On March 27, 2024, Styx brought their legendary sound to Long Island’s iconic Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair. This venue is a theater in the round, in this case meaning a circular stage in the middle of the venue surrounded by the audience, and the stage itself spins for the entire show. It’s a wonderful concept, because there are no bad seats, and every audience member has the stage facing them for large portions of the show.

Styx opened with “The Grand Illusion,” followed thereafter by classic hits “Too Much Time On My Hands” and “Lady.” The crowd was cheering and singing along from the first note. Lawrence Gowan was putting on quite the show in his colorful outfits and dancing with his moving keyboard. He even made a few ladies’ days when he went into the crowd to sing to them. Tommy Shaw, Will Evankovich, James Young, and Todd Sucherman also put on stellar performances. These men have their stage show down to a science, and it makes for a very engaging evening.

One of the ushers at the venue was especially impressed with them. He asked me how old the two singers were. I pulled up their birth dates on my phone to show him. He said, “They’re my age? I’m impressed! I can’t move that well!” So, Styx, I think you made a new fan that night.

The one question I have seen asked a few times is, “Who was the bassist?” The answer: Terry Gowan, Lawrence Gowan’s brother. For the evening, anyway, although they did make a joke that Terry was doing OK so they might let him come back the next night. I didn’t check, but I’m feeling confident they kept their word.

Styx played two sets, which included well known favorites such as “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights),” “Lorelei,” and “Come Sail Away,” and some newer songs, such as “Crash of the Crown.” By the end of the show, they had everyone on their feet singing and dancing to “Renegade.” The night ended with quite the standing ovation, and you could tell how much this band’s music meant to everyone in that room. All in all, it was an incredible evening, and I highly recommend catching a Styx show the next time they come to your town.

Review & Pix by I’m Music Magazine Photographer Amanda Packey