Veteran rockers dazzle Lake Charles crowd

Few band ever achieve the milestone of celebrating 50 years of making music and touring, and fewer still are able to do it with the charm and energy of Styx.

Veteran rock outfit Styx returned to Golden Nugget Casino in Lake Charles this past Friday (April 14, 2023) and delivered a spectacular 90-minute set of hits and newer tunes that left the near-capacity crowd on its feet and cheering for more.

Styx formed in 1972 and has spent the better part of the past six decades writing some of rock music's most memorable hit songs. The band, which is comprised guitarists and vocalists James "JY" Young and Tommy Shaw, keyboardist and vocalist Lawrence Gowan, bassist Ricky Phillips and drummer Todd Sucherman, left no stone unturned during its 15-song journey on Friday evening. Original bassist Chuck Panozzo was once again on hand to join the band for the latter portion of its set and new to the group is guitarist Will Evankovich, who produced and co-wrote with Styx on its 2017 release, "The Mission," and the group's 2021 release, "Crash of the Crown."

The band opened the show with the song "To Those" and then dove right into the hits such as "Blue Collar Man," "Grand Illusion" and "Lady. The men of Styx then took the audience on a journey back to 1975 when it performed the songs "Light Up" and "Lorelei" from the album "Equinox." In between those two tunes the band performed the title track "Crash of the Crown," which kept the audience on its feet.

Shaw, Young and Gowan then each took their respective turn on lead vocals on the next three songs with "Crystal Ball," "Miss America" and "Rockin' the Paradise," respectively, and all were done perfectly to the delight of the audience.

Just when it felt like the band could not bring up the energy another notch, that is exactly what it did as the band powered through the final portion of the set. "Fooling Yourself" kept the fans singing at the top of their lungs, but it was "Too Much Time on My Hands" that seemed to fire the crowd up even more.

The band smoothly transitioned into one of greatest concert sing-along-songs, "Come Sail Away," next. For those who have never seen Styx in concert, it is truly an awe-inspiring moment each tour to see and hear the band, and its fans, sing this song's chorus in unison.

But just when you thought the night could not be any better, the group shocked several in attendance with the rarely the performed "Mr. Roboto." This song had a lot to do with the keeping the band relevant to the MTV generation, such as myself, and helped us discover the world and music of Styx. This live version was heavier and more powerful and a real treat.

With the night coming to an end, the band concluded the concert with the always entertaining "Renegade."

Time waits for no person, or band, and that includes Styx. However, this band still performs with as much energy and passion as it ever has and more than many artists of any age bracket or years of experience. Long live Styx!