Date: Fri 27-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Styx-Benatar-concert-Oakdale

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(rev Styx & Pat Benatar concert @Oakdale, 6/27/97)

Concert Review-

A Reunion Leads To A Return To `Paradise'

(with photos)

BY SHANNON HICKS

WALLINGFORD - One never knows what to expect from a band, or even a solo

performer, when it has decided to return to the road well after it has reached

what most would consider the group's apex.

News - read: music - out of the Styx camp in recent years has been all but

mum. A band formed in 1963 that went on to personify mid- to late-'70s rock,

the group's last collaborative effort came and went in 1983, when the band

finished its Kilroy Tour, supporting Kilroy Was Here .

Since then, there was the release of Edge of the Century in 1991, which was

recorded (and toured for) without Tommy Shaw, and the release last year of

Styx Greatest Hits Part II . Members have spent time on solo projects, working

with other bands or working with one or two members of the band, but never as

a whole group.

That was until 1996, when Styx - Dennis DeYoung, James Young, Tommy Shaw and

Chuck Panozzo - decided it was reunion time. For legions of long-devoted Styx

fans, it was a dream come true.

A Return To Paradise Tour, honoring the best-selling album by the band (1991's

Paradise Theatre went triple platinum), debuted in Iowa in May 1996. The

tour's first appearance in Connecticut came last summer, when the band played

at the Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford.

Still going strong, Styx returned to the recently renovated Oakdale Theatre

last week for its second Nutmeg State date on this under-hyped tour. The tour

has been selling well at every venue it plays, and has already spawned a new

album. Return To Paradise is a collection of live performances from earlier in

the current tour, along with studio recordings of three new songs.

As with previous tours, the altogether contrasting vocals of Dennis DeYoung

(music theatre-style vocals and keyboards) and Tommy Shaw (bluesy vocals and

guitar) are alternated with each song performed. DeYoung opened the June 18

show - after a magic trick, complete with flashing lights and explosions,

managed to bring the band onto the stage without the audience figuring out how

they got there - with "The Grand Illusion," and Shaw followed with "Too Much

Time On My Hands." And so it went, throughout the show. DeYoung, Shaw,

DeYoung, Shaw...

Even Young, with his deep voice and spellbinding stage presence, got into the

lead vocal act for a few minutes, offering the opening and closing to the

single "Snow Blind."

The thing about any band getting back together after such a long drought is

it's such a risk to take for everyone concerned. Does the band have enough

staying power to draw a crowd, or are you only going to see the few really

devoted curiosity-seekers who are willing to show up only if ticket prices are

extremely cheap? How does the band sound? Are the members getting along well

enough to stick around for the full tour, or is there the chance of a loose

cannon going off midway through the trek?

Every song the band played Wednesday night sounded as sharp as any of the its

earlier albums or concerts. The guys all look majestic on stage; not one of

them looks like they are forcing themselves to have a good time.

As a whole, the band sounds phenomenal: powerful, confident, secure. After a

year playing together again, one would expect any group to sound good . After

this past year, Styx is sounding great .

Apparently after a year of playing, Styx has the mettle to not only hold its

own, but continue moving forward.

Styx, the first group ever to have four consecutive triple-platinum albums,

never considered this Return To Paradise Tour a greatest hits tour.

Interspersed with "Sweet Madame Blue," "Lady," "The Best of Times," and every

other single that has become a classic rock staple were presentations of the

new songs, "On My Way," "Paradise," and "Dear John," a tribute to the band's

late drummer, John Panozzo.

In the meantime, words are being written down and music is being created

behind the scenes. Since DeYoung has always felt music "is meant to be played

live," and considering each member felt that getting on the road last year

meant more than doing a reunion tour...

There will no doubt be more trips to Paradise for Styx and its fans.

Speaking of not knowing what a performer is going to sound like after a long

time on or off the road, the opener for Styx last week was the rock performer

Pat Benatar.

Benatar long ago shed the sexy, bad-girl look she made so popular as she was

growing up in front of the world during the 1970s. Long gone are the leather

pants, the tiger print shirts, the wild hair and make-up. These days, with her

black leggings, long jacket and silk shirt, she looks more comfortable, and

more polished.

A pioneer in the music world when rock was still just a boys' club, Benatar

pushed her way into the mainstream two decades ago with such classics as "Hell

Is For Children," "Heartbreaker," "Love Is A Battlefield" and "Hit Me With

Your Best Shot," all of which were heard last week.

Many years down the road, now a wife (of guitarist/producer Neil Giraldo) and

mother, Benatar has worldwide sales of 35 million albums and four Grammy

Awards under her belt. All this is in her past. What does she sound like now?

She is terrific. She executes rock, blues and jazz, comfortably interspersed

with each other and sounding confident with all. Her opening set at the

Oakdale turned into more of a mini-concert than opening bands are usually

allowed. After nearly an hour on stage, Benatar was called back out for an

encore, something all but unheard of for a supporting act.

Her release in 1991 of True Blue was an affirmation Benatar had gotten tired

of, as she told Interview magazine, "ten years of doing the same thing."

Though panned by many critics, the blues album served as an example of fans

not caring about professional opinion and an artist staying true to what is

important to her.

Having given up her tough chick image, Benatar is touring these days in

support of Heartbreaker - 16 Classic Performances , released by longtime

record company A&M. Coming across as very polished and - yes! - even classy,

Benatar is producing her best-known, her fans' favorites and her best act

ever.