Styx and Foreigner’s Renegades & Juke Box Heroes tour made a stop at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center last week. This tour marks the first time the two bands have played together since 2014, and they brought along special guest John Waite to open the show. The evening was, above all, a celebration of an era when album-focused classic rock reigned supreme.
While Foreigner has stated that this show is part of their ongoing farewell tour, Styx guitarist Tommy Shaw indicated that Styx has no plans to stop touring anytime soon, claiming that "there is no end in sight."
The outdoor venue steadily filled with fans as John Waite warmed up the crowd with a blues-heavy classic rock performance that included a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”
Throughout the summer tour, Styx and Foreigner have rotated headlining positions, and on this particular night, Styx took the earlier slot, starting their set as the sun was still setting. As the band took the stage, a multi-level setup complete with lights, lasers, and LED boards sprang to life, kicking off the night with an energetic performance of “The Grand Illusion.” The crowd was soon clapping along to the next song, “Too Much Time on My Hands.”
Pianist Lawrence Gowan brought the dance moves and theatrics expected from a band that dominated the late '70s and early '80s, spinning his keyboard in circles around its single-mounted stand. However, for the next song, he remained seated, playing the opening notes of “Lady,” which had the entire crowd belting along with his powerful vocals.
By the halfway point of their show, the sun had set, and the stage lights were on full display, including laser projections on the inside roof of the venue’s pavilion section. Styx continued delivering hit after hit from their extensive catalog, including “Lorelei,” “Miss America,” and “Blue Collar Man,” the last of which featured an impressive guitar solo from Tommy Shaw, who dashed across the stage and onto a raised platform above the band.
Before beginning their final song of the night, Styx addressed the fans listening from their boats on the Ohio River outside the venue. “Next time, why don’t you pay for a ticket?” Gowan joked before launching into “Come Sail Away,” a celebratory finale that left fans grinning and wading in melodic waters for nearly ten minutes.
Although they weren't the headliners that night, Styx returned to the roaring applause of the crowd to deliver two of their most famous songs as an encore: “Mr. Roboto” and “Renegade.”
After a brief intermission, the Juke Box Heroes themselves took the stage, opening with their 1978 hit “Double Vision.” Mick Jones, the only founding member of Foreigner still on tour, wielded his guitar as he serenaded the crowd with some of their favorite songs from decades past. Kelly Hansen, who has been the band’s lead vocalist since 2005, commanded the stage with undeniable energy.
Foreigner’s music provided the perfect soundtrack to the warm summer night as they powered through their most popular songs, including “Head Games,” “Cold as Ice,” and “Feels Like the First Time.”
Chris Frazier, who has played with Whitesnake and Eddie Money, has been drumming with Foreigner since 2012. Nearly an hour into the show, Frazier seized the spotlight with an impressively long and polished drum solo after their song “Urgent.”
After a captivating performance, the loudest cheers of the night erupted as Foreigner delivered a knockout rendition of “Juke Box Hero” before leaving the stage. Not to be outdone by their friends Styx, they returned for an encore with two of their own mega-hits: “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Hot Blooded.”
