09-Sep-96
Say good-bye to Florida... I feel like I did when I was a kid, having to go back home after an all too brief visit to Panama City with my parents. Do we HAVE to go back? Can't we stay just ONE more day? STYX in Florida. It was the greatest, and if you were there you know what I mean. I don't recall any part of the tour where we had so much direct contact with local folks. From great radio promotions (give me a break--deep-sea-fishing as radio promotion?!), friends from the past, and some great meet and greets. I found out too late that a girl I went to school with in Alabama from grades 7 through 12 named April (Reid) Lawson was there in Orlando. I had skipped the meet and greet because I had a cold and needed to rest the old pipes. Sorry I missed you April!
Good friends from all over came down to see us. Dennis' old friend David from Chicago (see Orlando photos) was there last night, Danny Perkins from Montreal flew his wife Johanna down to see us, Mark Marshall, my pal who plays with the Florida-based band STRYKER was there in Orlando AND Tampa, Tom Short, Dennis' friend and a great source of good vibes and clear feedback for all of us in STYX for many years was there. I finally got a great photo of him with Dennis. Good to see you T.Short...
There is a new addition to our family now. Carrie Ann got a new puppy, named Bailey. She has some serious cute going and I can't wait for her to meet Bubba. Finally, a dog smaller than him...
We are now 7 shows away from the end. We are all readying ourselves it. For me, it means trying to be there mentally when we hit one of those magic grooves that happen when you least expect it. We are the same band, yet we are somehow renewed and there are nuances that pop up all the time, elevating the band little increments at a time and as a player, you got to love it, LIVE for it. Yet with you fans out there cheering us on, it is easy to get distracted and plow on through the set without noticing that something cool and new just happened. Musician talk. I digress...
Thank you Florida for not only reminding us that you are there big time for us, but for giving us that extra burst of inspiration as we go into the next phase of the STYX cycle--writing the next LP. As I told a radio buddy last night, "I am glad we waited to tour before doing the next studio album. Just like we used to do in the past, we have toured the country and filled our heads and hearts with so much material that we are bursting with new songs. STYX songs, that came from that special contact with our fans, and from living the life of a band on the road..."
Now, let's go to Michigan!