By Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
Shaw/Blades, the duo comprised of Styx/Damn Yankees guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw and Night Ranger/Damn Yankees bassist/vocalist Jack Blades, will hit the road once again starting Nov. 7 in Petaluma, CA. The 17-date tour, in support of their album “Influence” concludes Dec. 8 in Nashville, TN and will include acoustic versions of Styx, Night Ranger and Damn Yankees songs. The duo will be joined by guitarist Will Evankovich of American Drag.
After the first round of tour dates ended May 31 in Chicago, the duo promised their fans that they would be back for another trek after taking time to tour with their respective bands.
“Influence” is the duo’s first album since their recently re-released 1995 debut “Hallucination.” Like the debut–and unlike their history-carving decades as icons in the more hard-rock minded Styx, Night Ranger and Damn Yankees–the latest release is rooted in acoustic guitar and organic production, harvesting a decade of musical influences into 11 tracks on which Blades and Shaw played all the music except for drums and the occasional keyboards. It includes a few classics from the ‘60s and ‘70s– -the Mamas and the Papas’ “California Dreamin’,” Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” and Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work.”
Shaw/Blades itinerary:
11/7 Petaluma, CA Mystic Theatre Petaluma
11/8 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
11/9 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
11/10 Agoura Hills, CA Canyon Club
11/11 Las Vegas, NV Canyon Club Las Vegas
11/14 Indianapolis, IN Music Mill
11/15 St. Charles, MO Ameristar Casino/Bottleneck Blues Bar
11/16 Chicago, IL Joe’s
11/17 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theatre
11/18 Akron, OH Tangiers
11/21 Ft. Lauderdale, FL The Culture Room
11/23 Duluth, GA Wild Bills Atlanta
11/24 Mooresville, NC Feeling Lucky Tavern
11/26 Annapolis, MD Rams Head on Stage
12/6 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
12/7 South Bend, IN Club Fever
12/8 Nashville, TN Wildhorse Saloon
