Styx announced this morning that the band will be returning to Evansville, to play a July 29 date at the Old National Events plaza. They’ve been frequent, popular guests in Evansville, in various locations around town, and that bring to mind a question:
Is there a band that has a broader Evansville concert footprint than Styx?
It’s not so much the number of concerts. Styx has, by our count, played Evansville at least seven times — eight if you want to cheat and consider French Lick as part of the Evansville area.
In so doing, their concert lists read like a history book of where Evansvillians went to party and rock. The Ford Center (2013 and 2018), French Lick (2018), The Victory Theater (2015), The Centre (2010), Mesker Amphitheater (1999), Roberts Stadium (1981), even The Coliseum (1975). .
That Coliseum appearance, they shared the bill with Thin Lizzy and Ted Nugent (as part of The Amboy Dukes), who also has a roaring history of Evansville concerts. On Peter Nielson’s incredible Thin Lizzy site, there’s poster art promoting the Coliseum show.
If you have memories or (better!) photos of any of the shows, especially the ones before the social media era, we’d love for you to share them in the comments.
And I don’t think we can sum it up better than Tommy Shaw himself did. The Courier and Press noted his remarks in closing their 2018 show, where Styx appeared with REO Speedwagon and Don Felder:
“Evansville, you’ve been Heavensville for us tonight!”
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