Summer is the season for epic tours where a few iconic bands join forces to create unforgettable lineups featuring beloved acts and a plethora of hits. Among these, few can rival the sheer number of hits packed into the 3 1/2-hour extravaganza that is the Styx & Foreigner double bill, with the legendary John Waite (The Babys, Bad English) as the opening act. This powerhouse tour rolled into South Florida on July 19th, lighting up a sweltering Friday night in West Palm Beach. The heat was so intense that, at one point, the equipment shut down during Foreigner’s set—but more on that later. The iThink Financial Amphitheatre was buzzing, nearly reaching its 20,000-person capacity by the time John Waite took the stage, setting the scene for a rousing celebration of classic rock at its finest.
Waite delivered a fiery set featuring some huge hits like “When I See You Smile”, “Missing You,” and “Back on my Feet Again” (from his time with The Babys). His voice is still incredible and the audience agreed as they cheered on while he finished his set with a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” It was a great way to start the night. Styx was next to take the stage.
Styx have been riding a wave of renewed success in recent years, propelled by their hit album “Crash of the Crown” and an unrelenting tour schedule. The band is arguably performing at its peak these days, and that was evident in their electrifying performance in West Palm Beach. The set kicked off with “The Grand Illusion” and unleashed a barrage of hits, including three tracks from the “Paradise Theater” album: “Too Much Time on My Hands,” “Rockin’ the Paradise,” and “The Best of Times.” The title track from “Crash of the Crown” seamlessly blended with classics like “Blue Collar Man” and “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man).”
Keyboardist and vocalist Lawrence Gowan was a joy to watch—singing brilliantly, dancing around, and even playing the keyboard behind his back. Main songwriter and singer Tommy Shaw sounded incredible and played some outstanding lead guitar. Original member James Young took the lead on “Miss America,” proving he can still rock with the best. The band finished the main set with “Come Sail Away,” then closed with fan favorites “Mr. Roboto” and rock radio staple “Renegade.” It was an incredible set that would have sent the audience home happy, but there was still more music to come.
After a short break, Foreigner took the stage. While it’s known that the current lineup doesn’t feature any original members since founder and guitarist Mick Jones stopped touring, several members have now been with the band for nearly 20 years, including bassist Jeff Pilson and vocalist Kelly Hansen. Hansen was the star of the show, his outstanding voice hitting all those high Lou Gramm notes with ease. He commanded the stage and the audience like a seasoned veteran, making for a memorable performance.
The set included 10 no-doubt rock radio classics, opening with “Double Vision” and “Head Games” before diving into the iconic piano riff of “Cold as Ice.” Then the gear on stage simply shut off, due to the heat. After a few minutes to cool off and reboot, the hit parade continued with “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” After some more heavy hitters, the band started “Juke Box Heroes” but the music was going and Kelly Hansen was no where to be found. All of a sudden he appeared on a riser in the middle of the venue and the song officially began. The band rocked out on this one, extending it for maybe 10 minutes before hitting the final note. The show concluded with the encore performances of “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Hot Blooded.”
If anyone ever wanted a crash course in classic rock, this was the ultimate show to attend. The songs were iconic, the bands legendary, and the evening nothing short of superb. The older audience reveled in reliving their glory days, while the younger crowd experienced a proper rock concert with some of the greatest music in modern rock history. If you get a chance to see this tour, don’t miss it. You never know when this spectacular lineup will come around again. It’s an absolute blast from start to finish.
