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The show was fantastic - like the night before, it was a very emotional show, and it was such a release, but the band seemed a little more relaxed than the night before and the performances were above and beyond even their usual standards. It was a wonderful night and I am so happy I was there.
One
reason it is so much fun to be right up front at a Styx show is not only to
see the band up close, but to see and be part of the "other"
show - the show the fans put on for the band. Whether it is by throwing
lingerie, holding signs, wearing tiaras and sashes (or gloves), or by holding
a speaker steady because Glen wants to stand on it, or helping Glen down from
the stage when there aren't stairs, the fans are almost as much a part of the
show sometimes as the band. Just by
standing and singing and clapping and smiling, we show them how much we
appreciate them, and they do everything they can to show that they appreciate
us, from shaking hands to giving out guitar picks and drumsticks and
beachballs, to just returning a big smile for a big smile. I
have never seen another band connect with an audience so well and communicate
that kind of appreciation the way this band does. One thing that happened at
this show was a great example.
Before
the encore, when the band comes back out, they usually each have a towel to
throw out to the crowd. Tonight, Tani, Sheri, Karin and Lisa had a surprise
for them. Tani was on my right and Sheri was on my left, and Karin and Lisa
were further down the stage. When Tommy came out, Tani got his attention and
held up - a towel! Tommy leaned down and took it from her, and it said
"HEAUX" on the front in silver, and they had all signed it. Long
story short, "heaux" is a term of endearment (mostly) used by a
group of the internet fans to refer to themselves, and Tommy is familiar with
it. He took the towel and read it, smiled, and said "Y'all are bad!"
The rest of the girls had towels for the other band members, and when JY read
one of the towels, he smiled at it in kind of a puzzled way and said "I
don't know what that means." It was so funny, and he took it
anyway! Glen took his Styx towel and put it across his right shoulder and
then put the Heaux towel across his left, so together they read "Styx
Heaux!" When Tommy stepped back up to the microphone, he just shook his
head and said "Styx fans are the best!" If we are, then it's because
it's what they deserve - they are the best and they are so great to us.
Thank you guys!