STYX • Kevin Cronin • Don Felder • June 11, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
It was a hot day out at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre when The Brotherhood of Rock Tour stopped by on Jun 11, 2025. STYX, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon fame, and Don Felder, former guitarist of the Eagles, brought a crowd of dedicated fans who disregarded the hot temps and focused on the classic songs from these legendary artists. This would be my first show of the summer out at Utah First Amp. The biggest shows of the summer will be taking place there. I was excited to be back out there with this show to kick things off. STYX makes frequent stops at this venue, so it felt like tradition to be catching them there again.
Don Felder
Don Felder, formerly of the Eagles and co-writer of the massive hit “Hotel California”, started things off. I’m always so happy when I get to see Felder perform. He seems to have such a good attitude about just getting out there and playing. It’s never fun to no longer be with the band you made so many great songs with, but it seems like he’s moved on and is just enjoying performing. Felder’s set was Eagles heavy as you might expect. He opened with one of my favorites, “Already Gone”.
Things kept going from there. Songs like “One of These Nights”, “Victim of Love,” and “Seven Bridges Road” delighted the audience. You would never guess that Don Felder is 77 years old. The way he takes care of himself, the way he sounds vocally, and especially the way he plays the guitar, you’d think he was at least twenty years younger.
The highlight of the set was, of course, the final song of Don’s ten-song set. The great “Hotel California”. When Felder’s guitar tech brought out his famous double-neck guitar, the audience knew what was coming. I love hearing him play the guitar duet at the end of the song. Don Felder gave the evening a great start. I heard one fan say, “We may have just heard the best songs we’re going to hear tonight.” That can definitely be argued. Either way, we were off and running, and we had more great music to come!
Kevin Cronin
Kevin Cronin, as I’m sure you know, was the frontman of REO Speedwagon since the 70s. What you may not have heard is that last year, the name REO Speedwagon was officially retired. You can look into all the details, but it’s more or less an “Irreconcilable Differences” situation. Rather than fight over the name or get into all the legal headaches that come with that, it appears Cronin decided to get back on the road and perform the hits of REO Speedwagon under his name.
The truth of the matter is, the band that I saw on the Utah First Amphitheatre stage was what many would consider REO Speedwagon. The last time they were here in Utah, the bulk of these performers were on this same stage as REO Speedwagon. Most of the people in the Kevin Cronin band have toured as REO Speedwagon for the better part of the last forty years. Get what I’m saying? We may have seen the Kevin Cronin Band on June 11. But you’re still getting REO Speedwagon. So, hopefully, you don’t hesitate to come out to see this band, thinking you’re getting a solo act. You’re seeing and hearing the band you’ve known and loved.
If fans were skeptical about seeing Kevin Cronin perform as a solo act, they were quickly put at ease when the set started with a celebration of the REO Speedwagon classic album, “Hi Infidelity”. The set began with the first track on the album, “Don’t Let Him Go.” There were a few technical difficulties, but Cronin just laughed them off. I don’t think his guitar was audible for the first few seconds of the song. But that was quickly resolved, and I didn’t notice any issues after that. Fans were excited when Kevin Cronin moved to the grand piano for the second track, “Keep on Loving You.” REO Speedwagon fans were taken back to a place and time when they first heard that song. People sang along, and if it had gone down, I bet we would have seen a lighter or two raised to the sky.
As soon as the band finished “Hi Fidelity”, Kevin Cronin and the guys finished their set by playing more big REO Speedwagon hits. As the sun slowly set, fans filled the seats and set up on the lawn. I saw some REO fans expressing their relief that the band they were watching was still playing their favorite songs and Kevin Cronin was doing his thing. It was business as usual, and these fans were more than satisfied. “Riding The Storm Out” and “Can’t Fight This Feeling” went over really well.
The set closed with “Keep On Rolling”. Cronin moved all over the stage, pointing and waving to fans who were dancing to the upbeat closer. It’s a shame that we can’t just have things as they were, with this lineup still touring as REO Speedwagon. But despite the legal mambo jumbo that prevents that, fans got what they were hoping for, and I think any speculation can be put to rest the next time Kevin Cronin and his band come to town.
