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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Sunday, October 4, 2009 9:15 PM CDT
Stickin' with Styx pays off for parents

By HERB MEEKER, Staff Writer
hmeeker@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — Dean and Peg Stiegemeier studied up for the Eastern Illinois University Family Weekend concert featuring one of their favorite bands, Styx.

The couple from Gilberts purchased a CD of the rock group that filled stadiums and sold millions of albums during their youth. They hadn’t attended a Styx show for years, so they wanted to make sure they were up to speed.

“We actually got something in the mail from the university so we said ‘What the heck, let’s go!’ We haven’t been to one of their shows for years,” said Dean as the first attendees started to walk in for their seats during the second show at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Sitting between them was their daughter, Abagail, a freshman at Eastern this fall. She was already prepared like her parents.

“I do have my own CD,” she said proudly. The family had made a day of it, attending a picnic and the football game for the weekend that draws parents and grandparents for outings with their Eastern kin.

It was 30 years ago when Glenn and Gina Phegley of Prairie Du Rocher last saw a live Styx show. “I think it was during Super Jam at Busch Stadium. That was great. They were great tonight, too,” Glenn said after attending the 6 p.m. Styx show in Lantz Gymnasium.

Gina admitted she skipped Senior Night as a cheerleader at her high school to catch a Styx concert (She joked she never did get her flowers). She later met Glenn in college and their daughter, Jaimee Phegley, is an Eastern senior with the University Board Committee, and another daughter, Sara, also was in the gym to see the show.

“I’ve still got a crush on Tommy Shaw,” said Gina of the Styx guitarist with ties to the group when it was going platinum on albums year after year in the 1970s.

The classic Styx songs rocked the crowd from the opening notes of “Too Much Time on My Hands.” Shaw with Ricky Phillips on the bass, plus James “JY” Young picking at light speed as well, and Lawrence Gowan on the keyboard and taking on the vocals, while Todd Sucherman produced a precise percussion assault, all kept the gym rocking through “Lady,” “Fooling Yourself” and “Blue Collar Man” and “Come Sail Away.”

There is something to be said for the other-worldy tones from a 12-string Fender or the rapid-fire of the drums that makes vintage rock keep the blood pumping.

At times, many in the crowd were taking on their air guitars or belting out vocals. This is definitely a different Styx from when many in this crowd were young, but the group certainly knows how to get a place hopping and singing to the lyrics.

It might have come as a surprise to the younger members of the audience that Styx is about more than versions of “Mr. Roboto,” which draws laughter and awe during bizarre car commercials or on television shows like “Chuck.”

Margaret Duty of Kenosha, Wisc., believes Styx is more than just a band.

“Styx pervades every aspect of society. There are so many movies and shows that include a Styx song. And bringing your children to one of their concerts teaches them about what real music is.

“You’re not hearing overdubbing or watching lip syncing. This is what live music is all about,” said Duty, who was ready to take on her 116th Styx concert with her fellow fans of the band, Jennifer “Jen RN” Greenlief of Lakemor, Barbara Foran of Watervliet, Mich., and Rose D’Agostino of Chicago. Greenlief holds the record for Styx concert attendance.

“I stopped counting at 350,” she said.

They were ready to seriously rock, but they appreciated the safe and friendly venue of Lantz.

“For me this is more fun. There aren’t any drunks here. And you won’t get thrown up on,” Greenlief said.

Contact Herb Meeker at hmeeker@jg-tc.com or 238-6869.

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Billie Brant wrote on Oct 4, 2009 9:31 PM:

" Great concert! It rocked all night long! I went with my daughter, granddaughter and a friend of ours in his twenties. Kids, moms, dads and grandparents enjoyed this show.

This show relied on the musicians, not smoke and other stage tricks! These guys don't need them! Their high energy performances provided all that was needed, straight forward rockin music! "

zeldalu wrote on Oct 5, 2009 6:17 AM:

" Figures, Eastern finally got a great band to play there and I had moved away. Oh well at least the people who went saw a good show! "

wazafarmer wrote on Oct 5, 2009 7:31 AM:

" Dennis DeYoung, the founding member and author of many Styx songs BTW, gave a great performance a couple years ago at Decatur Celibration. Did you just forget to mention his name, perhaps? "

GrampaC wrote on Oct 5, 2009 7:40 AM:

" I believe that Styx played McAfee gym in the early 70's. The prelim intro music was the theme from the "Lone Ranger". "

just wondering wrote on Oct 5, 2009 9:05 AM:

" Weren't any drunks there? You must have not looked very close. "

rickenbacker wrote on Oct 5, 2009 11:28 AM:

" wazafarmer, DeYoung hasn't been in the band in years...they kicked him out. JY is the only original left, since Shaw actually came on board as a replacement in...what, '77?

