STYX / REO SPEEDWAGON IN BRIDGEPORT
It was a typical hump-day at the job and then I got a text from my lovely wife that changed the day from typical to extraordinary. The text read:
DO YOU WANT TO GO TO A CONCERT TONIGHT? It took me 2 seconds to respond YES!
It’s been a heartbreaking, tragic year and a half, filled with loss, chaos, and immeasurable stress, but through it all we persisted, and we’ve earned the right to celebrate with some music and friends.
Wednesday was already shaping up to be a great day even without the news of a live concert, I already had plans to cut out of work a little early and play golf with my buddy Ralph Beauchamp. Readers of AMP are familiar with Ralph’s writing but if you’ve never played golf with the man then you truly are missing out, he makes a frustrating game more enjoyable and a good game great!
So, back to the show.
The “concert” was Styx and REO Speedwagon and it was the VERY FIRST concert in the brand new Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport. The atmosphere was electric and the venue was incredible. Styx without founding front-man Dennis DeYoung seemed destined to disappoint, they did not disappoint. In Fact, Lawrence Gowan showed song after song that he has the ability to bring the house down – and that he did! The band opened with The Fight of Our Lives from their new album titled Crash of The Crown. The song features a return to their progressive rock roots and it instantly set the tone for what was to come. Three of the bands greatest hits Blue Collar Man, Grand Illusion and Lady nearly blew the umbrella styled roof off the new amphitheater. By the end of those three hits the crowd including my wife and I were all in. It felt like being reborn from a long coma with the help of some awesome musically induced medication! Styx played so many of the great hits we all love but they mixed in about four or five songs from their new album as well. Come Sail Away (One of my personal favorites) was a real highlight of the show. They finished their set with three unforgettable hits Fooling Yourself, Mr. Roboto and Renegade and when the stage went quiet all I could think was …
The jig is up, the news is out…
Bridgeport is going to be on the Connecticut music scene for a long time to come.
There were some sound issues and the $16.50 beers were a major disappointment But the venue is beautiful and hopefully they will soon perfect the sometimes muffled sound problem I would definitely recommend bringing a few beverages and doing a little tailgating before your event – and bring a designated driver.
REO Speedwagon from the start sounded muffled. It’s seems the sound issues increased during their set. They started with Music Man followed by Keep Pushin off of the bands R.E.O and R.E.O.T.W.O albums, not two of their better known songs. The sound issues improved for 157 Riverside Avenue (Special Bridgeport acoustical version!) and the crowd responded after the slow start.
Where did REO Speedwagon record its first album? At the late, Bridgeport-born, Paul Leka’s Connecticut Recording Studio on Main Street Downtown. Leka co-wrote the anthem classic “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”
The most popular track on REO’s first release was “157 Riverside Avenue” in Westport where the band stayed while recording in Leka’s studio. The song references “from Bridgeport to Westport” in the opening lyrics.
After hitting a high note with Riverside the band followed up with two all-time favorites, Don’t Let Him Go and Take it on The Run that really brought the crowd to it’s feet. Tough Guys was followed by I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore.
Speaking of not being able to fight a feeling, those $16.50 Two Roads beers were ready to be deposited.
So I missed a couple of tunes relieving myself and socializing because everywhere I went I ran into someone I knew! The concert was turning out to be a reunion as well. I even ran into my oldest brother and his wife. I returned to Time For me to Fly which really sounded great. Apparently the sound issues were solved at least temporarily. REO finished strong with Ridin’ the Storm Out and the crowed kept cheering for an encore which we got. Keep On Loving You and Roll With the Changes closed the night out.
Overall the music was good and the venue was clean and new as well as cozy and personal. Two super bands with stellar resumes christened what is already being nicknamed The AMP. The AMP was the star on Wednesday night. As the great Yankee Pitcher Catfish Hunter once said….”The sun don’t shine on the same dog’s ass all the time.” But right now it’s shining on Bridgeport Connecticut once again.
To learn more about Styx, check out their website
Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube
Stream music: Spotify / Apple Music
To learn more about REO Speedwagon, check out their website
Follow on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube
Stream music: Spotify / Apple Music
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