The night was balmy, and the excitement was high as the crowd gathered in front of the security gates to enter the legendary Styx concert celebrating the 2025 release of their 18th album, Circling from Above, with opener Jay Psaros.
Jay Psaros
A man stepped out onto a wide-open stage, a single spotlight illuminating him. He had a guitar, a voice, and a set of songs about country living, whisky, and hot summer nights. But he is not a country artist; he adapts to whatever environment he is thrown into. At 34, he has already spent 10 years in the music business, performing in venues ranging from barrooms to concert halls. His determination landed him a gig touring with Styx, which was a clear sign he had what it took to open for them. He is building a promising future for himself, and on top of that, his wife recently had a baby. He is living the dream and is poised to go far if he continues performing with top-notch bands like Styx, Mavericks, Three Dog Night, and Los Lonely Boys.
Check out Jay Psaros: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
STYX
Can you imagine performing in a band for 54 years? The sheer determination, dedication, and love for music. James “JY” Young can say he has done it and is still doing it day in and day out. Chuck Panozzo has been with the band for 54 years, mostly in a part-time capacity. He had to stop in 1999 due to health problems, but he returned in 2003. Chuck and his brother John were the original members, along with James Young, Dennis DeYoung, and John Curulewski. John Panozzo left the band due to health concerns and tragically passed away in 1996. Even though members came and went, some returned, and despite two major breaks, Styx continues to chart songs and maintain a solid presence in the music world.
Styx has had eight songs hit the top 10 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, as well as 16 top 40 singles. The band sold over 20 million records for A&M between their signing in 1975 and 1984. Over the years, they have charted in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many other countries. They have earned four consecutive multi-platinum awards and were nominated for multiple GRAMMY Awards, though they have yet to win a more-than-deserving title. The four multi-platinum awards were for the albums The Grand Illusion (1977), Pieces of Eight (1978), Cornerstone (1979), and Paradise Theatre (1981).
The night they performed in El Paso at the beautiful Abraham Chavez Theater was unseasonably warm, and the theater was nearly full. The audience consisted mostly of people over 50, though a nice mix of 30- and 40-year-olds littered the room as well—couples and singles alike, all taking in memories of young love. Many sang along with the band, and everyone cheered and clapped at the end of each song. When the members of the band were announced, John Panozzo earned a standing ovation accompanied by cheers from the entire crowd that lasted at least five minutes.
I will not give the full breakdown of all 15 songs, but they opened the night with “Build and Destroy,” “Too Much Time on My Hands,” followed by “The Grand Illusion.” They ended the concert with two encores, the final song being “Renegade.”
On May 28, 2025, Styx announced the release of their 18th album, Circling from Above. If you attend their current tour, you may be able to pick up one of the new albums along with all kinds of merchandise. The current tour runs through October 2026, so don’t miss your chance to see these legends explode on stage.
On May 28, 2025, Styx announced the release of their 18th album, Circling from Above. If you attend their current tour, you may be able to pick up one of the new albums along with all kinds of merchandise. The current tour runs through October 2026, so don’t miss your chance to see these legends explode on stage.
Here are links to anything and everything you want to know about the legendary Styx:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
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