{"id":14584,"date":"2025-06-11T13:03:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T13:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/?p=14584"},"modified":"2025-06-11T13:03:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T13:03:37","slug":"styx-kevin-cronin-don-felder-woodlands-pavilion-the-woodlands-tx-june-6-2025-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2025\/06\/11\/styx-kevin-cronin-don-felder-woodlands-pavilion-the-woodlands-tx-june-6-2025-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Styx \/ Kevin Cronin \/ Don Felder – Woodlands Pavilion – The Woodlands TX, – June 6, 2025 – Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Dave Clements<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It would have<\/em> been a great<\/strong> night of rock music with Styx and former REO frontman Kevin Cronin performing at the beautiful Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas.\u00a0 However it got even better when, speaking of former Eagles, their former guitar player Don Felder opened the evening in a significant way.<\/p>\n

The Brotherhood of Rock tour hit Houston this Friday night and made a lot of people happy they came out in significant numbers for the show.<\/p>\n

Those who didn\u2019t come as soon as doors opened at 6 pm and were in their seats before 6:55 pm missed something special unless you just don\u2019t like the music of the Eagles. Felder, who left the Eagles many moons ago, has not forgotten the songs or how to play them!<\/p>\n

I could have heard his ten-song set and left totally satisfied and entertained sufficiently for the evening –\u00a0 and he wasn\u2019t even the main event on the card.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>How about a set list that included Already Gone, One of These Nights, Victim of Love, Take It Easy, Heartache Tonight and Life In the Fast Lane and for this reviewer his best didn\u2019t include any of the aforementioned. Steve Young\u2019s penned song Seven Bridges Road was done extremely well as was Don\u2019s final song of the evening, Hotel California.<\/p>\n

(Please note\u2026I enclosed a photo of him holding up his guitar but it was from a music festival organized by my friend Mark Powell and held in Abilene each spring. The festival is called Outlaws and Legends and a \u2018must go to\u2019 if you enjoy live music!)<\/p>\n

Felder\u2019s guitar tech brought out his famous double neck electric guitar for the finale and for me it doesn\u2019t get much better than closing on that iconic tune.<\/p>\n

Before going on let me add that if you haven\u2019t gone to Las Vegas and seen the Eagles at The Sphere it is a must<\/em> trip. It is pricy but worth every penny you spend\u2026clearly a once in a lifetime experience.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From one FORMER we went to another FORMER \u2026. that being Kevin Cronin, former REO Speedwagon lead singer for decades. Even though it is now called The Kevin Cronin Band make no mistake Kevin as former lead singer and his bandmates played the music of REO Speedwagon\u2026. fifteen songs in a row\u2026. from beginning to end.<\/p>\n

He can evidently no longer use the REO name but make no mistake he played REO just like it has been played for a very long time. And, let me add, he hasn\u2019t missed a beat\u2026Kevin might not been able to play under the REO flag because a riff with the bassist. Kevin might have changed his band name but not his stripes. He did what he does best\u2026sing the hell out of the songs of REO.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The guys played, right out of the box, or right off the album REO\u2019s Hi Infidelity. The record was released on November 21st 1980 featuring Kevin on vocals. He, this night, played every song on the record in order.\u00a0 And wasn\u2019t that a special treat!<\/p>\n

They added at the end\u2026Keep Pushin, Time For Me To Fly, Ridin the Storm Out, Can\u2019t Fight This Feeling and lastly Roll With the Changes.<\/p>\n

Before playing the last two of those there was an interesting video of REO at Live Aid at JFK Stadium playing those songs to a crowd of over 100,000. It took place on July13th, 1985 and raised millions. (BTW they looked a bit different back then).<\/p>\n

Kevin, you and your bandmates, talented all\u2026impressive, after all these years! And speaking of \u2018all these years\u2019, I hate that in the fourth quarter of his music career he can\u2019t keep the name REO that made him famous\u2026come on guys – get your act together!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Styx, who are always special live, were no different this night. It\u2019s hard to decide who to photograph when you only have three songs to shoot. You have their lead singer Tommy Shaw who is special, with many different \u2018moves\u2019 that are great to try to capture, you have \u2018JY\u2019 who is a little easier to shoot but an interesting study and then you have Lawrence Gowen on Keyboard who is a \u2018shot a second\u2019. Maybe some time in my life, while they are still performing, I will get permission to photograph an entire performance\u2026. wouldn\u2019t that be lovely? Not holding my breath but keeping my fingers crossed!<\/p>\n

Now that I\u2019m thinking about it I\u2019m guessing me shooting an entire show is as likely as FORMER Styx singer Dennis DeYoung rejoining his old band. But enough about all that nonsense. On to the music!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The guys started the evening with their 1977 LP Grand Illusion. They played every song on the record (including those sung by DeYoung on the original recording). It was eight songs of which I was especially fond of The Grand Illusion, Fooling Yourself, and Come Sail Away.<\/p>\n

After finishing the record in its entirety, they went on to sing eight more songs.\u00a0 Basically, it was a STYX \u2018greatest hits\u2019 night that included so many of my personal favorites\u2026how about Lady, The Best Of Times, Blue Collar Man, and Mr. Roboto?<\/p>\n

In closing let me add that they played Too Much Time on My Hands (not to be confused with Clint Black\u2019s song No Time To Kill)\u2026. I personally subscribe to the latter!<\/p>\n

Either way I hope you will spend a portion of your time by going to see a live show. We need to support live music or one day it just might be gone!<\/p>\n

dwc<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Dave Clements It would have been a great night of rock music with Styx and former REO frontman Kevin Cronin performing at the beautiful Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas.\u00a0 However it got even better when, speaking of former Eagles, their former guitar player Don Felder opened the evening in a… <\/p>\n

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