Show Reviewed: Styx with Chilliwack
Date: March 18, 2008
Venue: Enmax Centrium, Red Deer, Canada 

5 Stars 

Review & Photos by: Amanda Waschuk (Calgary Correspondent - Canada)

This double-feature concert takes us back to the 70s, which is the era both Chilliwack and the Styx call home.  As I look around the venue, I find myself to be one of about ten attendees under the age of 40 who has the ability to sing along to the lyrics with these amazing bands.  But whether or not you had grown up with these records as your background music, both these bands have the ability to put a smile on your face and a little rock and roll in your heart. 

The audience is warmed up with some homegrown Canadian talent in the Vancouver-based band that is Chilliwack.  Entering the music scene in 1970, Chilliwack presented the world with the hit singles "Chain Train" and "Rain O".  Still with a full head of hear, lead vocalist Bill Henderson wowed the crowd with classics like "Lonesome Mary" and "My Girl" while also giving us an interesting native-inspired song full of chanting and great guitar.  All in all, Chilliwack provided us with a satisfying appetizer of positive lyrics and upbeat sounds while we waited for the main course of Styx.

Dating back to 1972, Styx has the experience to provide for an unbelievably entertaining performance. Not only does the band have great music to back a great show, but they are also master puppeteers at working the crowd.  One of the newest members of Styx, Mr. Lawrence Gowan is a pleasure to watch as he plays on his spin-able piano and bounces around the stage amping up not only the crowd, but the rest of the band as well.  Other members of Styx include James "JY" Young on guitar and lead vocals, Ricky Phillips on bass, Todd Sucherman on drums, and the infamous Tommy Shaw on not only the guitar and vocals but 12-string guitar as well.  It is clear that the band is one big family as they constantly interact with each other, sharing microphones as they move around the stage and co-coordinating rock moves with their guitars side-by-side.  This fun being had onstage permeates into the crowd as they get up on their feet to sing and dance along to hits like "Renegade" and "Come Sail Away".   

While simply attending the show is a huge treat, it's almost a guarantee to make your way home with some type of loot from guitar picks to beach balls to Polaroid pics of the band taken during the show.  But the most important "goodie" to take away from the show is the pro-green message that the Styx sends out by endorsing the use of re-usable grocery bags rather than plastic bags. 

A few fans were even lucky enough to receive one embossed with the Styx logo and claim that they're "Rockin the Planet".  So in the end, this show was one to be enjoyed by all and leaves you with a nice little buzz of the 70s.