REO/Styx/Ted Nugent Concert

[brent]

I went to the show last night in KC, MO. Man, it was great. It is so nice to be impressed with musicianship and good stage presence. Ted always has had a potty mouth, but man that old fart has tone for days, and the chords that band plays make my eyes water.

The last time I saw REO was in 85, when Gary was still the guitarist. Dave KILLED guitars last night. He put some modern twists on old tunes, changing the chords just a bit, making them a bit more bitey and aggressive. Very surprised by this band. The original keyboard/B3 player was there, which was great. I heard he had health issues. He is the oldest guy of the bunch IIRC. He is from a different era, and I like what he does.

Styx was just killer. They were great. Tommy's vocals were over the top great. JY is a VERY under-rated guitarist!

Next week.....DREAM THEATER! No Rush though. They are not coming close.

[executioner]

Why can't this be something Petra can do? They can get groups like White Heart, Rez Band, and maybe a metal band like bloodgood together for a tour. I know WH & Rez are not officially together but they both have been known to get back together for special projects. I would even go as far and put Stryper in the mix. This tour with these bands would be successful and draw interest back to the bands. Too bad Classic Petra didn't take Skillet up on their offer to tour together in late 2010 and early 2011(Petra's Mgmt turned them down); yeah Petra would have opened up for Skillet but just think about the doors that would have opened up for the band.

[brent]

Demand....not enough people care. Christians do not stay with artists like secular people stay with artists. Christians do not spend as much money on entertainment either. I think the big kicker now is the style and substance.

[calicowriter]

REO always puts on a good show, but there is something about when they tour with STYX that kicks them up a notch. They say that they compete with one another. Whatever it is, it works.

Brent, you might find this interesting. REO opens every show with "Don't Let Him Go." Know why? According to Neal Doughty (keyboard player), it is the perfect song for the sound guys to make adjustments and get everything mixed right.

[brent]

REO always puts on a good show, but there is something about when they tour with STYX that kicks them up a notch. They say that they compete with one another. Whatever it is, it works.

Brent, you might find this interesting. REO opens every show with "Don't Let Him Go." Know why? According to Neil Doughty (keyboard player), it is the perfect song for the sound guys to make adjustments and get everything mixed right.

They did open with that song as a matter of fact. Cool. I could see how it would help.

[Dan]

Now that would have been one cool concert Brent! did ya take the wife with ya?

[brent]

Of course. However she offered to give up her ticket to dteam theater.

[bradleyr12]

Cool. I have seen DT several times with Portnoy. They will be killer I'm sure. Labrie is their only weakness. I hear Manginis new solo is amazing! Did Shaw and Nugent pull out any D. Yankees?

[brent]

No yankees. That would have been cool.

[Preacherman777]

Would love to see Nugent and REO, but wouldn't walk across the street to see what's left of Styx.

[brent]

Would love to see Nugent and REO, but wouldn't walk across the street to see what's left of Styx.

Ah. They are only short Dennis, really. It's a wash. They are playing only the rockin' tunes, maybe one ballad, and Dennis is not essential to those songs. The original drummer is dead. Can't change that. The original bass player comes out for about three tunes, due to his health. They still have "the sound", because Lawrence is a darn comparable voice and better performer than Dennis IMSHO.

Ted was great. TONE!!!!! Grooves! Attitude!!!!!

[rexreed]

I've been trying to catch REO and Styx for a few years and things keep popping up to keep me away. The last REO album (not counting the Christmas album) was pretty darned good. Styx has always been a favorite- seems like the whole group could sing so who needs DDY? Nugent, well I've seen him and he can't seem to shut up.

[Preacherman777]

I'm sorry, but Styx only being short Dennis is like Petra only being short Bob. It just ain't the real deal. And to say that Lawrence is comparable is like, well, I can't even begin to relate to that comment. I've seen clips of what's left of Styx and heard their post Dennis recordings (what little have been made) and I saw Dennis play live with his new band last summer and there is no comparison. Dennis' replacement for Tommy Shaw blows the doors off Tommy's replacement for Dennis. Dennis was the heart and soul of Styx and replacing him with someone who can't even sing above average was not a very wise move. Besides, they do play Dennis' songs cuz they know they'd have much less to play if they didn't. He wrote about 2/3 of their hits. Styx, or what's left of them have produced a grand total of 2 songs since kicking Dennis out that actually even sound like Styx, These are the times and Waiting for our time, whereas Dennis' whole last album A Hundred Years from Now sounded like Styx, proving that he could make a Styx album without Shaw and Young. I also see Styx as being the primary problem in them not being together. They seem to be carrying a lot of hate for Mr. DeYoung. Not only did they kick him out while he was having health problems, but in 2011 they removed all references to him from the official Styx website and they are the ones who say there will never be a reunion. Dennis is open to it. Sorry, but not only do I not think they are musically as good as Dennis, but I can't respect them.

