It was never my intention to go see Styx. I didn't buy tickets, I wasn't counting down the days... I didn’t even know there was such a concert happening; and neither did you. This was a corporate sponsored event, arranged and paid for by one company as an appreciation celebration for their employees. I don’t think it’s wise of me to say which company, and to be honest, I had never heard of this company before the event, but this company is very awesome to its employees, let’s just say that much. Styx is a band that I, as a child growing up in the 80s, took for granted that I just happened to know every song. It would have never occurred to me to go see them play live, until the opportunity just happened to fall into my lap.
This show is a little different than any other review I’ve written – I didn’t see this show, I worked it. My amazing friend, Michele, usually works backstage part time for some local venues such as the DPAC, Walnut Creek or Koka booth, and was unable to work this function as she was going out of town (ironically, to see U2. Ahhhhh!) She called and asked if I would be interested in giving it a shot, as she knew I had lots of backstage/show experience from college and from being an overall music/show nerd. I immediately jumped on the opportunity; not only was the money good, but the whole idea of it – backstage with rockgods and Superstars of my 80s childhood? Mr Roboto? Dude, Cool.
I arrived at Koka Booth around 11:30am and met up with Dave, whom everyone calls “Clem” (shortened last name nickname) and who is, without a doubt, one of the kindest, hardest working dudes I have ever met. I instantly wanted to cuddle him and do whatever he asked of me. He promptly introduced me to Buck and told me my job for the day was to be Buck’s right-hand; basically do whatever he needed of me. There was about 20 minutes or so of running in circles, following people around, wondering what in God’s name was going on, and then I was told to sit and wait - So I did. I sat on the back porch overlooking the lake, watching the geese, hanging out with really sexy beardy tattooed stagehand guys. I was then taken to one of the dressing rooms and told this was “my room” I was then given “the list”. Basically I was in charge of the hospitality/snacking room for the band. I prepped it, I was told to keep it stocked, and for the next several hours, my main job was to stand nearby and be all like “you guys need anything?”
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| click to embiggen. why NO EVIAN? I wonder. |
So here’s the interesting part of all this… so of all the things on this list, which was incredibly specific, mind you, once the band did actually make an appearance about an hour and half past when I was expecting them, they only drank coffee; their own coffee. And when I say their own coffee, I literally mean STYX COFFEE.
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| i had some, not gonna lie. this shit was GOOD. |
They also had a couple slices of papa john’s pizza, which was actually an afterthought and not a request. So there I was, stressing over the burners under this specific-ass vegetable soup, stirring it and worrying about the ice levels over the seltzer water and the V8 juice, and naw, they hung out in there for like 10 minutes, tops.
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| I stole a butterfinger mini from Styx while i waited. THE SECRET IS OUT. |
First in the room, and then later first to ride his bike around past me, was Sir Tommy Shaw. (So hot - I hate using the word sexy, but. Dammit, yeah. Dude is sexy.) He popped in, grabbed a bottle of water and ate a couple grapes and went on his way. Next in was J.Y. Young; shit was getting serious. Dude, I am like, hanging with Styx. However, not once did I lose my cool. I was all smiles and flirts and “do you need anything?” – He drank coffee and chilled out. Next in, my new bestie - Chuck Panozzo. Faaaabulous! Chuckie, for those not in the know, is an openly gay man living with HIV, activist, and is a hellaciously talented bass player in one of the hardest working bands in the biz. We chatted about the landscape, ducks, and food. At one point he took a little nap in the overstuffed chair in the room... Adorable! Later after the show we did the whole big-hug-double-cheek-kiss-ciao thing; love that dude.
Showtime! The guys hit the stage hard, like it was an arena full of 20,000 people and not just a corporate retreat with maybe 150 people in attendance total? They gave it 110%. I wasn’t able to watch most of the show, but I certainly heard it (my room was about 10 feet from the stage right entrance, outside) and I got to sneak down a couple times during the set to watch from the wings. Completely surreal. While the band was on stage I got to speak with and hang out with the band’s assistant tour manager, Jason. This guy was too much; Very busy, very silly, very sweet, very cute – those things. I was all trying to keep my game face on, but there was definitely some flirting going on there. My next setup was for the sandwich/cheese/post-show trays, which, again, didn’t get touched. But here is the good thing – Jason did pack up everything he could and took it on the bus with them; that’s good, I was getting all stressed because dammit, they paid for it! Take it! Don’t waste that shit! They did; Awesome.
So I didn’t get to hear/see Roboto, I don’t think they do that song live, probably. I don’t know. But I did get to hear Lorelei and TooMuch Time on My Hands and Lady; I didn’t realize that I knew practically every Styx song ever until I realized I knew every styx song ever, apparently. Best moment: during the breakdown of “Come Sail Away” (‘we'll try best that we can …to carrrrry onnnn!’)I had to stop Jason and be all like “Dude, sometimes don’t you just have to stop and ROCK OUT? And be all like, ‘Damn, I am hanging with Styx… ROCK AND ROLLLLLLL!’” (I guess that song will just always make me think of Freaks and Geeks and get me all sentimental) and he said something about you know, oh hearing the same songs for 4 or 5 years or something, which I totally understand. Then they ended the show on an encore of “Renegade” and then I found myself getting all philosophical and thinking “Dude, sometimes you have to just stop and rock out... You just have to stop… and rock…. rock out….”
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| Very cool guys. Very cool. |
Then as suddenly as it was over there was a swoop in, a swoop out …parts of the stage and members of the band are flying all over and all the beardy tattoo dudes who had disappeared earlier all reappeared… there was a clusterfuck of wild activity for about an hour and my feet were bleeding they were so blistered (but I was oblivious to this until later when I tried to go to bed and I couldn’t even cover my feet with a sheet because they were so tender) – quick goodbyes were said to new friends; the band is playing in town again in September; I won’t assume I’ll be asked back to work, but I certainly am going to attend and rock out. See the ‘other side’ of Styx, as it were.
Then almost as soon as it began, it was all over and I was riding in my little car back to my little house in my little town while the Styx Caravan of Extreme Awesomeness rolled on through the night; off to melt faces in another part of the world. I can’t remember a time when I slept as hard and as soundly as I did that night; after all was said and done, it was a 12 hour day. Worth it. I had a lot of fun. This was easily one of the better experiences of my whole life. I really hope I get to work this kinda thing again some time.
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