Styx & Chicago – The Windy City Tour
Freedom Mortgage Pavilion – Camden, NJ – July 22, 2026
Review & Photos – Rebecca Wolf
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccawolfconcertphotos/
When multiple performers unite for a joint tour, be it two bands, three or more, fans typically have a favorite amongst them, primarily attending the performance for that artist (even if they have some interest in the others.) I know that’s typically been the case for me. That’s why, when I saw the double billing of Styx and Chicago at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ, I was enthralled. This would surely not be a concert where I’d have more enthusiasm for one artists than the other. Rather, I’d be seeing two of my favorite artists at one performance….not something that happens very often!
Chicago and Styx both originated in Chicago, Illinois, the former in 1967 and the latter in 1972. The music of both bands falls under the broad category of rock, but their sounds developed along distinctly different paths. Chicago’s music, heavily infused with horns, drew from pop, R&B and jazz, while Styx incorporated elements of progressive rock, hard rock and pop rock. Given those differences, it’s easy to imagine that the two bands initially appealed to somewhat different audiences. More than five decades later, however, those distinctions may matter less. Many of the fans who grew up listening to Chicago and Styx are now eager to experience the music that was part of their younger years—and, in doing so, revisit the memories and emotions associated with those times. For today’s audiences, a concert featuring both bands offers not only a chance to hear two legendary rock acts, but also an opportunity to take a nostalgic trip back to an earlier chapter of their lives.
As the 70s and 80s move further and further away in the rearview mirror, it’s a logical consequence that fewer original band members remain part of a band. Some groups officially retire and end their touring days, while others continue on, adding new members or touring musicians. It’s a “contract” of sorts between musicians and their fans…musicians who want to continue performing and fans who want to continue hearing music that’s near and dear to their hearts. However, that “contract” comes with caveats, some unspoken rules for the fans. Attending a performance of a band that originated a half-century ago means accepting who may or may not still be in the band and refraining from comparisons to the original artists.
Fans understandably have a sentimental attachment to the originals members. But should a band’s music stop being performed when all the original members can no longer perform it? That’s the million-dollar question. Devoted fans who attend these performances do so because they still want to hear the band’s music performed live, with the dynamic energy and spirit that have accompanied the band’s music for more than five decades. For these fans, the goal is to be present, enjoy the band’s incredible music, and appreciate that it’s now being performed by musicians and vocalists who are keeping the band’s music alive, as authentically as possible.
On the evening of July 22nd, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion was packed with devoted fans of both Styx and Chicago, who’d waited an additional day after the show was postponed due to extreme weather. With both Styx and Chicago serving as “headline” acts for The Windy City Tour, each was slated to perform a full concert set.
With more than 50 years since the band’s formation, Styx is one of the few bands of this “age” who continues to release new music, tour and perform with several original and decades-long members, including original lead guitarist James J.Y. Young, original bass player Chuck Panozzo (joining for several numbers) and since 1975, lead vocalist/guitarist Tommy Shaw. The band additionally includes longtime members, drummer Todd Sucherman, since 1995, and lead vocalist/keyboardist Lawrence Gowan, since 1999.
There will always be naysayers about any band with members who are not the originals, especially vocalists. However, Styx continues to prove itself to be a powerfully dynamic, creative rock band, with both original and new musicians keeping the band’s legendary catalog alive, while continuing to create new, electrifying music, including their 2025 album Circling From Above. The band’s newest members, though already part of the “extended family,” include guitarist Will Evankovich, who joined in 2021 after serving as a session musician and producer from 2015–2021, and Lawrence’s brother, bassist Terence Gowan, who joined in 2024.
While J.Y. continues to demonstrate exceptional guitar skills, after 50 years, the band member who remains spectacular to watch and listen to is Tommy Shaw. This man appears to defy age in appearance, energetic spirit and extraordinary vocals. While it’s not a half-century, more than a quarter century since joining Styx, Lawrence Gowan’s energy and exhilaration remain as eye-catching as his dynamic keyboard skills, whether he’s standing, sitting, or playing with his hands behind him. While Gowan’s spirit and instrumental skills grab your attention, his vocals are the most impressive. His rich, soaring, melodic voice remains a perfect fit for Styx’s dramatic, theatrical numbers, even after nearly three decades. Having Terry join his brother onstage has been a pleasure to experience. While no one can quite match Lawrence’s rapturous exuberance and ecstatic joy, the movements, facial expressions and enthusiastic spirit must run in the Gowan DNA.
While music is the centerpiece of a concert, lighting and visuals add depth and dimension to the music. They can enhance a musical story, adding brightness and light or darkness and doom. Styx’s stages have always been filled with vibrant colors, patterns and images. Some backdrops have depicted classic album covers, while others have been filled with vivid, psychedelic designs. While Styx has always displayed incredible lighting and backdrops, the illuminated graphics designed for The Windy City Tour were phenomenal…breathtaking.
During “Our Wonderful Lives,” from 2021’s Crash of the Crown, the band’s first song to incorporate a banjo (played by Shaw), the backdrop featured idyllic, lush scenes, with rolling hills, blooming flowers, gilded statues and crystal balls. “Mr. Roboto” was no longer a simple “Mr. Roboto” mask, but rather shiny, towering “Mr. Roboto” robots, ready to storm the stage. And “Renegade’s,” “the wanted man,” was transformed into a cowboy-hat-wearing, smoking-gun-toting, fiery skull, setting the stage ablaze with the incredible musical energy of Styx.
