Concert Review: Styx at Milwaukee, 8.24.25

Milwaukee was treated to a night of classic rock on Sunday, August 24th, when Styx headlined an unforgettable show with Don Felder and Kevin Cronin’s band opening. For anyone who grew up with these artists on the radio, or even just had their parents’ records spinning in the house, this lineup felt almost too good to be true.

The night kicked off with Don Felder, best known for his years as lead guitarist of the Eagles. Felder leaned heavily into the iconic catalog, and when the unmistakable opening chords of Hotel California rang out, the crowd roared. His band was tight, professional, and clearly committed to honoring the spirit of the originals while still giving Felder space to shine on the solos that helped define rock guitar in the 1970s.

Next up was Kevin Cronin’s band, bringing a dose of melody and upbeat energy to the evening. Cronin’s voice remains remarkably strong even with evident aging. Cronin’s ability to connect with the crowd, no matter their age, helped bridge the gap between nostalgia and a still-living tradition of rock performance.

By the time Styx finally took the stage, the crowd was on the edge of their seats. The venue was unsurprisingly filled with a largely older kind of audience that grew up with Styx’s records in their bedrooms and car stereos. But what was striking was the handful of younger fans sprinkled throughout the venue, some singing along just as passionately as their parents or grandparents. It was proof that Styx’s music, with its mix of prog-rock ambition and arena-rock power, continues to resonate across generations.

And Styx did not disappoint. From the opening notes, the band played with a confidence that can only come from decades of experience, and from the knowledge that their songs still matter to thousands of people. Classics like Come Sail Away and Renegade hit with the same electricity as they did in the band’s heyday, and the show carried the kind of momentum that makes two hours feel like twenty minutes.

If there was one critique to be made, it wasn’t in the music. The visuals projected behind the band left something to be desired. Rather than amplifying the experience, the screen often cycled through what looked like generic stock footage that somewhat related to the songs, and felt more like an awkward filler than a companion to the music.

Still, the power of the music ultimately dwarfed the minor distraction of the visuals. For many in the audience, this show wasn’t just a concert, it was a trip back to a defining era of their lives. And for the younger fans in attendance, it was a chance to experience the kind of music that built the foundation for everything that came after.