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Features, Tours and Festivals

Styx – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Announce Co-Headline U.S. Summer Tour

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We might still be in the throes of winter, but the summer tours that are getting announced are surely going to help us get to the warmer weather faster. Well, mentally at least. Check out the news about Styx and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts.

The Press Release:
Legendary rockers STYX and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS are teaming up with TESLA for a summer U.S. tour that kicks off May 30 in Irvine, CA at the FivePoint Amphitheatre. Tickets for various cities of the tour, produced by Live Nation, will go on sale starting Friday, February 16 at 10am local time at Livenation.com. STYX and TESLA will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning Wednesday, February 14 at 10am local time at StyxWorld.com and Teslatheband.com. Fans can explore JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS VIP packages available at the time of ticket purchase and at VIPNation.com.

STYX: Tommy Shaw (vocals, guitars), James “JY” Young (vocals, guitars), Lawrence Gowan (vocals, keyboards), Todd Sucherman (drums) and Ricky Phillips (bass), along with the occasional surprise appearance by original bassist Chuck Panozzo—would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late ’70s and early ’80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads. Over the course of their 40-year career they’ve released 15 studio albums, six best-of compilations and four live albums, garnering eight Top Ten singles. STYX has sold over 30 million albums worldwide. Throughout their illustrious career, they’ve performed more live shows since 1999 than all of the previous years of its career combined. Two Super Bowl appearances, Pollstar box office chart-topping tours with Def Leppard, Journey, Boston, and Bad Company (to name only a few), two more studio albums. September 2, 2016 marked the long-awaited release date of STYX: LIVE AT THE ORLEANS ARENA LAS VEGAS on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Formats via Eagle Rock Entertainment. It captures the band performing in July 2014 such fan favorites as: “Too Much Time On My Hands,” Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man),” “Renegade,” and more. It also includes a special surprise visit from Don Felder—formerly of the Eagles—for a rousing performance of “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights).” It was released on CD July 24, 2015. After 14 years, STYX’s sonically sweet 16th studio album and its most ambitious, most challenging, and most rewarding album to date, THE MISSION, was finally released June 16, 2017 on the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. It debuted on various Billboard charts, including: #6 Top Rock Albums, #11 Physical Albums, #11 Vinyl Albums, #13 Current Albums, #14 Billboard Top Albums, #16 Retail, #17 Mass Merch/Non-Traditional, #29 Digital Albums, and #45 Top 200 Albums (includes catalog and streaming).
Continue reading Styx – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts Announce Co-Headline U.S. Summer Tour →

Features, Tours and Festivals

Styx Announces “United We Rock” Summer Tour w REO Speedwagon & Don Felder

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I don’t think I need to say much more about this one do I? Check out the fun video for the tour.

The Tour Dates:
6/20 – Ridgefield, WA, Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre
6/21 – Auburn, WA, White River Amphitheatre
6/23 – Concord, CA, Concord Pavilion
6/24 – Los Angeles, CA, Greek Theatre
6/25 – Paso Robles, CA, Vina Robles Amphitheatre
6/27 – Salt Lake City, UT, USANA Amphitheatre
6/29 – Denver, CO, Pepsi Center
7/1 – Tinley Park, IL, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
7/18 – Tampa, FL, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/19 – West Palm Beach, FL, Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre
7/20 – Jacksonville, FL, Daily’s Place
7/22 – Nashville, TN, Ascend Amphitheatre
7/23 – Alpharetta, GA, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7/25 – Detroit, MI, DTE Energy Music Theatre
7/27 – Indianapolis, IN, Klipsch Music Center
7/29 – Houston, TX, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
7/30 – Dallas, TX, Starplex Pavilion
8/11 – Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
8/12 – Atlantic City, NJ, Borgata Event Center
8/13 – Bristow, VA, Jiffy Lube Live
8/15 – Gilford, NH, Bank of NH Pavilion
8/16 – Wantagh, NY, Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
8/18 – Niagara Falls, NY, Seneca Niagara Events Center (Styx / REO only)
8/19 – Mansfield, MA, Xfinity Center
8/20 – Bangor, ME, Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion
8/22 – Holmdel, NJ, PNC Bank Arts Center

PiercingMetal Thoughts: I’ve been into the music of Styx for a very long time and while the first album that I ever purchased from them off the racks came care of “Paradise Theatre” at The Little Record Store (my IRL friends know exactly where I am speaking of in this reference), I was pretty much a fan of the band for some years earlier thanks to tracks such as “Renegade”, “Come Sail Away” and “Lorelei” along with many others. Not this next disclosure might crack you up because despite being a fan of the band for more than two decades I have NEVER EVER seen them live in concert. I’ve tried and tried but something always managed to get in the way of my being there in terms of scheduling or ending up with a ticket. I guess we cannot be everywhere in life. The reason I even mention this is because I’ve also never seen either of the other acts in REO Speedwagon and Don Felder. In my formative music years I listened to all of The Eagles hits and that “High Infidelity” album by REO was something that EVERYONE had in their music collection. EVERYONE. I’m not kidding and with that one you could even hear its hits on mainstream radio and not just the ones dedicated to Big Rock. Amazing times for sure. You younger fans probably don’t really recall even owning a radio but that was how we did it back in the day. So, let me close up and ask the eternally asked inquiry….Will you be seeing this tour and how excited for it are you? Let me know in the comments section below.

