Don Felder, REO Speedwagon and Styx Coalesce to Turn Up the Heat at the PNC Bank Arts Center

Sonya Alexander
Aug 24, 2017 · 4 min read

Don Felder, REO Speedwagon and Styx wrapped up their United We Rock Tour last night in a blaze of joyous guitar rhythms, perfect vocal harmonies and unbridled camaraderie at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. PNC is a great venue, not too large, not too small, so whether you have floor seats or you’re on a tier, you have a great view of the stage. All the artists made full use of the T-shaped stage, prowling the extended section of it, giving the floor-level audience a close-up look at their nimble guitar skills and the muggy night was made even hotter by these musicians’ feverish playing.

Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder kicked off the show. Besides “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride),” the rest of his set was Eagles songs. While the landmark tunes aren’t quite the same without the glorious harmonies of the Eagles, Felder embraced each song of the ten-song set like an old friend and made it sparkle. He was joined by Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw for “Take It Easy,” with Shaw adding buoyancy to the classic tune with his energy and timing. Felder ended the set with the haunting “Hotel California,” which is always magical, but without the layers of musical harmony that it has when the Eagles play it, it lacked the necessary bite.

REO Speedwagon was up next and kept the momentum going, singing several hits, including “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep On Loving You,” as well as lesser known gems like “Whipping Boy” and “Like You Do.” Lead vocalist Kevin Cronin played to the crowd, his voice never faltering. He was backed by Neal Doughty (keys), Bruce Hall (bass), Bryan Hitt (drummer), and Dave Amato (lead guitar). They moved seamlessly from their ballads to their arena-rock tunes, easily shifting the tone of the set from sentimental to celebratory. Their friendly rapport with each other, humorous banter with the audience and total synchronicity illustrated the undercurrent of longtime friendship.

Chicago’s own Styx, comprised of Tommy Shaw, James “J.Y.” Young, Todd Sucherman, Lawrence Gowan, and Ricky Phillips, gave the grand finale, emphasizing the 40th anniversary of The Grand Illusion and playing several hits from it, including “The Grand Illusion” and “Miss America.” Chuck

Panozzo, who started the group on the South Side of Chicago in his basement with his brother John, joined them on stage for three songs, his bass playing as cool as ice on this hot summer night. One of the stand-out moments in their set was when Gowan, who was a fireplug on stage, did his piano solo. He performed the primarily instrumental “Khedive” from their recent album The Mission, then segued into “Bohemian Rhapsody” and a particularly touching version of the Beatles’ “Golden Slumbers.” He has a wide vocal range and his voice was as clear and pristine as a church’s stained glass on Sunday morning. There’s no denying that these guys truly enjoying playing together, as they made their performance look fun and effortless while still sounding amazing.

As soon as the first few notes for “Too Much Time On My Hands” started, the crowd went wild. Shaw, who looked vibrant and youthful, had fun with it, having the audience clap and sing along. A few notable songs they didn’t fit in the set were “The Best of Times,” “Mr. Roboto” and “Babe.” “Come Sail Away,” ‘Rockin’ the Paradise,” and “Renegade” as the encore songs was the cherry on top of an electric set that was a dance down memory lane as well as a taste of their current musical offerings.

While the United We Rock Tour has officially come to a close, the brilliant musicianship and timeless music of all of these acts remains intact on vinyl as well as in our hearts.

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Sonya Alexander

Written by

Freelance Writer

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