Main reason I am posting this is, not only because it was an excellent concert, but the KC fans were unbelievable, standing in the rain for 4 hours but still rockin!
I thought it was the best show I've seen with Arnel. Benatar had everyone going and Loverboy could have easily held the crowd for 30 more minutes. It was the first time I've left a Journey show wanting more in quite a long time.
Great evening in the rain, thanks to 3 good bands, awesome crowd, great friends...and Isaac (remnants of)!
Fans take trip back in time with Journey, Pat Benatar and Loverboy
By KRIS KNOWLES
The Kansas City Star
The show was “rain or shine,” and for several thousand who gathered Friday at Livestrong Sporting Park, four hours of nonstop rain was just fine.
Covered in bright plastic ponchos, they sang and danced as Journey, Pat Benatar and Loverboy delivered a slew of hits from 30 years ago. The bands went well together; all three had a heyday in the MTV era, producing rock with big choruses and great guitar riffs.
Loverboy’s short opening set was punctuated by a killer rendition of “Turn Me Loose” and the crowd-pleasing “Working For the Weekend.”
After a long break, Benatar and husband/guitarist Neil Giraldo rebuilt the mood with hits such as “All Fired Up,” “Promises in the Dark,” “You Better Run” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” The latter produced an impressive crowd sing-along (and, thankfully, no complaints from Benatar about having to sing it).
Benatar and her husband told stories, and they sat together on stools for “We Belong.” Their encore, “Heartbreaker,” swerved into a Johnny Cash “Ring of Fire” duet before heading to a final guitar solo that included “The Godfather” theme.
Giraldo’s playing was impeccable, and although Benatar’s voice sometimes had an extra rasp, it was mighty as ever, enough to keep her on a rock pedestal right next to Ann Wilson of Heart.
Turnout was impressive given the constant rain: The sides of the soccer stadium were respectably filled and the front third of the field was full. The partial roof over the sides offered relief for those who wanted it, but many fans were happy to stay down front in the open.
The sound was good, especially on the field during Journey’s hour-and-a-half set, where it was great.
And the soaked crowd stayed up for Journey, which wasn’t lost on singer Arnel Pineda: “So you guys are having fun with the rain, yeah? It’s been three months!”
Pineda returned the energy as he ran and twirled across the stage, leading increasingly bigger sing-alongs on songs such as “Faithfully,” “When the Lights Go Down” and “Wheel in the Sky.”
Journey founder Neal Schon’s guitar work was showcased well in a “Star Spangled Banner” solo. Another solo, from keyboardist Jonathan Cain, was a classical-style piano piece that led to the intro for “Open Arms,” which immediately prompted couples and friends to reach out for one another.
One of the biggest responses came toward the end, during the band’s biggest hit, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” but that performance was outdone by the main-set closer, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” which featured scorching fret work from Schon and a soaring climax from Pineda.
The crowd saved its greatest sing-along for the encore, “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’.” By the time they got to the repeating lines of “Na na na na na na,” the fans were so loud they sounded like they were inside an arena, under a roof that seemed to have made the rain disappear.