For many of the known-name rockers who play there, the comfy quarters of Hollywood’s Key Club are already intimate enough, but the venue was made even more cozy on Thursday, April 12th, when classic-rock veterans Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades joined up for an acoustic show on a stage that temporarily became a “living room,” complete with couches for friends. Assisted by bassist-guitarist Will Evankovich, Tommy and Jack took a capacity crowd on a stroll down memory lane, playing interpretations of well-known pop and rock standards from their latest album, “Influence.” Shaw-Blades was preceded by two local acts: Derin Dow and Mark Castrillion, both of whom delivered solid acoustic sets.
Tommy Shaw is best known for his stint in Styx, starting back in 1975, and after all these years he still looks young and fit, although now he wears a beard that makes him look a bit messianic. Along with some solo work, Tommy is also remembered for his days in Damn Yankees, when he was partnered with Jack Blades, who had first achieved fame and success with Night Ranger. Between the two of them, these gents are responsible for many, many millions of CD, album, tape, 8-track, and even 45-rpm single-record sales, and they’re still going strong, recording newly-written music, along with re-interpretations of landmark tunes from the past four decades and more.
All three musicians sat on cushioned stools, with a pair of sofas positioned behind them the 23-song set from Shaw-Blades began with the Bo Diddly beat, leading to one verse and chorus of “Not Fade Away.” During the course of the show, 
while incense burned and coffee-mugs steamed beside them, the fellows naturally touched on highlights of their own careers, while dipping deep into the well of modern music’s cultural heritage.
Shaw shifted from six-string to twelve-string to mandolin, while they moseyed from “Summer Breeze” to “Sounds of Silence” to “Carry On.” Tommy and Jack exchanged much lively, informative, and joking banter throughout their two-hour presentation, enlightening the audience with many amusing anecdotes about friends and fellow musicians such as Ted Nugent, who played with them in Damn Yankees.
At the end of the set, five “guest singers” were brought up from the audience to help out on “California Dreaming,” and then Shaw-Blades said farewell, but raucous applause brought them back for one more number. What would it be, many wondered. “Renegade”? - Maybe. But no, the final song of the evening was another Tommy Shaw composition from the way-back days, identified with by some, and appreciated by all: an interesting minor-key rendition of the old Styx hit, “Blue Collar Man.” - And then it was time for the final adieu, for now, as Shaw-Blades prepared to continue on tour, and most in the audience prepared to return to their workaday world, buoyed by an outstanding evening of music from two champion artists.