STYX
With the sun finally set, and the temperatures cooling, it was time to heat things back up. STYX was about to take the stage. As I mentioned, STYX has frequented Utah First Amphitheatre (Formerly USANA Amphitheatre) many times. Year in and year out, fans flock to the venue to see what the band has in store for them each time. In recent years, we’ve seen “Mr. Roboto” return to the setlist after a long absence. We’ve heard songs from releases, “The Mission” and “Crash Of The Crown,” performed. All of this while their multitude of hits are never neglected.
This go around, we celebrated the past while looking forward to the future. STYX performed their acclaimed album “The Grand Illusion” in its entirety. Something they’ve been doing at their recent Las Vegas residency. The future was in the present as STYX released a brand new album, “Circling From Above,” just days before this concert.
STYX took the stage, and the crowd roared immediately when they heard the introduction to the title song, “Grand Illusion.” Keyboard player and vocalist Lawrence Gowan was in great form on this night. His vocals were strong, and his stage presence was everything you’ve come to expect from him. He’s made himself a major draw to these shows and an integral part of the live STYX experience.
He was full of energy the entire night. As someone who has listened to STYX since I was a kid, it’s always an incredibly surreal experience to be butted up against the stage taking photos of Tommy Shaw and James “JY” Young. To be in front of the front row as I watch them play their guitars is an awesome experience. There was a moment when Shaw was soloing and I just stood their and watched. It wasn’t until another photographer accidentally bumped me that I came out of my trance and remembered what I was actually there to do. I resumed with the photo taking, still blown away by what these talented men were doing on the Utah First Amp stage.
The enjoyable thing about hearing a band play an entire album is getting to hear some of the songs that are rarely ever played. Songs like “Superstars” and “Man In the Wilderness” went over well with this dedicated crowd. I had never heard either live, so it made this show special. Hearing “Come Sail Away” so early in the set felt very different. Of course, this is usually one of the final songs of the night. It’s such a huge hit. But seeing as it’s the fourth song on the “Grand Illusion” album, that’s when it was played. I don’t know if I always want to hear that song so early, but in this case, it was really cool to hear it performed in a different place in the show. This opened up opportunities for other songs that are usually performed early in a STYX set to be performed later.
I have always wanted to hear “Blue Collar Man” later in the show. And it did not disappoint. Also, “Come Sail Away” got the crowd extremely fired up in a way that I haven’t seen that early in a STYX concert before. This really was a different show, and I was into it.
James Young doesn’t take the lead on many songs, and seems to do it even less in these later tours. It was great to hear him sing “Miss America”. The crowd was rocking out to this harder-than-usual STYX track.
Following the “Grand Illusion” album, STYX performed some of the greats from their vast catalog. “Rockin’ The Paradise” got the second set going. That was followed by “Too Much Time On My Hands” and “Lady”. “Build And Destroy” off of “Circling From Above” was sandwiched between those songs and “Best of Times” and “Blue Collar Man”. It can be tricky to fit a new song between those big hits. But I thought the song was well received.
The encore featured “Mr. Roboto”, where Lawrence Gowan had the Utah crowd in a frenzy. Everyone was singing along and enjoying the moment. Tommy finished the night with a no-doubt show-stopping closer, “Renegade”. People were so into this song. I know they wanted more after the song concluded. But they all seemed to leave satisfied. It’s unbelievable how good this band still sounds. Particularly Tommy Shaw. It’s hard to believe he’s in his seventies. He can still hit the high notes. That is so rare. Each time I see him perform, I remind myself not to take for granted what this guy is still doing after all these years.
The Brotherhood of Rock Tour brought a great night of music to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre. When it comes down to it that’s what it’s all about. The music. Each piece of this lineup has been through things in the Rock n Roll world. Don Felder is no longer in the band he’s known for. Kevin Cronin is touring under his own name due to “Irreconcilable Differences”. And STYX has gone through some well-documented lineup changes. But what brings these huge crowds back year after year after year after year is the music. These songs are forever in our minds and memories. It was a great thing to have these amazing songs on one bill. Whoever gets to see this tour won’t regret it.