Tommy Shaw: Sing for the Day!

Styx singer-guitarist-songwriter Tommy Shaw joins the Cleveland-based Contemporary Youth Orchestra (CYO)—ebulliently conducted by Liza Grossman—for a 12-song set (plus an overture) in 2015 before a modestly-sized audience (mainly comprised, one suspects, of CYO parents). Seated in front of the orchestra and accompanied by musical director Will Evankovich on guitar, Shaw alternates between acoustic and electric guitar on several Shaw-penned Styx classic rock hits, including "Crystal Ball" (with a never-recorded last verse), "Fooling Yourself," "Man in the Wilderness," "Renegade" (featuring former CYO violinist Lavinia Pavlish), and "Blue Collar Man." Only serious fans will be familiar with the less-well-known Shaw solo career songs ("Girls with Guns," "Diamond") and tunes from his stint with Damn Yankees (featuring—cough, cough—Ted Nugent). Sexagenarian Shaw’s voice is in fine form and he is backed with spirited if not always technically impressive playing by the CYO, whose members’ facial expressions range from wondrous to decidedly grim. While this ultimately does not feel like a Styx concert, some fans will still appreciate. Many a young American male during the ‘70s was drawn to Shaw’s angst-ridden what-is-my-place-in-the-world? lyrics (such as the line "sometimes it makes no sense at all" from "Man in the Wilderness"). Presented in DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, extras include four bonus songs performed to a photo montage. A strong optional purchase. (R. Pitman)