The cloudless day, deep blue sky, smell of BBQ and the laughter of kids in the background was only part of the spectacular show that the northwest suburbs of Chicago was waiting for – with blankets spread out across the grounds; people marked their “territory” and waited for the show to begin. Waiting for the show to begin myself I decided to talk with a few fans a few that showed up as early as 7:00am to get ready for the 8:00 pm start… and this is what I heard…
AAM / Jim Obos: Hi folks, what’s your names?
Fans: Bob and Ann Braham with friends Tom and Paula Gorman
AAM / JMO: You guys are obviously here for the Dennis DeYoung show - what are you hoping to hear tonight?
Bob: Sweet Madame Blue would be great!
AAM / JMO: So you’ve been Dennis DeYoung fans for…
Bob: …Well - Styx fans for sure, for longer than I probably want to admit, since the late 70’s – looking forward to a great show. AAM / JMO: Thanks and have fun.
The excitement was definitely in the air and other fans that included Michael Paker and family, and as the sun set, the fans stood up, the band walked out and started to play and Dennis DeYoung hit the stage… and while I had my camera in my hand, for that split second I put it by my side, closed my eyes and re-lived “Come Sail Away” that took me back years ago to Alpine Valley and the one and only Styx Concert I saw during the 80’s. What a beginning it was, as Dennis and crew welcomed and beckoned the fans to take this journey for this one night, under the stars, in Arlington Heights, during the summer festival, Frontier Days, celebrating our country’s birthday, the 4th of July.
For me, being a pretty big Styx fan and Dennis DeYoung fan for some time, the show was energetic, and full of the mystique that is Dennis DeYoung. Playing many of the fans favorites like “Best of Times”, Don’t Let It End”, “Grand Illusion”, “Lorelei” and others, it was amazing to see the fans, young and old, closest to the stage remain on their feet not wanting to sit for anything they might miss… 
and all singing along. I too was stuck, memorized with the crowd. When Dennis DeYoung started “Castle Walls”, I again stopped what I was doing and remembered a time, that drew me into a fantasy memory from the album, the Grand Illusion… and Dennis sounded phenomenal, smoothly bringing me and others back to a easier time, maybe.
I think the “moment” of this show for me, had to be one of my favorites from the Album “Kilroy Was Here” – “Mr. Roboto” , ok I know what you are thinking some of you, but really if you think about the time this song was on the charts, and the meaning behind the album, in your opinion or mine, it was another chapter in the story and a time when a tour was about telling a story and they were one of the best – Dennis DeYoung brought the character back on stage through vocals, stage presence, and the original mask from the Kilroy tour… so much so that I almost forgot to take photographs, and I have to admit, I’m glad I started shooting once again or I might have missed some very cool photographs during one of my favorite Styx songs.
I have to throw kudos out to Matt DeYoung, Dennis’s son, for a light show that made my work easy, Matt your lighting, for me and the rest of the fans, made the sound look great! And as much as we may or may not know this, Dennis DeYoung is a family man, father and husband that most of us probably want to be, married for 38 years to Suzanne and keeping his kids by his side throughout his career, we also enjoyed his daughter Carrie Ann’s vocals during the last few songs.
Dennis DeYoung, playing to a hometown crowd, sang through some tough songs like a true professional. I had the opportunity to talk with Tim Orchard / Management, prior to the show and was told that they 
just returned from a successful yet challenging tour because of the weather they encountered up there. The great news is Dennis’s new album; “One Hundred Years From Now” is currently number one on the Canadian charts, beating out Fergie and Justin Timberlake… congratulations to Dennis and all the artists on the Album and their success. If you haven’t heard it you might just want to pick it up and check it out.
I also talked with band members, Hank Horton, (bass), Tommy Dziallo, (guitar) and Jimmy Leahey, (guitar) – prior to the show, all were excited to be back in the states and their hometown crowd at Frontier Days. They were also excited to hear just how many fans showed up early enough to start the patchwork of blankets that covered the grounds in front of the stage, and per their humorous requests, guys I hope you enjoy the photographs and thanks for drawing off the energy of the crowd and putting on smoking riffs, deep bass, and rhythms that made the whole night a complete enjoyment for many fans including me.
Dennis DeYoung: the Music of Styx is
Dennis DeYoung
Bass - Hank Horton
Guitar - Tommy Dziallo
Guitar - Jimmy Leahey
Keyboards - John Blaucucci
Percussion - Kyle Woodring
Vocals - Suzanne DeYoung and Kate Milan
Guest Vocals – Carrie Ann DeYoung
Stage / Sound Manager - David Radley
Lighting - Matt DeYoung
For future tour dates, and other information about Dennis DeYoung, including information on his musical adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, now at Chicago's Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, please visit www.dennisdeyoung.com
And the rest of the crew – great job and thank you to Rick also.
