STYX ROCK @ Hampton Beach - Venue not-so-much

Photo: In The Studio with Redbeard

It's no secret I LOVE Styx. So it's pretty amazing that in over 30 years of loving this band I've only seen them live twice. The first time was in 2011 in Colorado and the second time was last night. Both times they rocked it!

Great set list (see below.) The only two things I missed from 2011 were Chuck Panozzo (He played a couple of songs in 2011. No appearence last night) and Castle Walls. They did such an amazing job with that song in 2011 I was hoping to hear it again. Other than that I have no complaints - about the band. The venue, however...

Before I get into that, I want to mention how Tommy Shaw's daughter had a raffle for a signed guitar for the bands charity Rock to the Rescue. In April of this year the band, along with REO Speedwagon, raised money for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. Last night they raised money for York Center for Wildlife. Read more about Rock to the Rescue on their website rocktotherescue.net.

I also want to share this five minute video that I made of some footage I shot last night.

WARNING: It's pretty bad. I used my phone and could not get close to the stage. But I put what I did get into a single video simply to share with other fans. Enjoy!





Okay now back to the venue:

Casino Ballroom in Hampton Beach, NH.

My view of stage. Shows angle of tables

 I know it's got amazing history and everyone from Zeppelin to George Carlyn have played there, but let me tell you, unless you are front and center seating sucked. It was very uncomfortable standing because chairs were so tight and awkward due to the tables. Yes I said tables. Most of the seating, with the exception of right in front of the stage, is tables and chairs so that people can eat beforehand. Nice concept, and maybe for a comedian, when you don't stand all night, that would be great. But for a band it became awkward.

View from the front.
Photo: this-is-melisa.tumblr

The tables are so close together and our section had the left side of the tables virtually with backs to the stage. We had to turn the chairs around and butt them up against the table but then the person in front of you stands and pushes their chair back into you. Not comfortable. Especially when you have to shift to an angle to be facing the stage (click the above pic to see the tables and angle.) Everyone around us had the same complaints and again, if you stay seated, as we did for the opening act, it's not to bad. (Heads do get in the way though, because you're on flat ground.)

All and all there are better venues to see a band but for Styx I'd go just about anywhere. I will say I was surprised acoustically. The sound was very good. Food was average. (We had chicken fingers and fries.)



SET LIST:

1. Blue Collar Man
2. The Grand Illusion
3. One With Everything
4. Fooling Yourself
5. Lady
6. Lorelei
7. Man in the Wilderness
8. Miss America
9. I'm OK
10. Crystal Ball
11. Light Up
12. Pieces of Eight
13. Too Much Time on My Hands
14. Sing-a-long: Tiny Dancer/You Can't Always Get What You Want/Light My Fire/Black Dog/Fat Bottom Girls
15. Come Sail Away
16. Rockin' the Paradise
17. Renegade
    
    

Set list help from: www.setlist.fm 

When did we stop listening to albums?

Has anyone else noticed that in the 70's we listened to albums and today we listen to songs? I'm not sure what that means, or says about the music of today, but it's made me curious. I'm listening to Boston, the full album and I realized I don't normally do that anymore. I have playlists with favorite songs.

Has anyone else notice that? Anyone over 40 that is. Did we change or did the music change? Or is it the difference between record players and digital? Yet, I used to make cassette tapes in the 80's & 90's of my favorite songs - my playlists, if you will - so was it truly the way albums, in particular rock albums, were made/written in the 70's?

There are albums by Boston, Rush, Styx, Billy Joel and more that I can still sit and listen to from beginning to end. Yet I haven't actually bought a CD, let alone sit and listen to a whole CD in years. I download individual songs. So what's the difference? Me or the music?

I don't have an answer. I'm just putting it out there.



Some albums I can still listen to from beginning to end:

Boston - self titled
Rush - 2112, Moving Pictures (technically not 70's. Released in 1980)
Billy Joel - 52nd Street
Styx - Crystal Ball, Pieces of Eight (links are not to full albums)
Van Halen - self titled
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours

Best songs about being on stage...

There are three songs that I have always felt described being on stage to a tee:
Lights by Styx
Blinding Light Show by Triumph
Limelight by Rush

Having been a musician all my life, and performing in front of people for as long as I can remember, I know these songs. I may not know the "fame" aspect as these bands do, but the songs always touched me... told a bit of my story, I guess.

I think Lights best describes the "why" you perform... the need...

Blinding Light Show almost hauntingly describes the view, the sounds, the feelings when you're on stage.

Limelight gives the reality - the good, the bad and the ugly.

I forgot about Foreigner's Jukebox Hero - This song is what made me add this post. I was listening to it and remembering 1981, summer after my freshmen year in high school, and all I wanted to do was play music. I didn't care about anything else. I was lucky enough to actually be playing music, onstage, every weekend. Funny how we always desire more then we have.

This song was like an anthem - I was going to be like the kid in the song. It didn't happen quite as I imagined back then, but what in life happens just as we imagine. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was living that dream already.

This song is about the dreams we dream, and sometimes they can come true. :)