Have you ever been called an “Old Soul” before? I have many times. It’s because of who I am. I was born and raised to love and appreciate old skool music, television sitcoms, and movies. Basically, anything nostalgic at this point of time. It’s not just how I was raised, it’s who I am. It’s how I identify myself. I’ve been called an old soul since elementary school.
Just this past Labor Day weekend I was called an “Old Soul” because I was wearing a Styx t-shirt since we happen to be going to the concert at the Kia Forum. I was waiting with my sis in law for the restroom at the Sizzler and this mid age dude comes up to me and says, “Aren’t you too young to like Styx’s?” I was like idk ha-ha, but he was making a joke with me basically and said I was an old soul, and he likes that I like the old skool music better than this day in age music and he also said he and his buddy met at a Styx’s concert. They were also seeing the band perform too.
On Sunday, Septmeber 6th, 2026, I saw Styx’s/ Chicago live in concert with my fiancé and his parents, brother, and sis in law which was an absolute fun time! I had a blast! It was awfully humid and moist outside and, in the hallways, where the concession stands were because we experienced some summer rain thanks to Hurricane Marie that was out in the pacific sea. In the arena, the air condition worked wonders for a while until the second half of the show.
We got there, parked in an area that was around 15 mins walking distance away which was fine overall. We parked in a parking structure. We walked towards the Forum; it was humid and damp outside. Got to the forum, got some merch, some of us got food and drinks, it was very humid in the hallways. Got to our seats, 15 mins after 7, Styx started playing. They are a well-known band that formed in 1972. I loved most of the songs they sang, and I knew most of them too which was nice. We sang and danced to them and took photos and videos. They have sung around 15 songs. I didn’t want it to end at all but unfortunately it did. They ended around 8:46pm
Part 2 started around 9:09pm. Chicago was the second band. They are also a well-known band that formed in February of 1967. Brandon and I did not quite know most of Chicago’s songs, but it was fun to watch. The song we knew most was “Saturday in the Park, I think it was the fourth of July.” That song started playing around 10:36pm so we waited an hour and half for that to play. After that song, we started leaving as many others did so we can get to our car. We took some more pics and left which took a while to get out from the parking structure, but we made it back home safely. We were exhausted and sweaty. We took a shower and went to bed. We got to sleep in the next day and relax on Labor Day.
Fun facts:
1. Styx major hits include “Lady” (1975), “The Grand Illusion” (1977), “Fooling Yourself” (1977), “Come Sail Away” (1977), “Blue Collar Man”(1978), “Renegade” (1979), “Babe”(1979), “Too Much Time on My Hands” (1981), “The Best of Times (1981), “Rockin’ the Paradise” (1981), “Mr. Roboto” (1983), “Don’t Let it End”. They were huge during the late -1970s/early 1980s arena rock era. They played and filled up massive venues.
2. Tommy Shaw joined Styx in the 1970s and has become one of the band’s most recognizable members and contributed vocals, guitar, and songwriting. He co-wrote several of Styx’s best-known songs.
3. Styx started and formed in the Chicago area in the early 1970s. The name came from Greek Mythology. River Styx was the river separating the world of living from the underworld. That’s an interesting fact.
4. “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)” came from Tommy Shaw because it is one of Styx’s most recognizable songs. It reflects Shaw’s working-class perspective.
5. Styx’s isn’t just one style of rock, they progressed with rock, arena rock, pop rock, theatrical rock which makes them sound completely different with most of their songs.
6. Chicago’s major hits include; “25 or 6 to 4” (1970), Make Me Smile (1970), “Saturday in the Park” (1972), If You Leave Me Now “(1976), “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” (1969), “Beginnings” (1969), “You’re the Inspiration” (1984), “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (1982), “Old Days” (1975), “You’re Not Alone” (1988)
7. “Saturday in the Park” Was inspired by Chicago itself. Robert Lamm wrote the song after observing people enjoying a summer day in Chicago’s grant park and it’s been one of their beloved and great songs to this day. I played it repeatedly this last 4th of July since it was on a Saturday and Warner center park it’s right near us.
8. Chicago wasn’t originally just a rock band, they blended rock with jazz, Blues, soul, and classical influences. Their horn section became one of their defining characteristics; they have three horn players. The classic lineup featured Walter Parazaider on saxophones, Lee Loughnane on trumpet, and James Pankow on trombone. Their brand’s identity is the horn section profoundly. Unlike many rock groups, that occasionally use horns, Chicago made them the center of their whole sound. I didn’t really know this about them until I saw them in concert, and I found it really to be cool.
9. Their first album in 1969 was huge, it debuted in 1969 called Chicago trust authority was a double album and they originally numbered their albums. Instead of giving many albums traditional titles, they used names like; Chicago II, Chicago III, Chicago V, etc.
10. “25 or 6 to 4” Is the other song I know well from them. This song has one of rock’s great mystery titles period the title refers to the time of day approximately 25 or 26 minutes before 4:00 AM. Written by keyboardist Robert Lamm, basically the song describes the feeling of trying to write while exhausted in the middle of the night. He looked at his watch, and it was 3:34am or 3:35am which means it was 25 or 26 mins until the clock stuck 4am. It also could define other things that happened in the middle of the night like taking care of your baby or something just like in the commercial that we see time to time, that song is in the background while this new leaf father wakes up in the middle of the night to take care of his crying baby while his wife is sleeping. The commercial Is based upon an Amazon prime commercial. It’s called new beginnings- double shot dad, he pretty much orders something from Amazon prime which is coffee so he could stay up and take care of his newborn.
Going to concerts is therapeutic, it’s an escape through time that I never really get to experience frequently because of the expenses and truthfully, I am picky of who I see. I must know the band and their music at this point to really have fun. Yes, I have fun no matter what and I do appreciate what musicians give to us in any ways shape or form but it’s even more fun when you know the songs. For example, I knew almost every Styx song out of the 15 songs they played. I knew maybe 2-3 songs that Chicago played because I don’t know all their music, but I did enjoy their performance and appreciated their music and performance.
Concerts I’ve Seen:
· The B-52’s 3 times
· Donny & Marie Osmond twice
· The Osmond Brothers three times
· The Beach Boys once
· Paul McCartney once
· Styx/ Chicago once
The concerts I want to see next are Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton along with any other band or singer I know well enough. I love country music and seeing Luke or Blake would be a dream come true. I’ve been following them since 2012.
Once you see a concert, you’ll want to go to another one. The atmosphere and the vibes once the band starts playing is so fun! It’s a different feeling that everyone should experience. Music is a different form of therapy, It’s a way to escape reality and just sing, dance, and listen to.
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