Pompano Beach, FL – The ocean breeze drifts through the palms as fans fill the Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, and there’s a palpable sense that this isn’t simply a nostalgia play. Tonight is about endurance, evolution, and execution at the highest level.
Singer-songwriter Jay Psaros takes the stage alone, armed with an acoustic guitar and a disarming ease. His stripped-down set creates an intimate prelude to the arena-sized spectacle to follow. Psaros leans into melodic storytelling, his voice carrying cleanly across the amphitheater’s open-air acoustics.
He engages the crowd between songs, setting a reflective tone before the bombast arrives. The simplicity works, a reminder that great songs don’t require spectacle, only sincerity.
When STYX takes the stage, the shift is immediate. Lights flare, Todd Sucherman’s drums crack like cannon fire, and the band launches into a set that seamlessly fuses classic anthems with material from their 2025 release, “Circling From Above”.
The current lineup is formidable:
• James “JY” Young – guitars, vocals
• Tommy Shaw – guitars, vocals
• Lawrence Gowan – lead vocals, keyboards
• Todd Sucherman – drums, percussion
• Will Evankovich – guitars, mandolin, vocals
• Terry Gowan – bass, vocals
• Chuck Panozzo – original bassist, vocals (sits in during the set)
Gowan is theatrical and magnetic behind the keys, spinning his keyboard rig with flair during “Come Sail Away.” Shaw remains the melodic anchor, his voice strong and clear, while JY commands the stage with understated authority. Evankovich adds muscular depth and modern texture, reflecting his production influence on “Circling From Above”.
The new material stands tall. “Build and Destroy” pulses with urgency, its themes of technological overreach resonating deeply. The songs from “Circling From Above” feel purposeful, progressive in structure yet unmistakably STYX in harmony and sweep. Rather than disrupt the flow, they elevate it.
Midway through the show, original bassist Chuck Panozzo joins the band onstage to a thunderous ovation. His presence is more than symbolic; it’s emotional connective tissue between eras. Watching him lock in with Terry Gowan reinforces the generational continuity that defines modern STYX.
Sucherman remains a powerhouse, arguably one of rock’s most precise drummers — while the dual guitar interplay between Shaw, Young, and Evankovich creates a wall of sound that feels both classic and contemporary.
The encore is triumphant, with the crowd singing nearly every word. It’s not just a concert; it’s a shared history lesson delivered at 110 decibels.
Beyond the music, the band continues its commitment to community through Rock to the Rescue, supporting grassroots charities at each tour stop. It’s a reminder that longevity means little without purpose.
More than five decades into their career, STYX are not operating on fumes. They are refining, reshaping, and reaffirming their legacy in real time. “Circling From Above” proves they are still creatively restless. The live show proves they can still deliver it with authority.
For Digital Beat Magazine, this performance captures a band that refuses to become a museum piece. STYX remain a living, breathing force in American rock.
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Jay Psaros
STYX
Setlist
1. Build and Destroy
2. Too Much Time on My Hands
3. The Grand Illusion
4. Lady
5. Great White Hope
6. Light Up
7. Lorelei
8. Crystal Ball
9. Rockin’ the Paradise
10. Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
11. The Best of Times
12. Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
13. Come Sail Away
Encore
14. Mr. Roboto
15. Renegade
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