STYX AND THE CONTEMPORARY YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF CLEVELAND: ONE WITH EVERYTHING

A few years ago, when I got a STYX CD or DVD, I refused to comment it with my friends being that this excellent band is seen with some kind of despise by the purist progheads being that their fame of AOR and their horrendous performance in "Kilroy Was Here" will always follow them, but after a couple decades I learned to care more about my personal taste than about opinions and honestly, they sure can rock when they want.

Last week during one of my usual DVD safaris, found "One with Everything - STYX with the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland" about which I had read a couple of reviews and bought it immediately, a decision I can't regret because it's one of their best presentations during their long career.

STYX presents a partially new lineup with the already legendary Tommy Shaw, James "JY" Young plus Chuck Panozzo (in the last two tracks), the already veteran of 5 years Todd Sucherman on the drums, the capable Ricky Phillips playing the bass during almost all the show and the new star Lawrence Gowan, who despite some unnecessary pyrotechnics that only work for guys of the stature of Keith Emerson, does an amazing job in the keyboard and occasionally lead vocals.

But lets be honest, the musicians that make of this DVD something really special are the members of the "Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland", a 171 piece Symphony Orchestra and Choir formed by 13 to 19 years old students, perfectly conducted by Liza Grossman who show incredible skills and enough versatility to join a veteran Rock band.

The songs selected by the band are well known except two new tracks that really don't impress me, but don't expect to find "Come Sail Away" or "Babe" (Thanks God for that) being that they try not to perform themes credited to "Dennis de Young" (A couple of fragments are played in a Medley) to avoid paying royalties due to a very long and conflictive trial that authorized Panozzo, Young and Shaw to keep the name of STYX after replacing Dennis.

As in most live albums it's unnecessary to talk about each and every song being that most are well known and reviewed extensively in the studio albums, so I will only mention the best moments I could find.

The concert starts with the full Orchestra playing a beautiful overture for "Blue Collar Man - Long Nights" but they don't stay with the overture, the young orchestra keeps enhancing all the track, blending perfectly with the band.

"Lorelei" is the first track in which we see a different JY (looks like a different person) taking the lead vocals and we notice that his voice remains the same (well, he never was a Carusso but sure can rock).

Again before Miss America we can listen an incredible Overture by the "Contemporary Youth Orchestra" who also make a perfect blending with the band specially adding strength to the chorus that was always one of the strongest points of STYX but which has lost a bit without Dennis and Chuck, amazing version.

Of course there is no concert of STYX without "Boat on the River", another highlight of the band where Tommy uses an electric mandolin that sounds incredibly well, despite the good performance of STYX and the string section, the rest of the orchestra members make a cheesy choreography acting as if they were rowing boats, well not as cheesy as the kids dancing with Roundabout in the Yes Symphonic DVD.

Larence Gowan takes the lead vocals in a "I don't Need no Doctor" making a good performance on a simple but an unimpressive track, honestly he is sounding much better than Dennis did in his last performance with STYX.

One of the best moments is the "The STYX CYO Medley" in which they make a tribute to famous Dennis de Young tracks that they didn't wanted to play in full versions for the reasons commented above, the best ones are IMO "Sing for the Day" and the incredible "Lights", a track that I never understood why was left behind in their life presentations.

Immediately after starts a new overture now for two cellos (According to the credits at the end of the DVD this two kids are David Ellis and Eric Tannenbaum who make a magnificent performance) and then full orchestra, not to introduce a new track but one of the most emotional moments of the night, Ricky Phillips is replaced by Chuck Panozzo in the bass (is good to see Chucky fully recovered after how bad he looked in "Return to Paradise") to perform one of Tommy Shaw's best compositions "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" again with full orchestra.

The concert ends with another excellent version, this time of "Renegade" where the band and chorus make a beautiful job, it's evident that Liza Grossman has done a great job preparing his kids, they almost stole the show and interacted perfectly with the band members who in some moments looked amazed by their skills.

I almost never rate a Prog Related band album with 5 stars because by definition it can't be essential for a Progressive Rock collection and this time I won't make an exception and will go with 4 stars but wishing there was a 4.5 option because this DVD doesn't deserve less.

So leave away your prejudices and enjoy great moments with a Rock band that is not 100% Prog but they sure know how to play and as the good wine STYX seems to better with the pass of the years.

