Styx

Styx
REA Speedwagon
38 Special
Mohegan Sun
Uncasville, Connecticut
July 1, 2009
Tony Pijar

The appropriately dubbed “Can’t Stop Rockin’ Tour” made a stop at the casino to a sold out crowd. I still find it endearing, but hard to believe that this type of package draws such a healthy mass, especially with so many young people in attendance.
38 Special opened and hit on most of their hits including “Rockin’ into the Night”, “Hold on Loosely”, “Caught up in you”, “If I had Been the One”, and “Back Where you Belong.” Don Barnes and Danny Van Zant can still hold a crowd in the palm of their hands.
REO Speedwagon in the early and mid 70s was more of a country rock band, but with “Nine Lives” they took a musical turn to a more AOR/rock vein. They played all of their hits including “Roll with the Changes”, “Don’t let Him go”, ”Keep on Loving you”, “Take it on the Run”, “Keep on Loving you”, and “Can’t Fight this Feeling.” To my surprise, we got some older material too such as “Golden Country” and “Son of a Poor man.” The best moments were the ultra-heavy “Back on the Road Again”, but sadly no “Flying Turkey Trot”!
Styx, like REO, has had an unbelievable career that peaked in the late 70s. They opened with “Miss America”, “Too Much Time on my hands”, and “The Grand Illusion.” They covered all of the bases with “Fooling Yourself”, “Come Sail Away” and “Blue Collar man”. Tommy Shaw and James Young are still very much in vogue and loving every minute of it! Dennis DeYoung is missed, but the Styx machine keeps rolling along to the delight of the thousands that check them out every time they come to town.
This is one of those great summer tours where folks of all ages come out relaxed, and primed. You must see this tour – three great bands with about 20-30 massive hits between them.