Styx & Foreigner: Renegades and Jukebox Heroes Tour in Salt Lake City
June 30, 2024
Summertime is always a great time for music lovers as the concert season gets underway. It’s an especially great time for classic rock lovers as well as it sees some of the biggest bands rock bands hitting the road and playing all their hits and fan favorites. This summer sees a classic rock pairing made in heaven hit the road together again as Styx and Foreigner, along with special guest, John Waite, have been hitting the road on the Renegades and Jukebox Heroes Tour.
This past week saw them make a stop in West Valley City, Utah to rock the stage at The Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre in what turned out to be a perfect night rock nostalgia.
John Waite opened the evening with a short but powerful performance pulling songs not only from his solo catalog, but also past bands, Bad English and The Babys. The highlight of the set was Waites’ performance of his classis “Missing You” which turned song into one big song along with the fans.
Up next and taking the crowd by storm was Foreigner, who gave one of the most energetic performances to grace the stage at The UFCUA stage. Many fans in Utah had believed that last year would be our last chance to see them perform when they hit the stage here (under the USANA name) along with Loverboy. For fans who missed that show last year this was a can’t miss opportunity, perhaps our last one, to see this classic band take the stage in Utah.
Vocalist, Kelly Hansen, was everywhere on the stage all at once it seemed with his energy giving even that of Lawrence Gowan a run for his money. Hansen’s energy lit a fire under the rest of the band also as guitarists, Jeff Pilson (bass,) Bruce Watson and Luis Maldonado were springing end to end of the stage sparking the energy in the crowd.
Hansen whipped the crowd into a frenzy when he appeared on a riser for the hit “Jukebox Hero” performing above the crowd and then mingling with fans on his way back to the stage to continue the song. It’s clear the connection that the fans have with Hansen and shows his staying power as one of rock’s top front men.
Finally, the time arrived for the new look Styx to take the stage. Joining them on stage was their newest member Terry Gowan, bassist, and brother of vocalist/keyboardist Lawrence Gowan. Terry joined the band after longtime member Terry Phillips left the band to take a break from being on the road after 21 years. Gowan looked like a natural, fitting seamlessly in with the others working the stage.
Seeing Styx perform on the stage is awe inspiring as you are treated to some of the best musicians to ever pick up an instrument. Vocalist and guitarist, Tommy Shaw, was as enthralling as ever with one of the best pure voices to come out of classic and progressive rock. Shaw took turns along with founding member James JY Young, and Will Evankovich, playing solos throughout the night. Drummer, Todd Sucherman, is one of the, if not the most in demand drummers for sessions, recordings, panels, masterclasses, you name it in the world. And last but not least is Lawrence Gowan, the spry 67 years young vocalist and keyboardist. Watching Gowan dance around the stage and on his piano is captivating. His effortless mastery of keyboard is on full display as he dances and plays at the same time then all at once is playing the keyboard with his back to it and facing the audience.
The setlist stayed the same as it has many times, I have seen the band perform but the great thing about that is you know what to expect. At the end of the night the crowd were all on our feet in anticipation of closing songs “Mr. Roboto” and “Renegade.” Those two songs have cemented Styx’s legacy as one of the best classic rock groups ever and 16,000 fans danced, clapped and sang along to them as we watched them perform.
Dates and info for the Renegades and Jukebox Heros Tour can be found here.