I’ve never really felt the inclination to focus on who’s no longer a member of Styx or worry about how they used to sound. If you only want to hear how a band originally sounded (which is fine if you feel that way), you have to listen to a recorded version. However, if you’d like to hear the music performed live, you have to accept how it sounds in the present. And, of the many Styx concerts I’ve attended, there’s never been one that’s been anything less than incredibly energizing, engaging and memory-evoking. From the impassioned musicianship, to the soaring vocals, to the electrifying stage performance, to the vibrant visuals, it’s always been an amazing show and July 22nd a Freedom Mortgage Pavilion was no exception.
Having ended with “Renegade,” the crowd was in a fiery, powerful rock and roll state. With Freedom Mortgage Pavilion bathed in darkness, a slight breeze off the Delaware River and the relentless heat beginning to ease, it felt like the perfect time to relax and transition to the lighter, less dramatic, pop rock, R&B, jazz, horn-infused sounds of Chicago.
Until 2025, Chicago had three original members touring and performing with the band, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone and Robert Lamm on keyboard and vocals. However, due to age-related health issues, both Pankow and Lamm stopped touring in 2025, leaving Loughnane the only original performing member. Keyboardist/vocalist Carlos Murguia stepped in after Lamm’s departure, previously a touring substitute in 2023-2024 and trombonist Nick Lane joined in 2026, having been Pankow’s touring substitute since 1999. In addition to these retirements, 2026 brought the departure of the band’s keyboardist (Justin Avery now on keys), as well as the lead tenor vocalist. Not only have these transitions significantly altered the current line-up, but these are in addition to several musician changes in the past few years, including guitarist Tony Obrohta, who joined in December 2021 and bass player, Eric Baines, who joined in May 2022.
The most significant transformation to the band has been the addition of lead singer Rudy Cardenas, who joined Chicago onstage for the first time on June 10th. While new to Chicago, Cardenas is a veteran vocalist who’s been on the music scene for the past 20 years. A finalist on Season 6 of American Idol, Cardenas’ powerful, dynamic, melodic vocals have helped him make a mark on the national music scene. He’s performed in several well-regarded tribute bands, and spent five years touring with UK’s all-star classic rock review The Classic Rock Show. Cardenas has released a solo album Fly, and sang vocals on Waiting for Monday’s self-titled debut album.
Beyond his phenomenal vocal range, Cardenas has an eye-catching, commanding presence on stage. Only six weeks since his Chicago debut, Cardenas’ broad, toothy smile and the gleam in his eyes alluded to the thrill of finding himself performing with this legendary band, as if to say, “Can you believe I’m here? Neither can I!” As he performed, Cardenas radiated enthusiasm, traveling about the stage with smooth swagger. Cardenas was not the only band member who sang lead vocals during the performance. His high tenor voice is perfectly suited for the powerhouse vocals and hit ballads, like “Hard Habit to Break” and “You’re the Inspiration,” originally performed by Peter Cetera (later Jason Scheff). During his tenure with the band, bass player Eric Baines has taken on increased vocal duties, covering various tracks performed by Robert Lamm, with Carlos Murguia now also taking on vocal duties on several Lamm tunes. As the only non-instrument-playing band member, Cardenas kept his swagger going even when he wasn’t singing, remaining along the side of the stage, dancing by himself or beside other band members.
Looking at Obrhota, Baines and Cardenas situated across the front of the stage, the band clearly projected a different aura….a perceptible shift from the past. With it’s original “elder statesmen” the band radiated nostalgia, history, and decades of connection between band members and fans. While the band looks very different than it did less than five years ago and there may no longer be the same feeling of familiarity and nostalgia, the sound and energy remains classically Chicago, with its strong, vibrant horn section, led by Loughnane on trumpet, Ray Hermann on saxophone and flute since 2016 (touring substitute 2005–2016) and now Nick Lane on trombone.
During The Windy City Tour, Chicago has been joined at several tour stops, Freedom Mortgage Pavilion being one, by The CoverGirls Violin Show. These incredibly skilled electric violin players performed with the band for multiple numbers during the set, adding an incredibly beautiful layer of dimension to Chicago’s already textured sound. While it was already a significant change with so many new band members onstage, adding four violin players to the mix brought the transformation to a new level.
Yes, there is a different look to the band and a different feel. It’s been almost six decades since the formation of the band, so this is unavoidable. However, should remaining band members stop performing when original members are no longer able? It appears the answer is “no” for millions of devoted Chicago fans worldwide, who remain thrilled to hear and feel the signature energy, spirit and sound of Chicago’s incredible music performed live…accepting and appreciating that it’s performed by musical artists keeping the music alive as authentically as possible.
Styx – Setlist
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Lorelei
Build and Destroy
Lady
Too Much Time on My Hands
The Grand Illusion
Light Up
Crystal Ball
Rockin’ the Paradise
Our Wonderful Lives
The Best of Times
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
Come Sail Away
Encore:
Mr. Roboto
Renegade
Chicago – Setlist
Introduction
Dialogue (Part I & II)
Alive Again
If You Leave Me Now
Make Me Smile
So Much to Say, So Much to Give
West Virgina Fantasie
Colour My World
To Be Free
Now More Than Ever
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is
Hard Habit to Break
You’re the Inspiration
Old Days
Beginnings
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me)Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson cover
I’m a Man – The Spencer Davis Group cover
Percussion & Drum Solos
Just You ’n’ Me
Street Player
Hard to Say I’m Sorry/Get Away
Saturday in the Park
Feeling Stronger Every Day
Encore:
Free
25 or 6 to 4
