Styx has mastered the art of longevity. These multiplatinum album-oriented rock architects have been defying the odds since the ’70s, with no signs of slowing down.
The legendary rockers are returning to The Venetian Theatre for five nights with something truly special: a complete performance of 1978’s Pieces of Eight, plus all the hits that made them arena gods in the first place.
Styx currently operates as a seven-member powerhouse: founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young (affectionately dubbed “The Godfather of Styx”), guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, longtime drummer Todd Sucherman, keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, guitarist/vocalist Will Evankovich and bassist Terry Gowan.
“We have home run hitters at every position,” Young told NEWHD Media last year. “Everybody seems to be in balance and happy. Everybody’s smiling at each other after the shows are over. And that’s a very good sign.”
The band just released Circling From Above, its 18th studio album, a 13-track exploration of technology and nature that critics are calling its third consecutive masterpiece following 2021’s Crash of the Crown and 2017’s The Mission. While most heritage acts coast on their catalog, Styx continues to create.
“We’re always writing,” Shaw told Billboard earlier this year. “Will and I live close to each other in Nashville, so we get together a lot and co-write things. But the other guys are great co-writers, too; we’ll get together at my house or at Will’s studio and we’ll start cobbling these pieces together.”
Fans love the new work, but they’re coming for the classics, too. And Styx has those for days. There’s “Come Sail Away,” with that delicate piano opening that explodes into an arenawide sing-along, and “Renegade,” the hard-charging anthem about a fugitive on the run. There’s the working-class battle cry of “Blue Collar Man,” the tender power ballad “Lady” and the epic “The Grand Illusion,” with its soaring vocals and dramatic build. There’s “Miss America” and its critique of fame for fame’s sake, and “Man in the Wilderness,” with its searching, introspective lyrics.
A Styx show doesn’t hit just one note. It’s a sonic symphony that’s sometimes bombastic, sometimes tender. The band came up in the album-oriented rock era, when FM radio played full albums and listeners treated records as complete experiences. That freedom shaped the sound: lengthy compositions, minor-key explorations, extended solos, storytelling that required more than three minutes to unfold. They draw from over five decades of barn-burning chart hits, joyous sing-alongs and hard-driving deep cuts, and they’ve somehow maintained the energy that makes them a must-see live act.
The Pieces of Eight deep dive adds another layer. Released in 1978 at the height of Styx’s powers, the album gave us “Blue Collar Man” and “Renegade” but also showcased the band’s range beyond radio. Hearing it performed in sequence will remind audiences why the band became synonymous with American rock in the first place. Five decades in, Styx refuses to phone it in.
The Venetian Resort, 8:30 p.m. Jan. 23-24, 28 and 30-31, starting at $60 plus tax and fee. venetianlasvegas.com
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