Official Websites:
Styx: http://www.styxworld.com
REO Speedwagon: http://www.speedwagon.com
Don Felder: http://www.donfelder.com

Features, Tours and Festivals

Def Leppard Extend Tour Due to Overwhelming Demand

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You fans of the classic years of eighties Metal and Hard Rock are sure going to love being supporters of that sound with the news that Def Leppard has extended their tour and will commence with a couple of weeks of dates right after their Def Leppard Cruise. They’ll up the rock and roll ante of course with the addition of both Styx and Tesla on these shows as well. Check out the official press release below and then I’ll chime in a little more at the close.

Tour - Def Leppard - Winter 2016

The Press Release:
Following the announcement of their new self-titled studio album, Def Leppard have just extended their massively successful North American tour due to overwhelming demand. The tour supported by Styx and Tesla will commence in Greensboro, North Carolina on January 27, 2016.

Def Leppard debuts new track “Dangerous”, the second off their long-awaited new studio album that will be released on October 30, 2015, via Billboard.com today. “Dangerous” follows their current #1 classic rock single “Let’s Go” which is climbing the rock and active rock radio charts. The new album was recorded earlier this year at front man Joe Elliott’s studio in Dublin, Ireland. The album will feature 14 tracks in total. This self-titled album release will mark their first new collection of material in seven years and Def Leppard’s 11th official studio release.
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Music, Reviews

“Live At The Orleans Arena Las Vegas” by Styx

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Artist: Styx
Title: “Live At The Orleans Arena Las Vegas”
Label: Eagle Records
Release Date: 7/24/2015
Genre: Hard Rock
Rating: 4/5

Back in 2014, Styx was touring as a part of the “Endless Summer” tour that featured a headlining Foreigner and support from The Eagles lead guitarist Don Felder. The three classic acts performed to rousing response in whatever town they happened to drop in on. Since I didn’t get to catch any of the regional appearances when they happened here I was super stoked to find Eagle Rock Entertainment dishing out both an audio and video of the bands set from the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, NV. This summary speaks to the audio release only as I have not yet gotten my hands on the Blu-ray video but hope to do that soon.

Thinking back on my own personal appreciation for the music of Styx I have to chuckle at the fact that even though I’ve enjoyed them for decades now, and actually could play both “Equinox” and “Paradise Theatre” on the drums from beginning to end, they remain one of the bands that I have never, ever witnessed in concert for myself. I better get around to that before they decide that it’s time to retire but judging by the incendiary audio presentation I am currently blasting that does not seem to be something on the bands agenda anytime soon. The single CD release features twelve of the bands biggest hits such as “The Grand Illusion” which opens the set and draws you right into their musical world. It’s always been one of my favorites and usually seemed to be relegated to the closing part of their set. They follow with “Too Much Time On My Hands” from the great “Paradise Theatre” album and that was a radio hit times ten when that album came out. You young fans don’t remember the power of big radio rock stations but trust me this tune was in constant rotation. The band is joined by original bassist Chuck Panozzo during “Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man)” and this seems to be a regular occurrence for the band as the musician is listed as being a part-time member. In today’s music world, the Styx band is comprised of Chuck Panozzo (guest bass), James “J.Y.” Young (guitar), Tommy Shaw (guitar), Todd Sucherman (drums), Lawrence Gowan (keyboards, vocals), Ricky Phillips (bass). The lineup has been this way for just over a decade now and that is what makes having these live releases the most interesting because you are getting the band as they are now and not during their earliest years. Trust me this is not a bad thing at all even though I grew up on the melodies of Dennis DeYoung as their singer.
Continue reading “Live At The Orleans Arena Las Vegas” by Styx →

Features, Tours and Festivals

Def Leppard Announce Summer Tour 2015 w/Styx & Tesla

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The press copy just arrived in my In-Box and since it is so brutally cold in NYC, this made me long for the arrival of Summer all the more as Def Leppard released their touring plans and will be bringing along both Styx and Tesla for a sure to be rocking show. You can check out the finer details after the poster which I have posted below.

Tour - Def Leppard - Summer 2015

The Press Release:
Def Leppard returns to the road this summer for an extensive North American tour. The Live Nation-promoted tour hitting nearly 50 cities across the U.S. and Canada will kick off on June 23 in Tampa, Fla. at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre. Joining Def Leppard on their massive summer outing are rockers Styx and Tesla. Please see full tour routing below. Citi(r) cardmembers will have access to pre-sale tickets beginning Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 12 p.m. local time through Citi’s Private Pass(r) Program. For complete pre-sale details, visit www.citiprivatepass.com. General tickets for the tour go on sale starting Friday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. on www.livenation.com. Continue reading Def Leppard Announce Summer Tour 2015 w/Styx & Tesla →