Styx & Collective Soul- June 26 (Camdeonton, MO)
16 months ago, I boarded a plane and flew to Las Vegas to cover Aerosmith’s “Deuces are Wild” residency at Park MGM. As extravagant as this sounds, it was somewhat commonplace for me as someone that is fortunate enough to travel and attend live events frequently. Little did I know my next major concert would not occur until June of 2021.
An night that could have spelled doom with harsh weather implications swirling around the entire midwest would up being one for the ages as near-perfect temps ushered in an unforgettable night of rock hits.
Threats of rain and flash flooding did not deter a crowd of over 8,000 from filing in to Camdenton’s spacious Ozarks Amphitheater, a venue that has become a centerpiece of lake entertainment over the past few years. For many, it marked the end of an extremely difficult year-and-a-half, a time that saw the unceremonious end of live music for a long period of time.
Collective Soul
Atlanta- based Collective Soul took the stage right at 7:30 pm while many were still filing into the sun-bathed amphitheater. The band would stick mostly to the basics on this night, indulging the mostly-older audience with recognizable hits, many from their triple-platinum, self-titled 1995 album. Songs like “December” and “Where the River Flows” were extremely well received and it was evident that the band were well-rehearsed for this eclectic mini-tour
” We’re huge fans of those guys (in Styx).” Guitarist Dean Roland said during a recent interview with On the Road to Rock. “It’s all mutual respect and those guys have been killing it for years.”
The highlight of the Collective Soul set came in the way of an emotional rendition of “Shine” the band’s first major hit back in and a song that paved the way for the band to carve out an impressive niche in the early 90’s alternative scene. Those that were unfamiliar with the band’s work immediately rose to their feet and sang along gleefully.
The set would end with “The World I know” yet another massive single from the 1995 self-titled album and one that has been covered by many artists over the years including Missouri’s own David Cook. By this point, a majority of the crowd were engrossed in the performance and Collective Soul were cheered wildly upon exiting the stage.
Styx
While many bands were still postponing gigs or waiting for someone else to make the first move, Styx announced their Summer tour back in April, undaunted by the ever-changing COVID-19 political climate. It’s a move that paid off as, soon after, bands began raining tour dates down upon us like mana from heaven.
By the time the band broke in to “Blue Collar Man,” the insatiable crowd was on its feet and cheering every pulsating moment. Styx’s sound was precise and thick throughout the evening and a perfect blend of old classics and new tunes peppered the 17-song set. Guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw’s unabashed rockstar voice and presence has long been the backbone of the band and his skills were on full display.
The band carefully unleashed three new songs from their latest album “Crash of the Crown” which became a chart-topping success back in mid-June.
While Shaw perfectly handled songs like “Blue Collar Man,” “Renegade,” and “Too Much time on My Hands,” it would be keyboardist/singer Lawrence Gowan that truly left his stamp on this performance with unforgettable and spectacular versions of “Lady,” and “The Grand Illusion.” Gowan has now been a part of Styx for 23 years and his inclusion, undoubtedly, helps keep the band at the top of their game.
“It’s a joy to go on stage with these guys.” Gowan stated during a recent appearance On the Road to Rock. “It‘s full steam ahead. You realize everyone on stage gets it, to this point, we’ve NEVER had a bad night.”
Perhaps one of the more poignant moments of the show occurred during the song “Light it Up,” the lyrics rang out into the night like a beacon of hope for the future.
Light up everybody
Join us in this celebration
Light up and be happy
Sweet, sweet sounds will fill the air
These words meant more on this night. It was a true symbolic moment echoed the sentiment that better days are ahead. No longer will we take for granted the ignoble joy of singing along with your favorite song with 8,000 of your closest friends on a perfect Summer night. It is poetic that it was Styx, a band whose logo would assuredly be a part of a Mount Rushmore of classic rock, be seen as a link between the forgettable last 16 months and the hope of the future.
The show would conclude with a magical 4-song punch that included mega-hits “Foolin’ Yourself” and “Too Much Time on My Hands.” The encore saw a tremendous performance of “Mr. Roboto” (a song rarely played live over the past 30 years and finally the crowd-pleasing “Renegade” which sent the appreciative lake crowd back to resume their aquatic weekend activities. It was a performance that signaled America’s triumphant return to rock in 2021.