Not paying 20 bucks to see mostly a replacement band. "

Lilly wrote on Oct 5, 2009 4:28 PM:

" The show was great! Everyone we went with really enjoyed it! I would like to point out the great job law enforcement did to keep all that traffic moving so smoothly after the show! Great Job! Lots of traffic very little delay! Keep up the good work! "

Texas T wrote on Oct 5, 2009 7:02 PM:

" rickenbacker wrote on Oct 5, 2009 11:28 AM: Not paying 20 bucks to see mostly a replacement band. "

You sound like a grumpy old man to me. $20.00 is nothing to see this group and it is definately worth that price. They still sound great and Tommy Shaw alone is worth that price. Very few of the older bands that are still touring have the exact same lineup. REO only has 2 of the original members but they still sound great and they still make new music. "

Billie Brant wrote on Oct 5, 2009 8:43 PM:

" Hey Texas T! How are ya?

The show WAS great! Not only was it terrific musically, but the showmanship was too. They played TO the crowd not AT them.

This was my first time to see them live and it was twenty bucks well spent! "

DONEdone wrote on Oct 5, 2009 8:55 PM:

" realize, there always has to be one negative comment to some people. you could give them a million dollars and they would complain about the taxes "

Texas T wrote on Oct 5, 2009 10:53 PM:

" Hi Billie, I am great. Thanks. I have seen Styx several times with and without Dennis DeYoung and they have always been great. I can't remember the last time I got to see a concert for $20.00. That is cheap. Donedone is right about the negative Nancys or Debbie Downers. Always one in the crowd. LOL You have to enjoy the day that God has given you. "

Rickenbacker wrote on Oct 5, 2009 11:06 PM:

" Texas T, you don't know me well enough to call me names. But, that seems to be par for the course here. I don't know why I keep coming back. I always get sucked into one of these flame wars.

First off, true, many acts from that era do not have all original members. Some have died, the rest carry on. Some bands have a fluid lineup their entire career. However, Dennis DeYoung's vocals are too large a part of the Styx sound to replace. Period.

So, my having an opinion different than yours makes me a grumpy old man? Can you not do any better than name calling? What's next, nanny nanny boo boo? "

just wondering wrote on Oct 6, 2009 9:13 AM:

" Went to the show and they sounded good. My one complaint would be the keyboard guy. Turning his back to the crowd all the time. Also playing the keyboard with his back to it. I saw Styx before they made it big. They did come out to the William Tell overture with strobe lights. I am not sure who is at fault on the disagreements between the band and DeYoung. I doubt if they refuse the money they get in royalties from all the songs Dennis wrote though. Just wish they could get back together and get Curulewski back also. As far as Tommy Shaw, he is a very talented musician. He changed the sound when he joined to more of a top 40 sound which made them more money. But to me their best albums were the first four before he joined. They had a harder edge to the music then. "

Texas T wrote on Oct 6, 2009 1:04 PM:

" Actually Rickenbacker I said you SOUND like a Grumpy old man not that you ARE a grumpy old man and that was just MY opinion. You know what they say...Everybody has one. LOL Have a Great Day!!! "

~STRANGER~ wrote on Oct 6, 2009 6:24 PM:

" G-string and a little bit more make-up and that guitar player/ singer wouldn't be half bad. "

Billie Brant wrote on Oct 6, 2009 8:36 PM:

" STRANGER~ wrote on Oct 6, 2009 6:24 PM:

" G-string and a little bit more make-up and that guitar player/ singer wouldn't be half bad.

LOL! Yeah, but JY struts better! LOL! "

Rogue wrote on Oct 6, 2009 9:20 PM:

" Saturday night was my 5th Styx show over the years. I have seen them in a college gym starting out, the Checkerdome, U of I dome, Rose Bud, and again at a college gym. The last two shows were too staged to my likings. "Let's do this during this song and then do this during another song." Not like the older days when they got into the music and just let it rip! I agree on the new keyboard player. I felt him rude to turn his back to the crowd so much. He could have just gone half-way if he wanted to watch his bandmates. That has been his antics in 3 of the shows I have seen. Miss DeYoung's vocals, and I saw him at Decatur and he didn't do any of Tommy's songs. But with the crowd singing to all his songs, it was pretty amazing! I was disappointed in the sound for my taste. Too much drum and bass. They could have cranked the guitars a bit more, JY is amazing when he gets the chance. Scale of 1 to 10 I would have to give it a 7. "

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Ken Trevarthan/Staff Photographer -- Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan (in background) perform during the Family Weekend concert Saturday night at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.