I have not yet mentioned the
new arrivals on this tour - JY's new guitars and my new gloves! I figured, new
tour, new guitars - time for new gloves. JY was conservative and
used one guitar for the entire show, his new red Strat; and actually so was I,
I only went through two pair of the four pair of gloves I now have! I started
off with the classics and switched about half way through the show to my new
blue pair. JY didn't really see them during the show - one reason
may be my other new acquisition, my new camera. It got properly broken in, and
it's hard to wave gloves and snap pictures at the same time! However during
the solo in "Renegade," JY strolled down the front of the stage and
saw me, and pointed at me quickly and gave me a wink. After he went on, I
glanced over at Valerie and Donald to see them STARING at me! Cool to be
noticed and have witnesses! I believe Kelly was taking pictures at the time I
looked over, as she usually was when I wasn't - between the two of
us I think we tried to capture the entire show!
After the last notes are
played, the guys are still coming back out on stage to the recorded reprise of
"Brave New World" to shake hands with the fans and take their bows.
On the last round of shows, they had inflatable balls that looked like soccer
balls, with the Styx logo, that they tossed and kicked out into the audience.
This time, they are striped to look more like beach balls, and the Styx name
is imprinted in gold lettering. JY picked up one of these as he came back out
and walked over in front of me and held it up with this "Ready?"
look on his face, and then tossed it to me! Excellent toss, because I usually
can't catch for the life of me, but I caught that ball! Thank you JY -
you thought of something I didn't already have!