STYX is in Rama, Mama!

CASINO RAMA
RAMA, ON
OCTOBER 15, 2004

Photo: Daniel Wills

Hello from Rama,

About 90 mintutes outside of Toronto, the gig here in Rama is a tremendous venue for STYX and STYX fans. Larry and all the folks here know how to run a concert theater and because of the way things are done here from the minute the trucks and buses pull up to load in, we have a very happy crew which makes the day as stress free as is possible, and a smiling crew even at the end of the day. We love our crew and feel for them on days when it is not quite as sophisticated a locale, and they are having to do as much instructing as they are doing their own jobs. They ALWAYS get the job done so that by the time we arrive it is up to our level of expectation, but sometimes we can tell they are beat up pretty good in the process. So when we play here, it's a treat for us to see them looking so good at the end of the day. I know this is inside stuff, but it invariably does trickle down to what you see from out front, if only in subtle ways.

The fans here in Ontario are very attentive to detail. It always ends up a different performance here than the rowdier festival crowds we are used to back home this time of year. It gets quiet between songs and there is an opportunity to communicate in more subtle ways. We usually get a good dose of Lawrence teasing us in front of his countrymen, but last night I reminded him that we have performed probably 700 concerts together since 1999 and have become much more Canada-sensitive and aren't as guilty of commiting American foot-in-mouth faux paux's as we once were regarding his homeland. Did this stop him? Ha! Did they love it? Yes, they did. So did we.

Lawrence's guest list was huge, with family and friends including brother Patrick's fellow school teachers (where were these kinds of teachers when I was in school?), family doctors, business associates, deviate long-time buddies, sports figures and so many others I never got around to meeting. When I walked into the reception area with Kim Ouellete who came from Val D'Or with her friend Brigitte, I told her, "There's the entire audience from tonight's concert!" Lawrence's Dad Pat, whom I cannot believe is 80 years old, shook my hand and slapped me on the back like a man in his 30's. He and his mom Suzie are so incredibly energetic and enthusiastic it explains a lot how the acorn didn't fall far from the tree. Same goes for his brothers and sister. Anne, a devotee of Yoga, as is Lawrence, was instantly identifiable from eight rows back as she stood up early in the set. Her enthusiasm is boundless and always adds fuel to our performances. We're huge Gowan family fans, in case you didn't notice.

My biggest klunker came just before "Foolong Yourself" when I was talking to the audience, talking about Ricky and how last year's show in Rama was one of his first shows as a band member and yadda, yadda, yadda. As I was introducing the next song I turned to see JY approaching me slowly, head turned down and to the side, about to whisper something to me and I thought, "Uh-oh, I've done it now..." and he said, "You forgot Chuck..." Oh SHIT!!! And I had just been yammering about not remembering the 70's. Doh! Chuck was very understanding (if a bit perplexed, perhaps questioning if it was the wrong place in the show to come out) and just gave me one of those looks, as if to say, "I love you, but..." Oh well, onward through the fog...

We had a blast and can't wait to do it again tonight. Oh yes, Cookie tells me the fans have taken action and provided him with a second camera for his Live-Cam on STYXCREW.com. He has positioned this one from Lawrence's side of the stage so now fans up front will also be visible on line. Enjoy!

See you tonight, then we're off to Puerto Rico for our maiden voyage to this tropical land of mystery,

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