ttango1 wrote:There is a noted photographer and journalist named Jacob Riis who rose to fame during the "muckraker" era of the late 1800's to the early 1900's. Why am I starting a review of the San Diego concert of Journey with a shout out to Riis?
It's because of this quote that Riis is well noted for,“When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before.”
It's funny. Fans that really know Journey have heard the phrase, "Don't crack the stone." from both Steve Perry and Neal Schon. When heard, for whatever reason, it has a negative connotation but when that statement is compared to Riis' statement, One can surmise that"Cracking the stone" is a metaphor for success.
AND THAT IS WHAT THIS BAND HAS DONE. They've shaped themselves into a incarnation of "Journey" that can pay homage to the past but "look into the future" with great expectations.
It took forever for the crew to change sets from Heart to Journey. Both Heart and Cheap Trick played many of their staples and Heart's covers of Love Reign O'er Me (The Who) and Going To California (Led Zeppelin) were old-school crowd pleasers.
Like the Joker says in Batman, Dark Knight...HERE WE GO!
The guys came out at 9:30 PM PST.
Here is the setlist for Journey:
Majestic
Never Walk Away-It's great that they start off the vocals with a song from Revelation, it sets the tone that something new is about to make a proclamation that we're about to rock.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=C5pXdm18o-Q&feature=relatedOnly the Young
Neal Solo-Amazing Grace
Stone in Love-Yes, I'm biased but Arnel now simply kills this song. He's come a long way since that 1st nervous show at Vina del Mar.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=TCjEbYl-D2U&feature=related Ask The Lonely-Finally Jon gets to tickle the keys, that was 5 straight songs that Jon played rhythm guitar. Is that a record?
After All These Years
Seperate Ways-Old school guys behind me are telling me now that this kid(Arnel) wails and wonder why it's only now that they're back to selling out venues. Their opinion is that Journey is better than ever. Again, I'm biased but I agree.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=noO1ZVh4xIs&feature=relatedChange For The Better
http://youtube.com/watch?v=koXJ6qLwm8Y&feature=relatedSend Her My Love-You know the Denver vid where Neal's signature guitar is missing, while it was an interesting change, with his guitar playing...this song was really a crowd favorite.
Lights-Here Arnel talks about his "New" Hometown-San Francisco. You see a nice video montage of what the peeps there call,"The City."
Jon Intro Solo but this one is more jazzy in it's composition.
Open Arms Check the link, you can hear the crowd singin' in the background.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=gaKxrzutdqsLovin' Touchin' Squeezin'
Don't Stop Believin'
http://youtube.com/watch?v=YVvzNrWC6wUThis is what was on the screen after the song:
Wildest Dreams
Jon on Harmonica & Neal Jam Solo
Wheel In The Sky
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AASgLWL7fiI&feature=relatedAny Way You Want It
Encores
Escape
Faithfully(Arnel here at the beginning, tells the crowd that he received a text from home in Olongapo that "Amy" is fighting bone cancer and has been told that she has only 24 hours to live, he tells the crowd that this song is for her and to keep fighting the good fight.)
END OF CONCERT save the long slow crawl out of the parking lots-
So what's one to say after witnessing such an event? How about...IT WAS AWESOME. The guys simply brought it, they came out and rocked the house with their fervent energy and new found passion.
There was a proportinate mix of Journey fans both old and new. Many sporting their Ol' Skool' ESCAPE Tees and many new fans buying the $35 Revelation Tour shirt(It's not a bad looking shirt but where are the images of the guys we so appreciate?) The CD set was being sold there as well for $15.
Let's talk concert. I found it to be better than the Vegas show in March. Deen and Neal were standouts with their play, while Jon and Ross did their part to keep things flowing. They didn't really go that far out of their comfort zones and they just let Arnel wail. That dude, man, he hit all the key changes and high, high notes. My only complaint is that the guy runs around so much. It could help him a little later when his voice needs some focus, to conserve at times and then explode when needed. But so far, it seems as if explosion is his sole choice, and the crowd showed their appreciation with their loud and steady applause. The girls were dancing everywhere looking like they were loving every second of it. The guys were heard in the background singing an ocatave or 2 lower or off-key but hey, it's Journey right? It's All Good.
Yeah Arnel looked funny in Yellow Pants and what I think was a Dark Navy muscle shirt.(Charger Reference, this is San Diego right?) But it made it easy to see him wherever he goes and like I said, he goes everywhere.
Whoever said that Neal looks like James Caan from the 70's, well I tend to agree. Here is a pic of Mr. Caan from that 70's era:
Take a look at any Neal Photo now
While the resemblance is there, Mr. Caan would kneel to Neal in appreciation of the genius of his fingers on guitar.
On this San Diego night, Arnel sang lead the whole way. I did miss Deen singing either After The Fall or Mother Father.For me, when I was at the Planet Hollywood in March, those 2 songs were definite highlights of that particular show. Not hearing Deen's leads was slightly dissapointing but Arnel showed us all why he is a force with his voice. Deen's background vocals are readily heard and integral to bringing that legacy sound to fruition and he sang and drummed with so much passion, you could see and hear it. If one tried to filter out crowd noise, you could hear the background highs of DSB loud and clear when Arnel stops to say sing with me or come on(truthfully, he didn't say it so much to irk you like he did when in Chile').
Jon and Ross played a solid performance. Their contributions were heard and while not as glamorous, just as important and they played well enough. Jon did have his requisite solo and did a jam with Neal on the harmonica, for that I can say Mr. Cain, is a talented dude.
The venue is cool enough, the lawn view was much different than the one I had at PH. 12 row center, close enough to get on the DVD. On this day, in order to see the ants on the stage, I had to use the screens. Sucky thing is only center stage and stage left screens were working. Stage Right was killed after the Heart set because it wasn't bright enough to show practically anything. I also hate that we pay good money to watch the band, so why is the mix on the center vid-screen practically 50% the guys, and 50% Windows Screen Saver?
Well, I guess that's it. I admit that I'm a little rambly and incoherent when I write, my wife bugs me about it at times but I just write what I feel. And what I feel mostly is this, for those who haven't yet seen this Journey...Come in knowing that SP isn't singing and then be prepared for a great show. AP is now at the helm of the flying scarab and if you just listen, you'll go away with a huge, huge smile at the end of a beautiful night.
