Styx, Kevin Cronin, and Don Felder prove that AARP doesn’t stand for “Ain’t A Real Party”
You ever walk into a venue and immediately smell a mix of cologne, nostalgia, and orthopedic inserts? That’s how you know you’re in the right place. And when the triple bill is Styx, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, and Don freaking Felder? Buddy, buckle up—because the hits don’t stop, and neither do the hips (despite the odds).
Let’s talk Don Felder first. He opened with a set that felt like a Hotel California-era time warp—with guitar work so smooth it could refinance your house. The man co-wrote “Life in the Fast Lane,” and he still plays it like it’s got something to prove. Spoiler: it doesn’t. It just rules.
Then came Kevin Cronin, the windblown wizard of REO Speedwagon, who hasn’t lost a step—or a note. With a voice like warm caramel and stage banter straight out of a classic rock TED Talk, he had the crowd in the palm of his hand. “Take It on the Run”? They took it, ran with it, and came back for more.
And then—Styx. Tommy Shaw still looks like he drinks unicorn blood, and the band sounds tighter than your uncle’s jean shorts. From “Renegade” to “Come Sail Away,” it wasn’t a concert—it was a mass sing-along therapy session for Gen X and Boomers alike. Even the new stuff hit hard, reminding everyone these guys aren’t just living on memories—they’re still writing them. Check out their new masterpiece “Circling From Above” and our own Artists with Adam series with Will Evankovich.
Three bands. Dozens of hits. Zero signs of slowing down. If this is what aging sounds like, sign us up.