ROCK' N' ROLL HAS NO AGE LIMIT WHEN STYX HITS THE STAGE
There is no age limit for rock and roll, and Styx proved it on Friday, August 4, 2023, at the Indianapolis State Fair. When Tommy Shaw (69), James Young (73), Chuck Panozzo (74), Lawrence Gowan (66), Todd Sucherman (54), and Ricky Phillips (70) walked out on stage at 7:30 PM that night, the crowd went crazy. With their synths, spinning guitar and piano (literally spinning) solos on stage, and blended vocals, you could not say these guys were too old to give the fans what they wanted. Fans began to gather on the lawn at the Hoosier Lottery Free Stage as early as 10 AM to ensure a good view of their favorite American rock band from Chicago, Illinois. As always, there were some diehard Styx fans in the crowd. Some claimed to have seen every performance since the band formed in 1972. The band began the setlist playing "To Those" from their new album Crash of the Crown, released on June 18, 2021 and is the seventeenth studio album for this progressive, hard rock band. Styx always ends the evening by doing an encore of their best-known hit single "Renegade" from their album Pieces of Eight (1978), which was on the top 10 Billboard chart for 19 weeks. There is still debate on whether the band can exist without Dennis DeYoung, who originally formed the band and wrote the earlier songs to include the band's number one hit, "Babe." But Tommy Shaw and James Young should be praised for their ability to maintain that all-important signature sound that made the band successful. All the band members lend their voices to produce incredible three-part harmonies with some degree of edginess that make their sound so memorable. Every fan has a Styx story, and I am no exception. I, too, have been a lustrous fan of Styx since 1978. I had numerous chances to see them, but something like getting married, having kids, and being an adult always got in the way. However, the most compelling interference came when the band was scheduled to perform just two miles from my home. I had purchased my tickets months in advance, and the anticipation was mounting in my world. Then, my daughter announced that she was getting married, only to find out that her wedding day would be the same—you guessed it—as the Styx Concert. I begged and begged her to change her wedding date, but my pleas were unfounded. So, I spent the evening under the stars watching my daughter venture into matrimony while hearing the faint sounds of my favorite music, only TWO MILES AWAY! Now for those who think Styx is too old to perform their old hits or new hits, I feel sorry for you because you are missing out on one of the greatest rock n' roll bands ever to hit a stage. You can visit ticketmaster.com to find tickets or visit styxworld.com Julie Correll R&R Journalist Help Save The Music helpsavethemusic.org [email protected]