Styx w/ Kevin Cronin & Don Felder • May 31, 2025 • MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL • Photos by Randy Cook /// instagram.com/horns_raised • hornsraised.com

STYX LIVE REVIEW

Styx, Kevin Cronin & Don Felder | May 31, 2025 | MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
Review by: Randy Cook

On a warm and muggy Saturday evening we rock fans were treated to a knock out triple bill of the hits of our youth when a trio of rock legends hit the stage at the state fairgrounds in Tampa. Eagles guitarist Don Felder was the opening act ahead of Kevin Cronin and Styx, who were playing their timeless release, ‘The Grand Illusion’ in its entirety alongside a selection of their greatest hits. At least nine thousand strong were in attendance for what was billed as ‘The Brotherhood of Rock Tour’. As always with all of the shows I go to I take interest in the makeup of the age demographics in the crowd and as expected given each artist this evening has a career that spans five decades, this was a multi-generational crowd. Longtime fans in their 50s and 60s alongside younger rock fans and I saw there were a few high school aged youth with their parents.

Known for co-writing many of the Eagles songs Don Felder’s ten song set slightly tipped the scales to Eagles songs, with a magical rendition of his most famous solo song, ‘Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)’. Released in 1981 that song was written for the animated sci-fi/fantasy film ‘Heavy Metal’ and was a personal check off of my musical bucket list to hear live. His cover of Steve Young’s ‘Seven Bridges Road’ was another musical highlight for me and his set culminated with the first time that I have heard “Hotel California’ live. Not only is the song itself iconic, Don Felder is known for his musical precision, and over the years with whoever he is playing live with he insisted that every note of that song be played live exactly like the record. I can tell you that song was note for note exact and Don and his band exited the stage to a standing ovation from the crowd.

Kevin Cronin, the lead singer of REO Speedwagon and his band played a fifteen song set, exclusively of REO Speedwagon songs. For the nostalgic among us I think it is interesting to note that REO Speedwagon’s hit ‘Take It on the Run’ was the ninth video ever played on MTV back in 1981. The band had eight different songs play within the station’s first 200 videos, including another of their monster ballad hits ‘Keep on Loving You’ which was the first Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit to be played on MTV. So it is no surprise that the band has a very strong fan base that continues to this day.

As the set list progressed throughout the night it was apparent just how much fun the band was having engaging and interacting with the crowd. Once their more popular hits came along it was a literal sing long between the band and the audience. Kevin dedicated ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ to anyone affected by the love bug, saying he wrote the song for his wife before he met her. It was quite apparent from what I could see many couples in the crowd considered ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’ as ‘their song’ and there was some definite slow dancing in the isles occurring.

REO Speedwagon’s 1980 release ‘Hi Infidelity’ was one of the first cassettes that I purchased as a teenager with my yard mowing money I made. I have a lot of history with this band’s music and seeing the songs performed for the fourth time was as special as in 2021, the first time I finally saw REO Speedwagon live. By the time the final notes of their concluding song ended, a standing ovation was in order and certainly delivered for the appreciation of the musicianship and timeless rock and roll journey the band has just delivered. This was a very sentimental set for me, as I recall being a youngster in middle school in the early 80s and I idolized (the late) Gary Richrath and his guitar playing style after seeing the band’s videos on MTV. I would use my tennis racket and air guitar the band’s gushing love songs, singing my heart out into an invisible microphone to the cute girl from my math class who had no idea I was even alive. From the faces I saw in the crowd I was not alone in my trip down memory lane throughout every song played this evening.

To round out this night of amazing and timeless music, after debuting the concept of playing ‘The Grand Illusion live in its entirety in January/February 2025 with five sold-out residency shows in Las Vegas, Styx hit the stage with the title track ‘The Grand Illusion’ to a ready and primed crowd who were already on their feet cheering as soon as the lights went dark announcing it was time. This segued into ‘Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)’ and ‘Superstars’ and as always, the time with my three songs up front in the photo pit seem to go by in the blink of an eye and I am hurrying to go stow my gear and get back and watch the show. I can hear ‘Come Sail Away’ as I walk to the box office and I am in my seat half way though the fifth song, ‘Miss America’. I take in the crowd as much as I do the music during the remaining songs of the album. These songs truly do bring an emotional response by some of the faces I can see.

With Styx recording sixteen additional studio albums there are plenty of hit songs across their discography to play a selection of fan-favorite classics for the second half of their sixteen song set. And once again, I was transported back to the days of my youth hearing the masterful musicianship of songs that I grew up with. As expected, once the song ‘Lady’ started, the slow dancing in the aisles began again as couples reminisced about their history attached to this song. The entire set is a rock theater experience as lead vocalist and keyboardist Lawrence Gowan displays his amazing keyboard skills and flamboyant stage presence, spinning his keyboard rig with theatrical flair. The band moves seamlessly through complex time signatures and multi-part harmonies in their songs as bright LED backdrops and album-themed visuals show in the background. Styx is known for their three and four-part vocal harmonies, and live they are able to replicate studio-level complexity with ease.

Guitarist and vocalist Tommy Shaw is razor sharp with his guitar playing mastery, engaging the crowd and fellow bandmates with flashes of a brilliant smile. Styx founding bassist Chuck Panozzo joined onstage for ‘Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)’. When the band sang ‘The Best of Times’ it was a few moments of personal reflection and appreciation for the ability to have these experiences. The band is so tight live as each member brings their own standout talent, yet together they deliver a cohesive sound that honors the band’s roots with a theatrical flair. The band closed with a two song encore with ‘Mr. Roboto’ and ‘Renegade’, which I think was the first Styx song I heard as a youth.

The evening was a nostalgic rock-fueled experience of anthemic songs of my youth and I saw nothing but smiling faces as we exited the venue and headed to the parking area. It was a great combination of legendary artists, and it was extra special for me, hearing ‘Hotel California’ live for the first time. It was a fun-filled show that I enjoyed with great friends and great tunes! The Tampa show was only the second stop on the tour, so anyone who may be on the fence about going to this show, I highly recommend it.

Styx setlist – May 31, 2025:
The Grand Illusion
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Superstars
Come Sail Away
Miss America
Man in the Wilderness
Castle Walls
The Grand Finale (followed by band introductions)
Rockin’ the Paradise
Too Much Time on My Hands
Lady
Build and Destroy
The Best of Times
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
Encore:
Mr. Roboto
Renegade

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