REO Speedwagon, Styx, Don Felder to perform Friday at Show Me Center

REO Speedwagon, Styx and special guest Don Felder will rock the Show Me Center on Friday night, with plans to deliver a mix of fan favorites, classic hits and new releases.

�We�re still touring as much as ever,� Neal Doughty, original member and keyboardist for REO Speedwagon, said in a phone interview Friday. �We�re playing almost 100 shows this year, and holding up well. ... I don�t think it�s a secret that we�re a little bit over 30 now. But we�re staying in good shape. I couldn�t be happier to still be doing this.�

Doughty said the band performed in the Midwest long before a record deal, and now, it�s �not the same fans.� He also said a lot of the group�s current lineup has been in the band since the early 1970s, so he can�t take sole responsibility for the band�s success through the years.

�Between [REO Speedwagon, Styx and Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles], we can cover the whole country, because everybody�s got a little bit stronger following in different parts of the country,� Doughty said. �When it�s just us, we get the best crowds in the Midwest.�

Audiences have been good everywhere with this three-band show, Doughty said, and it�s obvious to the group where they are in the country depending on the crowd.

Styx will perform Friday at the Show Me Center. From left, Chuck Panozzo, Ricky Phillips, Todd Sucherman, Tommy Shaw, James "J.Y." Young and Lawrence Gowan.Submitted photo

As for what audience members will hear Friday night from REO Speedwagon, Doughty said just about every song they play on tour is one you expect to hear.

�I can say that during Don Felder�s set, he�s going to play first, and you�re liable to see musicians from any other band hop up on stage with him,� Doughty said.

The set list for REO Speedwagon, according to Doughty, will include �Keep on Lovin� You,� �Can�t Fight This Feeling,� �Roll with the Changes,� �Ridin� the Storm Out� and �Take it on the Run.�

Doughty said they�ve had crowds sing along so loud during the concerts their sound technician �had to turn the whole thing up.�

�And we like that,� Doughty said. �We see little kids who are 8 years old and they know the words to every song, in the front row singing their little hearts out, and that�s great.�

Don FelderSubmitted photo

The band�s name, according to Doughty, was derived from the first truck that could haul a heavy-duty load, but still go at a fast speed. He also said �REO� stands for Ransom Eli Olds, who designed the Oldsmobile.

Doughty said the Missouri crowds are always going to be among their favorites, but hopes there aren�t any mayflies this time around.

�We played an outdoor show a long time ago in Cape Girardeau, and the mayflies were so thick you couldn�t see the stage,� Doughty said. �They were in our water glasses and [we were] smashing them against the keyboard. It was the worst night of our life. So we�ll always remember Cape Girardeau for that. Just kidding, just kidding of course.�

James Young, Styx guitarist, singer and songwriter, said in a phone interview Tuesday he started playing piano at age 5, and he received his father�s musical talent, as did his brothers and sisters.

�I feel fortunate, I guess a little bit lucky,� Young said. �There�s a lot of talented people who maybe grew up in the middle of nowhere. ... Bob Dylan had to go from Minnesota, to Minneapolis, to Chicago to playing in New York to be discovered.�

Friday night, Styx�s set list will include hits such as �Gone, Gone, Gone,� �Radio Silence� � two songs from the new album, then four songs from �The Grand Illusion,� including �Come Sail Away,� and �of course, �Miss America,�� Young said.

�There�s some pop hits, there�s some badass rockers,� Young said. �Even if you weren�t born in 1981 when Styx, REO Speedwagon and Eagles all had No. 1 records, [Friday night will be] a celebration of incredible classic rock music. Don Felder is one of the nicest guys I�ve met in show business, and they do a great job playing Eagles songs.�

Friday�s concert at the Show Me Center with Styx, REO Speedwagon and special guest Don Felder starts at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased online at www.showmecenter.biz.

jhartwig@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3632

Pertinent address:

1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.