It's like, I was mentally in two different places at the two shows. And both times I thoroughly enjoyed the song.
"Lady"... okay, this is a heretical opinion. I know that... I'm aware of it, I admit it. But, okay, so I'm a heretic. If you don't want to hear a heretical opinion, skip ahead now to the next paragraph. And if you think I need mental help, oh well. "Lady", I like Gowan singing it better than Dennis. Honestly, this song, it never made sense to me why it was so popular. I couldn't see what people saw in it. But, when I went to 3 Styx shows last year, Gowan brought it to life. I found I liked the song. So, I've come to quite like the song from hearing it live. Then I go see Dennis's show in February. Of course he did "Lady", since it's such a big song, so well liked. But, for me, it fell flat. I was disappointed... like the song didn't live up to itself (for me). (The rest of the show, by the way, was for me totally awesome.) And maybe some of you feel it falls flat with Gowan singing it. Which is fine. Anyway, I was glad to hear Gowan sing it again.
"Lorelei". JY sounds awesome singing this. In the car on the way home (my parents' home that is), they were doing a concert play back... switching off between Styx and REO with an occasional Eddie Money song. They played "Lorelei". And, hearing Dennis singing it just after hearing JY sing it live, I really noticed how, it's almost like a totally different song when JY sings it. It's like, it's the same song, but JY brings something different to it... it sounds different. Or, more accurately, it feels different. But just as good. And, it's like, listening to JY sing it, I don't even think about that it's different from the original recording. When JY sings it, it becomes his song. And when Dennis sings it -- and I got to hear Dennis do it live at his show -- it's Dennis's song. It's like, listening to JY, it would be easy to forget he didn't sing it, because it sounds like it was always his song... even though he sounds nothing like Dennis.
"Crystal Ball". I am so glad they did this. Like, last year, at the short shows, they weren't doing it. So my first two times seeing Styx live, no "Crystal Ball". :-( I'm glad it's in the setlist now. This song has my very favorite Dennis DeYoung keyboard solo. And Gowan did just fine with it... no complaint. Maybe not quite the same, but still good.
"Foolin' Yourself". Chuck was there at both shows. Played this one, and then "Come Sail Away" (end of regular set) and the encore ("Tush" and "Renegade"). Chuck was the only still living person who's been in Styx who I hadn't seen live... so I was really hoping to get to see him. I pretty much knew he'd be there in St. Louis, since he's been at quite a lot of the shows, and they were filming that show. Still, I was quite excited to see him! Yeah! Yeah, I screamed. Let out my excitement. Which really isn't good for my voice...
"Edge Of The Century". Great song... I think, though, when I was up close on the left, I'm glad Glen didn't do more songs, because more time at the microphone would mean less time entertaining us over on the left. Not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy Glen's singing, both that song and his contribution to the harmonies. But... I like watching him up close too. :-)
"Mr. Roboto", done inserted into "Edge Of The Century". Thank God for
Volkswagons. "Come Sail Away". I finally saw Gowan's leap. Like see, at my first 3 Styx
shows, I zoned out in this song. I got totally into the song, and
closed my eyes and enjoyed the music. And it was awesome. This time...
I kept my eyes open. I enjoyed the song, but I watched Gowan too.
"Tush". In Kansas City... with Styx going last, Kevin Cronin joined
Styx for this song. Tommy said "Welcome the newest member of Styx,
Kevin Cronin". :-) And, it was good. And, when Kevin was singing, he
was with Tommy at Tommy's microphone, and I'm way on the other side in
front, and Kevin stood at enough of an angle that, while he sang "Tush"
I got a view of *his* tush. :-) Which I enjoyed. :-)
That's not all the songs... just the ones I want to comment on. I think
that's most of them, but not all.
Oh yeah... in St. Louis, on the new ones... people sat. Which was kind
of too bad. For "Brave New World" some people stood (and, of course,
they stood for "Everything Is Cool", since it's the opening track) but
for Heavy Water *noone* was standing around me... I'm standing up,
dancing, and everyone around me was sitting. But, they were still
enjoying, and those sitting didn't complain about us standers... the
crowd knew it was okay to stand. :-) I don't mind if people choose to
sit, so long as I can choose to stand. :-)
I think I enjoyed Styx a little more. And... I like Styx playing last,
not because it makes a difference for Styx, but because I enjoy REO more
when they play before Styx rather than after.
Now, the jam. In St. Louis, when REO went last, and they were filming
for the CD / video / DVD / TV special, they jammed on two songs
together. All 11 of them on stage together. :-) Yeah! That was so
totally cool... to see REO and Styx on the same stage at the same time
playing together. They did "Blue Collar Man" and "Roll With The
Changes". On the latter, usually, with the piano, Kevin does the intro,
then he goes up front to sing and Neal takes over on piano, and then
Kevin goes back to the piano just before Neal's hammond organ solo.
When they jammed, Kevin still played the intro, but Gowan took over on
piano, Neal stayed at the hammond, and Kevin got to stay out front for
the whole song. On "Blue Collar Man", Glen and Bruce both played guitar
and Chuck was the only bass player. On "Roll With The Changes" Bruce
and Chuck both played bass, and it was kind of cool watching them play
together.
Chuck Panozzo, watching him... he's just not a showman like the other
guys. But, it was cool to see him interacting with the rest of the band
-- and with the REO guys too during thhe jam -- and with the fans.
Actually, thinking about it now... it's kind of the same thing REO vs.
Styx... REO, they aren't showmen. They get up there, have a good time,
and share that good time with the fans. They interact with each others
and the fans. Styx, they have all that, but there is also a
showiness... a good showiness, it's showy, but natural, somehow. Which
I think is perhaps the magic of Styx. This Styx anyway. (Kevin
Cronin's a storyteller... a little different from being a showman, a
different type of entertainment.)
Styx live... wow. There is so much to enjoy. I'm a happy Styx fan.
Oh, and, that fence... It has an opening in it. I'm not sitting on the
fence. But I'm not thoroughly entrenched on one side or the other. I
freely travel from one side to the other. Both sides are good places to
be. :-)
Oh, yeah, and they had Glen Burtnik's album Palookaville
at the merchandise stands!!!! That was so cool to see!
And, from the audience reaction, regarding Gowan, I don't know what they
thought of his singing, but they all sang along to "Lady" and "Come Sail
Away". The audience enjoyed the songs. And, it seems like every show
I've seen, when Gowan does his bit where he's up there playing keyboards
by himself with noone else up there, the crowd always reacts real
positively... they are impressed by his playing.
You can reach me by e-mail at bladesian@hotmail.com
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©2000 Ellen Kozisek
Created: June 14, 2000
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