Concert Review
Styx
Joan Jett
Tesla
St. Joseph’s Health
Amphitheater @ Lakeview
Syracuse, NY
Thursday June 28, 2018
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
“This is my favorite part of the show,” proclaimed vocalist, guitarist Tommy Shaw as he went on to introduce original founding bassist Charles Panozzo. With that intro the band launched into one of their finest performances of the night, the classic rock gem “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” on a clear crisp night out at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, NY. The show also featured Joan Jett & The Blackhearts as well as the rocking quintet from Sacramento, Tesla.
The band is still touring this summer in support of The Mission, the critically acclaimed album they released in 2017. The band played a few of those songs during the show including the opening cut “Gone Gone Gone” as well as the standout track “Radio Silence”.
The band has toured regularly each summer since 1999. Averaging slightly over 100 shows the past twenty years the band has always kept variety in their shows as they add or subtract songs in for each tour to help keep things fresh. This band knows what works and what doesn’t after being in the business for as long as they have.
One thing that must be noted was how awesome the sound was at least in the middle of the pavilion on back. The acoustics were absolutely amazing as this was clearly the best sounding Styx show I have ever heard. They always have one of the best sounding shows but it was extra special on a night where the gorgeous weather complimented the show just right. It was about as perfect of a night as you can find.
The Styx lineup has remained stable for over the past decade or so and the chemistry the band displays is quite unique. For those that have been sleeping under a rock, the band has dug extremely deep into its archives and after many fan requests have finally performed their top-3 hit “Mr. Roboto” from their Kilroy Was Here album. That time period is perhaps the darkest in the bands history as that album fueled their split. The placement in the set was quite surprising as it is the first song in the encore. The band also beefed up the sound and with Lawrence Gowan doing the lead vocal it has given the song a facelift that sounds really good.
The band closed out with their traditional show ender Shaw’s “Renegade” and sent the fans home with a show that will be pretty hard to top. Given the chance I bet Styx will dig a little deeper next tour and come up with something. Many fans leaving the venue Thursday evening know they saw the best show of the summer.
Tesla opened the show with an all-too short 45-minute set that seemed to be over before it barely got going. The band which still features original members singer Jeff Keith, guitarist Frankie Hannon, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta were rounded out by guitarist Dave Rude who has been with the band since 2006.
The band opened with “I Wanna Live” and fan favorite “Hang Tough” before sticking to the bands hits the rest of the way. Hopefully down the road the band can get more time because they clearly had plenty more to offer.
Styx
Tesla
Set List
Styx
Overture
Gone Gone Gone
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
The Grand Illusion
Lady
Light Up
Rockin’ The Paradise
Miss America
The Outpost
Radio Silence
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Too Much Time on My Hands
Khedive
Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen cover Gowan only)
Come Sail Away
Encore
Mr. Roboto
Renegade
Joan Jett
Bad Reputation
Cherry Bomb
Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)
Victim of Circumstance
Soulmates to Strangers
You Drive Me Wild
Light of Day
Fake Friends
Love Is Pain
A Hundred Feet Away
Fresh Start
Love Is All Around
I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll
Crimson & Clover
I Hate Myself for Loving You
Encore
Everyday People
Tesla
I Wanna Live
Hang Tough
Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)
What You Give
Signs
Love Song
Little Suzi
Modern Day Cowboy
