Dennis DeYoung and the Music of Styx, the man is 61 and still has the pipes |
Among the list of bands I’d like to see get completely back together, Dennis DeYoung with Styx is near the top. He might be 61 but there is no reason — other than personality conflicts — I can tell anyway that he couldn’t and shouldn’t still be singing with Styx. I saw DeYoung perform for the first time at the Rockin’ The Rivers concert in Montana earlier this month and they rocked the place. His voice is in great shape.
Rockin’ The Rivers is billed as the biggest rock concert event in Montana of the year and this was the 10th time they’ve had the concert. It’s three days of bands that play from noon until 2am. People camp overnight, drink (lots) of beer and have a great time. At $120 for three days or $50 for one day this is among the best value concerts out there. Here’s what the official concert guide looks like:
The Van Halen cover band Hot For Teacher was impressive as well as Fran Cosmo singing Boston Songs. Wasn’t as impressed with Manny Charlton with Nazareth. We didn’t attend day 1 or day 3. That’s the only bummer I can think of regarding this concert: it’s like 650 miles from here. We’re planning on going again next year and maybe doing the camp out thing. Lots of fun.
Dennis DeYoung Rockin’ The Rivers 8/9/2008 Setlist
The Grand Illusion
Lady
Loralei
Don’t Let It End
Castle Walls
Light Up
Mr Roboto
Desert Moon
100 Years From Now
Rocking The Paradise
Sweet Madam Blue
Babe
Best Of Times
(encore) Come Sail Away
When I saw Matt Wardlaw post the House of Blues 8/24/2008 setlist from the band Styx including members Tommy Shaw, James “J.Y.” Young and Chuck Panozzo I was reminded to get this post out of the draft bin. Check out the same songs played by both bands, marked with asterisk, as well as the order:
House of Blues 8/24/2008 Setlist
Blue Collar Man
* The Grand Illusion
* Loralei
One With Everything
* Lady
Too Much Time On My Hands
Snowblind
I Am The Walrus
Boat On The River
Man In The Wilderness (Shaw acoustic)
Crystal Ball (beginning acoustic w/ Shaw only)
* Suite Madame Blue
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) (Chuck Panozzo on bass)
Miss America
* Come Sail Away (Panozzo on bass)
Interesting to note that both bands closed with Come Sail Away and The Grand Illusion was Dennis DeYoung’s opener and the second song Styx played. Must admit I missed Tommy Shaw singing "Snowblind" and "Crystal Ball" and would have liked hearing Blue Collar Man in the Dennis DeYoung line-up. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the extended guitar solo version of Desert Moon and wouldn’t have wanted that axed in favor of Styx doing a Beatles cover.
I realize Styx sans DeYoung had a bit of success with their covers album but I don’t go to a concert with a band the calibur of Styx and want to hear songs they covered by The Beatles when that is in place of other, better songs like "Castle Walls" which DeYoung said Styx never played when he was with them.
What a haunting, beautiful song from the same album as "Come Sail Away."
The YouTube video of Desert Moon shown above (taken from the Arlington Heights show on July 6, 2008) and the one of Castle Walls (Chicago Ridge, Illinois on July 25, 2008) don’t do the live performances justice but are included here to give you a sampling of what it was like.
DeYoung played the title song from his new album 100 Years From Now that’s out in Canada and available via his website. He said it will be coming out in the states in January 2008. My wife didn’t care for the song, but I liked it. I’ll be buying this one when it comes out in the states, if not sooner.
A sweet moment in the DeYoung concert was when he dedicated "Babe" to his wife of 38 years Suzanne and she came out on stage and danced with him. Come on Dennis and Styx, mend those ties and get back together already!
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I missed DeYoung when he was here in Cleveland earlier this year, but I saw him a few years back at a radio convention doing a few songs acoustically on the piano. You’re right, he still has the pipes, and then some. I had a prior commitment the night that he played Cleveland, and if I would have been able to be there, I would have been there in a second.
I think you’ll see a Styx reunion with Dennis in the next few years, and unlike the mid 90s reunion that I missed, I won’t be missing it this time around….all of them together would be dynamite!
Comment by Matt — August 27, 2008 @ 7:20 pm PST
ps - he has a great double live album that he put out a few years back, that I highly recommend. Has Castle Walls, etc.
Comment by Matt — August 27, 2008 @ 7:31 pm PST
I love DD’s voice. One of rare pop voices that delivers. I have a list of such singers….DD, Steve Perry, Clay Aiken, George Michael, Freddie Mercury…..Females would be Pat Benetar, Christina Aguilara, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan…..I think that male pop vocalists who can truly sing are harder to find than females.
Comment by UptakeInOH — September 1, 2008 @ 12:25 pm PST
Wel, Dennis DeYoung just sang with Eric LaPointe on 100 Years From Now. It’s not always that you hear a Quebec singer bring in an English co-singer, but I was glad to here an old familiar voice from my high school days.
Comment by David Leonhardt — September 8, 2008 @ 6:04 pm PST
Well here’s some news. Dennis could possbily reunite someday.
Lawerence Gowan would need to take substantial time off from the band (maybe do a solo album and tour) This would allow Styx to decide what to do. Find someone else, wait for their new friend??
Chuck stated last year in an interview that he wants to see a reunion of the original members before “anyone else dies”.
Dennis and JY need to get over BOTH of their pig headedness and Tommy needs to as well.
You’d think after 30 years they could have gotten it right! They need to stop, think and explain to each other what they want and find positive and creative ways to deal with issues. Damn, they don’t even have to be friends they can enjoy playing with each other and at the end of the day say “see you tomorrow!”
If Pink Floyd can reunite for one day after what they had gone through…. well Styx can reunite after Dennis leaving and coming back, Tommy leaving, Tommy coming back, John dying, Chuck retiring and dennis getting ‘kicked’
I love Styx and would just love to see these guys get over their inflated egos.
Comment by Matt — November 25, 2008 @ 10:28 am PST
Great band. I think i still have their album.
Comment by mari — November 26, 2008 @ 8:23 am PST