Styx warms wet, cold USANA crowd

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 31, 2004 by Pat Reavy Deseret Morning News

STYX, PETER FRAMPTON AND NELSON, USANA Amphitheater, Friday.

It was wet, it was cold and it felt like anything but the big kickoff to summer. But that didn't stop several thousand people from having a good time Friday night when Styx opened the 2004 season at USANA Amphitheater.

Ponchos and umbrellas were in demand as the rain varied from a drizzle to slightly heavier for the first two-thirds of the show. By the time Styx took the stage, however, the rain had stopped. But it seemed to take the group a little time to warm up as it started off with slightly sluggish versions of "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" and "The Grand Illusion."

"Thanks for coming to see us in the rain. The skies are clearing," said vocalist and guitarist Tommy Shaw.

Apparently inspired by those who braved the elements, Styx picked up the energy level by the fourth and fifth songs, crowd pleasures "Lady" and "Too Much Time on My Hands," and were running on all cylinders the rest of the way.

Hard-core Styx fans were pleased to hear forgotten gems like "Snowblind" off the multiplatinum "Paradise Theater" album. The highlight of the show was when the band squeezed 18 songs into one career-spanning medley. Sometimes the medley included just one line from songs like "Light Up," "Mademoiselle," "Crystal Ball" and "Mr. Roboto."

Fans got a special treat when original bass player and founding member Chuck Panozzo made a guest appearance for "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" and "Come Sail Away" and the encore "Renegade."

"These are the shows we'll remember," said keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, who saluted the cold but enthusiastic crowd.

Guitar wizard Peter Frampton's golden locks are long gone, but he hasn't lost his playing touch. Signature songs like "Show Me the Way" and "Baby, I Love Your Way" sounded a bit stale. But "Do You Feel Like We Do?" was still a good rocker and songs post "Comes Alive" such as "Lying" were some of the best of his set.

Nelson opened with a half-hour acoustic set playing their hits from the early '90s. But the standout of Matthew and Gunnar's performance was a rendition of Rick Nelson's "Garden Party" that would have made their father proud.

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com