REVIEW & PICS: Styx set sail for NJ, bringing hit after hit after hit

Photo: Ricky Phillips smiles at the crowd at the State Theatre. Photo by John Soltes.

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — When Styx roll into town, concertgoers know they’re in for a good time. That was certainly the case when the legendary classic rockers made a stop at the State Theatre in Central Jersey. They began right on time, as so many legacy acts do, and offered the packed house hit after hit after hit. In fact, after spending a couple hours with the guys of Styx, one realizes just how many recognizable songs they have. There’s truly no filler in these set lists, only the beloved soundtrack staples of the past 50 years.

It’s hard not to gravitate to the two ends of the stage when watching / experiencing a Styx performance. On one end there’s Tommy Shaw, still powerful in voice and an ace on guitar, and on the other end is the exuberance of keyboardist and co-vocalist Lawrence Gowan. Together they make a formidable duo who bring the audience through the decades and the many albums, stretching back to the 1970s and up until their new release, Crash of the Crown.

The band seems to have a blast on stage, and there was never a paint-by-numbers feeling. These guys felt the music they were playing, and the crowd, who were mostly on their feet for the duration of the show, felt the music, too. Ricky Phillips held down centerstage on bass, while James Young blared his guitar like a pro. Chuck Panozzo even turned up for a few choice songs, while Todd Sucherman kept things speeding along on the drums.

There were numerous highlights, including “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights),” “Lady” and “Crystal Ball.” The first set of this two-set show ended with the sing-a-long “Too Much Time on My Hands,” a tune readymade for a large house of Styx fanatics. After a 20-minute intermission, which didn’t feel entirely necessary, the energy was built up again with songs like “Miss America,” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” and the set closer “Come Sail Away,” an epic reminiscent of “Stairway.”

The double-shot encore had the audience once again appreciating the two men on either side of the stage: Gowan, who took the lead on “Mr. Roboto,” and Shaw, who took the lead on “Renegade.”

Styx are perpetually on tour, and that’s a good thing, indeed. They need to be experienced live. Amazingly the band members have become even more skilled and more polished as the years tick by, and their numerous hits never sounded better.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

Styx are currently touring the United States, playing a sold-out show at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York, tonight, May 11. Click here for more information and tickets.