Live: Styx in Noblesville

Styx is one of those bands who, when you hear their songs, you fall in love and stay there. Whether it’s “Come Sail Away,” “Lady,” or “The Grand Illusion,” you remember the songs forever and it doesn’t matter how long it is before you hear them again, you always know the words.

Their latest record- The Mission– released last year and was the first record of original music since 2003’s Cyclorama and their highest-charting record since 1983’s infamous Kilroy Was Here.

Their latest summer run- with support from Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Tesla- recently hit Noblesville’s Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center and was a night loaded with classic anthems that saw everyone coming close to losing their voices.

After Tesla and Joan Jett finished up blazing sets, the lights went down and Styx took the stage and mixed in new tracks with the classics to complete perfection.

“Overture,” “Gone Gone Gone,” “Radio Silence” and “Khedive” all found their way into the set while still leaving room for classics “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Miss America,” “Renegade” and more.

The band took the stage, with each member appearing from behind the stage while frontman/keyboardist Lawrence Gowan taking his post next to his elaborate spinning keyboard and the night was off to a roaring start.

Guitarists Tommy Shaw and James Young and bassist Ricky Phillips used every side of the stage as well as the giant platform that adorned the back of the stage as well while Gowan danced around the stage throughout the night, making sure he got the crowd involved as much as he could.

This was a night of pure magic, closed out by the return of “Mr. Roboto” but with a more rock-infused presence, which was met with an overwhelming roar of support and excitement from the Indiana crowd- as well as “Renegade,” which saw confetting shooting from the stage, showering down on the fans, who went home more than ready for the next Styx show.

-Reggie Edwards

Styx