[brent]

I'm sorry, but Styx only being short Dennis is like Petra only being short Bob. It just ain't the real deal. And to say that Lawrence is comparable is like, well, I can't even begin to relate to that comment. I've seen clips of what's left of Styx and heard their post Dennis recordings (what little have been made) and I saw Dennis play live with his new band last summer and there is no comparison. Dennis' replacement for Tommy Shaw blows the doors off Tommy's replacement for Dennis. Dennis was the heart and soul of Styx and replacing him with someone who can't even sing above average was not a very wise move. Besides, they do play Dennis' songs cuz they know they'd have much less to play if they didn't. He wrote about 2/3 of their hits. Styx, or what's left of them have produced a grand total of 2 songs since kicking Dennis out that actually even sound like Styx, These are the times and Waiting for our time, whereas Dennis' whole last album A Hundred Years from Now sounded like Styx, proving that he could make a Styx album without Shaw and Young. I also see Styx as being the primary problem in them not being together. They seem to be carrying a lot of hate for Mr. DeYoung. Not only did they kick him out while he was having health problems, but in 2011 they removed all references to him from the official Styx website and they are the ones who say there will never be a reunion. Dennis is open to it. Sorry, but not only do I not think they are musically as good as Dennis, but I can't respect them.

I know all of that. What I meant by Dennis songs...I mean they sing no more than two songs where Dennis would have sung lead. When it comes to harmonies, they sound pretty darn close. There was more to Dennis being out because of health issues. There was a massive power struggle. You are forgetting that Dennis about drove Styx to an early grave with Robboto and the Broadway musical style concert tour. They were boo'd off of the stage, all because of Dennis and his power-trippin' ego. So, while I agree that he wrote some good stuff, those songs were not what they became without the contribution of the others. They made up, did more shows even after that. The big deal I think was the lawsuit. Dennis lost, plain and simple. He wants to get back with them, according to recent interviews, but the guys want to rock, and not play ballads, and they just don't need to split the income in half with Dennis when everyone would make more with Lawrence, and everyone would be happier. If the remaining founding member does not have a problem with how things worked out, we shouldn't.

[Preacherman777]

The power struggles were always there and it wasn't the first time they had tried to kick Dennis out of the band, but the first time, they realized that they needed him for their success, but they didn't kick him out for good until he was sidelined by his health problems and they had a big stack of hits and a legacy already built to rely on. You can say what you will about the Kilroy was Here album, but it was a huge success which continues to be profitable, sure the tour was a financial bust, but the album itself did very well. So no, Dennis did not nearly put Styx in the grave with it. The other guys may not have been fond of it, but it made them a lot of money and allowed them to go out on top, with the fans eagerly waiting for a comeback album and when they first did a comeback album, (Edge of the Century) all of the other guys were willing to be part of it and even Tommy said he would have been if not for his involvement with Damn Yankees at the time, so I don't think they were all that deeply damaged by Kilroy was Here. Yes, Dennis wrote a lot of ballads and liked to do concept albums, but again, it all resulted in success for Styx. So basically, these guys bit the hand that fed them. I'm not saying the harder edge songs that Tommy brought to the table were not important, they were, but it was the mix of Dennis' talent and Tommy's talent that made Styx truly great and neither Dennis on his own, nor Tommy with Styx have been able to come close to that since the split. Dennis never really delved into the Broadway musical stuff until he started his solo career and by and large, at this point, even in his solo career, he has left that behind him. His most recent album One Hundred Years from Now sounds just like Styx material including songs with edge, so it's a strawman to say that being with Dennis would mean doing soft material. However, for you to say Dennis wants back in with them shows that you don't understand the situation. Dennis is doing fine on his own and producing new and better music than what they have done. The difference is that Dennis isn't holding any grudges in spite of how horribly they treated and continue to treat him, but they are and their actions keep proving it. Of course the remaining founding member doesn't have a problem with how things worked out, he's still part of the band. The thing is, Dennis started the band, was primary in building the bands success and then got kicked out of his own band. I'd say he has every reason in the world to feel a little burned, but yet he's willing to forgive. So yeah, once again, the other guys, don't warrant my respect. It's their actions that destroyed a truly great band.