LIVE REVIEW: STYX + CHICAGO @ AMERIS BANK AMPHITHEATRE, ALPHARETTA, GA – JULY 17, 2026

The Windy Cities Tour brought Styx and Chicago to Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta on Friday night for a co-headline show that had to wait out the weather before it could really get started.

Rain earlier in the day pushed the show back about an hour, but the crowd did not seem to mind much once the night got moving. By the time the music started, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre was full, the seats were packed, and the delay felt more like a small bump than anything that slowed the night down. With two bands this deep into their careers, the show could have easily leaned on nostalgia alone. Instead, both sets felt like a reminder of why these songs still pull big crowds decades later.

Chicago opened the night with a solid set that leaned into the band’s long history of horn-driven rock, soft-rock staples, and polished musicianship. The band was originally founded in 1967 by a group of college students and musicians from the Chicago area, first performing under the name The Big Thing before becoming one of the most recognizable bands to come out of that city.

On this tour, trumpeter Lee Loughnane remains the only original member still in the touring lineup, and his presence gave the set a direct connection to the band’s earliest days. Even with decades of lineup changes behind them, Chicago still sounded clean, tight, and comfortable in front of a large amphitheatre crowd.

There is something different about hearing those horn parts live. They are a huge part of what made the band stand out in the first place, and they still give the songs a shape that does not feel like anyone else on the bill. The set was not flashy in the same way Styx would be later, but it was steady, professional, and full of the kind of songs that had people singing along from their seats. For a co-headline night, Chicago did exactly what they needed to do. They gave the crowd a strong first half, kept things smooth, and set the table for Styx to take the night in a completely different direction.

When Styx hit the stage, the energy at Ameris Bank Amphitheatre changed fast. The band looked like they were still having the time of their lives, and that is not something you can fake after this many years. From the first few songs, they were on fire. The current lineup of James “J.Y.” Young, Tommy Shaw, Todd Sucherman, Lawrence Gowan, Will Evankovich, and Terry Gowan gave the set a lot of movement, with the kind of stage presence that made the show feel bigger than just running through hits. Chuck Panozzo also joined for the final three songs, which gave the night an added piece of Styx history.

The tour also coincided with the 50th anniversary of Crystal Ball, adding another layer of celebration to the night. That sense of occasion carried into the production, with colorful, constantly changing screen visuals giving each song its own look without pulling attention away from the band.

“Rockin’ the Paradise” brought out a big visual moments of the night, with Lawrence Gowan in a sparkly jacket and a hat with a feather, while the screen behind the band leaned into a circus-style theme. It was theatrical without crossing into cheesy, which is a line Styx has always known how to walk better than most.

That is really where their set stood out. Styx still plays like they care about putting on a show, not just playing the songs correctly. Tommy Shaw still brings that familiar voice and presence, J.Y. Young still gives the band its rock edge, and Gowan works the stage like someone who knows exactly how to hold a crowd.

By the time “Come Sail Away” arrived, Ameris Bank Amphitheatre was fully locked in. It turned into the kind of sing-along that makes a big amphitheatre feel smaller for a few minutes. Everyone knows the song is coming, but that does not take anything away from the moment when it finally hits.

The rain delay may have pushed the night back, but once Chicago and Styx got going, the crowd stayed with them. Chicago brought the smooth, classic side of the co-headline bill, while Styx brought the color, movement, and full-on rock show. Together, The Windy Cities Tour gave Alpharetta a packed night of songs people grew up with, still played by bands that know exactly why those songs matter.

Tickets and additional tour information are available through Live Nation and the official Styx and Chicago websites.

Styx Photo Gallery

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Chicago Photo Gallery

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Setlist

• Intro
• 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
• Encore: Renegade

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Live photography by Chris Collett for No Flash Needed. © 2026 No Flash Needed. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without written permission.