Believe it or not, every once in a while this “Professor” gets the opportunity to do a vacation trip. In early August, that opportunity came about, as I joined several friends in traveling to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a few days of sun, fun, beach and copious quantities of seafood (and beer). And while I was technically “on vacation,” I still couldn’t escape checking out live music!
My beach travel crew’s usual routine is to start the trek on a Friday and overnight in southeastern Virginia (the Newport News/Hampton Roads vicinity), before finishing the journey into the Outer Banks (and the beach house) on Saturday (arriving after most of the other vacationers have arrived at their beach houses, and traffic gridlock has dwindled). We learned beforehand that one of this summer’s big concert tours – the “Live & Unzoomed” Tour pairing Styx and REO Speedwagon with Loverboy – was playing at Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater near Virginia Beach on that Friday night, so we procured tickets to check it out!
As we arrived, Loverboy was opening the concert, and played eight songs from their early 1980s heyday. Still with four of its founding members, Loverboy – singer Mike Reno, guitarist Paul Dean, keyboardist Doug Johnson, drummer Matt Frenette and bassist Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve (who joined in 2001 following the death of founding bassist Scott Smith) opened with “Notorious,” and followed with “Lucky Ones,” “Queen of the Broken Hearts,” “The Kid Is Hot Tonite,” “Lovin’ Every Minute Of It,” “Hot Girls in Love,” “Turn Me Loose” (launched with a drum solo from Matt) and “Workin’ for the Weekend.” The group sounded strong, Mike showed he could still reach the high notes, and the large assembled crowd was “lovin’ every minute of it!”
Styx soon followed with a dazzling set containing many of their classics plus a few newer numbers. Nowadays the cast of founding members James Young on guitar and Chuck Panozzo on bass, along with lead singer and guitarist Tommy Shaw, bassist Ricky Phillips, lead singer and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, drummer Todd Sucherman and additional guitarist Will Evankovich (who produced Styx’s latest two albums, including 2021’s “Crash of the Crown”), Styx opened with “The Fight Of Our Lives,” the opening track from “Crash of the Crown.” The group then quickly delivered some classics – “Blue Collar Man,” “The Grand Illusion” and “Lady,” before playing the new album title track “Crash of the Crown.” They then ventured back to the 1975 “Equinox” album for “Light Up” (and our noses soon told us that a few folks did ‘light up’), followed by another track off the new album, “Sound the Alarm.” The classics continued with “Rockin’ the Paradise,” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” and “Too Much Time on My Hands.” Lawrence’s keyboard instrumental “Khedive” then led into “Lost at Sea” from the new album, which then led into “Come Sail Away,” with the large crowd singing along. Beckoned to do an encore, Styx then answered with “Mr. Roboto” and “Renegade.” Styx delivered it all with abundant enthusiasm and artistry; their musicianship and vocals were dead on, and Lawrence – who replaced Dennis DeYoung in 1999 – was amazing as a singer and showman, maneuvering a spinning keyboard that he often would play behind his back. This was the first time for this longtime fan ever seeing Styx, and I was blown away!
After the band changeover intermission, REO Speedwagon then capped the show with a full set of their classics. Keyboardist Neal Doughty is the current group’s lone founding member; joined by singer and rhythm guitarist Kevin Cronin, bassist Bruce Hall, lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt. Opening with “Don’t Let Him Go,” REO Speedwagon played hits and classics from their 1970s and 80s heyday; including “Take It On the Run,” “Keep Pushin,’” “Live Every Moment,” “Tough Guys,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Like You Do” (dating back to the group’s 1972 album “R.E.O./T.W.O.”), “Time for Me to Fly,” “Back on the Road Again,” “Ridin’ the Storm Out,” “Keep On Loving You” and the finale, “Roll With the Changes.” REO Speedwagon also delivered strong musicianship and enthusiasm, stretching several of their songs into longer, heated jams. And recently turning 70, Kevin happily moved about the stage like someone half his age.
This was an excellent concert from start to end, and provided the perfect start for our vacation adventure! (And for Q94 listeners, the “Live & Unzoomed” Tour is coming to Pavilion at Star Lake near Burgettstown on Saturday, September 10!)
Here are pictures of all three bands in action. Again, an incredible show!
