LIVE: STYX – Clearwater, FL, USA – January 5, 2024

Venue: The Sound at Coachman Park

City: Clearwater, FL

Dates: January 5, 2024

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

First show of the year and I cannot wait to see and photograph Styx for a 10th time as well as a first time for openers 38 Special.  The opening set from the Southern Rock mainstay was a hits filled slot that got the blood pumping, foot tapping, and the crowd (and this photographer / reviewer) singing along.  Kicking off with “Rockin’ Into The Night” how could the evening go wrong?  Song after song, Don Barnes led the band through hits and favorites that kept the mood up, the fun dialed up, and the energy flowing from stage, across the capacity pavilion, up the lawn, and back again.  As their time on stage ticked away, we were treated to hits like “”Wild-Eyed Southern Boy” and “Like No Other Night” before the band closed out their allotted time with “Caught Up In You” and “Hold On Loosely.”  After a set change that was pulled off with precision, Styx took their place on stage and we were off and running.  There was something special tonight.  Not only could you feel it, but there was something sonically churning in the venue.  Opening with “To Those” was an exercise in setting the stage and the bar before kicking into overdrive on the second and third songs of the set with “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” paired nicely with “The Grand Illusion” thanks to an abundance f energy and enthusiasm from Tommy Shaw on guitars and vocals as well as keyboardist and vocalist Lawrence Gowan.  Founding member Chuck Panozzo joined bassist Ricky Phillips and the rest of the band for an early appearance (haven’t seen him on stage this early in the set before) for the huge ballad hit “Lady” giving the song a cool dynamic with two basses in the mix.  Other favorites, newer tracks, and hits as well as some killer guitar work and some vocals from James Young decorated the set before the tandem of “Crystal Ball” and “Rockin’ the Paradise” kicked an extra bit of energy into the set midstream.  After another newish song, another pair of mega hits hit the venues sound system as the band ripped through “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” and “Too Much Time on My Hands,” which featured more killer drumming from Todd Sucherman.  After a couple instrumental pieces, the band kept things moving with “Come Sail Away.”  Leaving the stage momentarily but returning to a huge roar from the crowd, the band pulled out “Mr. Roboto” and then closed with “Renegade” sending us all into the night with smile on our faces and a song in our heads.  The band hasn’t sounded better live and seem to be totally gelling on stage and enjoying themselves and each other as they celebrate 50 years together.  Do not sleep on the band as they make their way in and out of venues now and later this summer with Foreigner.

STYX SETLIST: To Those – Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) – The Grand Illusion – Lady – Light Up – Crash of the Crown – Lorelei – Miss America – Crystal Ball – Rockin’ the Paradise – Our Wonderful Lives – Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) – Too Much Time on My Hands – Khedive / Lost at Sea – Come Sail Away – Mr. Roboto – Renegade

38 SPECIAL SETLIST: Rockin’ Into the Night – Wild-Eyed Southern Boys – Back Where You Belong – The Sound of Your Voice – Back to Paradise / Honky Tonk Dancer / Rough-Housin’ – Teacher, Teacher – You Keep Runnin’ Away – Somebody Like You – Second Chance – Like No Other Night – If I’d Been the One – Fantasy Girl – Caught Up in You – Hold On Loosely

[Show as slideshow]

COMPLETE SET OF STYX PHOTOS

STYX LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

X – TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TOUR DATES

[Show as slideshow]

COMPLETE SET OF 38 SPECIAL PHOTOS

38 SPECIAL LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

X – TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TOUR DATES

Tags: featured

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries