Concert review: Journey, Foreigner and Night Ranger at Rio T

[tater1977]

Concert review: Journey, Foreigner and Night Ranger at Rio Tinto

Published on Jul 23, 2011 12:32AM 0 Comments
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Tribune writer Cimaron Neugebauer attended the triple bill of classic rock bands Thursday night at Rio Tinto, and here is his review:


It was a gutsy move, but Journey pulled off throwing three of their new songs into the show at Rio Tinto Stadium Thursday night.

It was the Eclipse Tour for their new album after all, so we can't really blame them. But neither Foreigner or Night Ranger attempted to play their new stuff -- they just kept to the classics for fans.

Thousands turned out, ranging from children to grandparents, to share their love for nearly 40 decades of classic rock, and whether young fans didn't realize that each band's look had changed more than a
chameleon over the years, or seasoned fans thought they were all just good cover bands of themselves, one thing was for sure — it was an entertaining evening full of classic rock showmanship.

Awaiting the headliner band, fans got on their feet as the band energetically came out and blasted the ominous synthesized keyboard medley for their well-known hit “Separate Ways.” But by the third song, fans were already sitting down as the band tested the crowd by playing “City of Hope,” a song of their new album Eclipse. The band threw in three songs off their new album, with each time the majority of standing fans taking to their seats to wait out for the next song. One of the best off their new album was a catchy song that got some fans back on their feet called “Chain of Love.”

The redeeming quality was the new song did have the iconic Journey sound. As the guitarist soloed, images and video flashed on the screens of Manila, Philippines, the homeland of the new lead singer,
Arnel Pineda. The rags to riches story of Pineda may have been the inspiration behind the song, even though the band said they wanted to dedicate the song to Salt Lake City for the night. Pineda was at one time homeless and was discovered by Journey through YouTube when the band was searching for a replacement for Steve Perry.


Pineda has big shoes to fill and some may argue Journey has morphed into a cover band of themselves now with all the lineup changes, but what Pineda doesn't make up in voice he sure does in energy.
Throughout the show Pineda blasted vocals sounding nearly identical to Perry, all while hopping around the stage and jumping feet in the air off of monitors. The sweat gathered quickly and soaked his hair
and chest early into the show as evidence he came to Sandy to perform and not just sing.

Even the original members of the band engaged with the audience. At one point lead guitarist, Neal Schon threw out his guitar pick mid-solo to a fan, and cranked through the solo empty handed. Pounding, steady drum beats, synthesizers and escalating, complex rock guitar solos that figuratively melted the face off fans and reminded those in attendance that even though this wasn't the same Journey created back in the 1970s, it was still delivering the music they love.

It was anything but a sold-out show, but thousands filled the field and east and west sides of Rio Tinto Stadium and found themselves locked in their own little world as they sang and danced around like
no one was watching. The band brought a good mix of their classic hits sprinkled with some new songs. Fans erupted in their own individual choruses as the band played “Wheel In The Sky,” and “Open Arms.”

They reached their zenith when they played their most popular song “Don't Stop Believin.'” The song ended with a bang as confetti shot out at the crowd and into the air covering fans on the field. The came out for an encore song of “Any Way You Want It,” to which groups of fans pulled out their air guitars and hand microphones and dance moves normally privy only to roommates in college dorm rooms.

Foreigner's new lead singer Kelly Hansen proved he could wail and belt it out as he sang “Urgent” and “Hot Blooded.” The crowd lost it as a surging guitar solo led into “Juke Box Hero,” while a very late '80s or early '90s cartoon animation depicting the song lyrics played on the screens for the crowd. Hansen, who just turned 50, ran the stage like a twenty-year-old athlete. He kept fans engaged as he banged on cowbells and tambourines and at one point, possibly to the chagrin of security, jumped off the stage and wandered out into the crowd to actually stand next to fans. Foreigner played with the audience and not just too them. There was a lot of interaction and showmanship from band members, including the bassist who thrashed around like he was the frontman. The only band member not interacting with fans was the founding member of Foreigner, Mick Jones. He busted out some amazing riffs and solos, but kept his torso and face as rigid and stoic as setting wet cement.

Night Ranger, the band who has maintained their frontman and most of their band members for the past 30 years was the opening band, and special guest for Journey and Foreigner. Unfortunately, they only
played for a half hour to the surprise and disappointment of many fans. “That is kind of a rip off,” one fan said, thinking the band would have played longer. The band didn't get the proper respect they might
have if they were headlining a show, because fans were still making their way through the entrance and they were reaching their peak by singing their biggest hit “Sister Christian.” For their closing song,
Night Ranger raised two American Flags as they ended with “(You Can Still) Rock In America.”

All three bands, while much different in lineup from their most famous years, showed why they remain juke box heros that can still rock in America, by giving music to their fans any way they want it, even if their lineup changes more often than a hockey team.

cimaron@sltrib.com
Twitter: @CimCity

[Jana]

This is where they make their mistakes. City of Hope is not a stand up kind of song if you don't know it. Chain of Love had them up, naturally, and I can see why. Resonate would have them up without a doubt. Great hooks, catchy, sexy, good energy. They are insane I still say to take it out. Anything is Possible would have them up. Still am loving Edge of the Moment.

[Don]

If they insist on dedicating COH to the venue city everynight, at least have someone download local tourism clips and edit them every show. Its not that hard to do. I guarantee the people would at least get up for that.

[YoungJRNY]

This is where they make their mistakes. City of Hope is not a stand up kind of song if you don't know it. Chain of Love had them up, naturally, and I can see why. Resonate would have them up without a doubt. Great hooks, catchy, sexy, good energy. They are insane I still say to take it out. Anything is Possible would have them up. Still am loving Edge of the Moment.

Good post, I agree 100% with your assessments. I hope Chain of Love is left in the set-list in Pittsburgh. Can't wait to hear that live. So many songs I'd love to hear from Eclipse, COH and Resonate being two of them automatic.

[AR]

If they insist on dedicating COH to the venue city everynight, at least have someone download local tourism clips and edit them every show. Its not that hard to do. I guarantee the people would at least get up for that.

August 16th tour date. Camden, NJ montage

[SF-Dano]

This is where they make their mistakes. City of Hope is not a stand up kind of song if you don't know it. Chain of Love had them up, naturally, and I can see why. Resonate would have them up without a doubt. Great hooks, catchy, sexy, good energy. They are insane I still say to take it out. Anything is Possible would have them up. Still am loving Edge of the Moment.

One of the best off their new album was a catchy song that got some fans back on their feet called “Chain of Love.”

The redeeming quality was the new song did have the iconic Journey sound. As the guitarist soloed, images and video flashed on the screens of Manila, Philippines, the homeland of the new lead singer,

You know from reading the article, I am not sure that the reviewer did not get COH and COL mixed up. It may just be the way he worded his article that is throwing me off (see quote above). I do wish they could find away to get Resonate into the setlist. Problem is, they would most likely alternate it with either COL or EOTM. And I really dig those tunes also. They won't drop COH if they are doing the whole video montage thing for it. Would be cool, as suggested, if they could tailor the video to the town they are playing in. Put one of the crew on it. As stated, it really wouldn't be that hard or time consuming to do.