Youth to the rescue

When Styx disemboweled their former leader Dennis DeYoung after the "Brave New World" album, I was pretty certain what remained of the group was not something I'd be interested in. Even with DeYoung, the band was not what it used to be decades ago. But I took a chance on this DVD and found it to be quite a spot of fun for the Styxian fan. The secret ingredient was youth. The Contemporary Youth Orchestra (CYO) to be exact, a 171-piece orchestra and choir of students 13-19 years old. The huge rush of energy and enthusiasm made for an evening you almost have to appreciate as an affirmation of life even if you don't like Styx. The excitement of these kids to be performing with a rock band and making a DVD was just contagious. There is one moment where Shaw pulls a young violinist aside and basically trades trades guitar/violin licks with her, it was heartwarming stuff.

The band themselves were up for the evening as well. This was my first chance to view the new Styx without DeYoung and John Panozzo. The new band is more streamlined hard rock with less of DeYoung's grand theatrical vibe. His replacement is very competent and can mimic DeYoung fairly well, not unlike the way Horn sounded a bit like Anderson on Drama. Drummer Todd Sucherman is a very pleasant surprise, taking the intensity of the band up several notches. John Panozzo was a good drummer for Styx, he played with a certain personality, but Sucherman kills the kit. Smokin' playing that is fun to watch. Tommy and JY are both in fine form despite their advancing years. The spotlight is certainly on Shaw now and he holds his own. Unlike Robert Plant and others whose voices are shot, Tommy hits his high notes and sings with decent power and energy.

Highlights of the festive evening include a roaring full orchestral opening to the organ strains of "Blue Collar Man" which put Shaw's back against the wall straight out of the gate, and he was primed from the git-go. There was a bunch of new material in the first half. Shaw's peaceful "Just Be" let him share some nice memories of his father over inspired lead guitar work, while Gowen's "A Criminal Mind" really sold me on his talents. Gowen brings a different kind of pop prowess to Styx that is hard to describe but quite effective. A real treat was hearing Tommy Shaw deliver a heartfelt and spot-on performance of "Crystal Ball," his first song for Styx and one I don't recall hearing them do live before. Equally good was the old favorite "Boat on the River." JY used his segment to tear it up with "Miss America." His voice isn't quite as well preserved as Shaw's but he is very close, certainly gets the job done. The end of the show turns into a big party, looking something like an overnight school teen party as the kids start dancing around the band's 18-song medley of old hits. Cheesy yeah, but if you're watching this DVD you already like the band, so what the hell? Last comes a really decent version of "Fooling Yourself" with the choir's high voices sounding great behind Shaw's signature track. Chuck Panozzo comes out at the end to jam with the band.

Only once did they commit the sin of dragging their rears on a track, in this case "Too Much Time On My Hands." The surest sign of old fart creep for a band is when they start slowing down upbeat rockers, as Rush and others will do. Nothing worse than "Freewill" or "Spirit of Radio" or any urgent track slowed down from the studio speed, it just kills the experience. Shaw does it on this track and the life is sucked from it as you'd expect.

It's a real shame the core members of Styx could not bury their past pettiness as the two camps would be so much better together. But the Young/Shaw camp wanted to be road rats and if this DVD is an indication, they're having their fun, which is good. This is a "for fans" DVD that also happens to be "good but not essential", so we're in 2-3 star range. I'm a fan, I'll go 3.

To me Styx represents some good memories of my youth period listening to the cd's "Equinox". After that i lost interest because i was looking for some more challenging progressive rock music. For me Styx were composers of catchy short songs, but i never listened to something as good as the Equinox's cd. Three decades later, i decided to get back to Styx by purchasing this Blu-Ray. Let's say that with the orchestra, it gives a more classical sound to Styx, so just for that i wasn't disappointed, but please.

They played on this special night some old classics and new one that are not too bad, but enjoyable. The musicians were smiling all through the concert looking at each other and at the 171 others musicians, looks like they were enjoying themselves.

A part of the old classics that i already know, there was a couple of songs that i didn't know that was probably new ones, that i really enjoyed; "Just Be" and the heavy prog song "One with Everything", who is the theme song of the show. Also the 12 minutes medley at the end is really good. The Beatles song "I am the Walrus" is a nice addition. Gowan's song "A Criminal Mind" has always been a favorite of mine, so i was glad to hear it again after many years.

The picture quality with this Blu-Ray version is excellent, and the sound even better with a DTS surround sound that is quiet strong on the orchestra.

In conclusion, after watching this show, i have a better impression on Styx's music, and even if it's not my usual cup of tea, it's difficult to not appreciate those catchy songs with a orchestra, and listening to a set list of a band that had made a lot of good songs.