Journey 10/5/11 Concord Pavilion Review

[RedWingFan]

Well Saint John, looks like there's an ever growing # of people who believe my prediction was right!

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/vie ... hp?t=49636

Foreigner is going to blow little Arnel off the stage. Journey's going to get their collective asses handed to them nightly!

Keep thinking that. They've (Foreigner) all but thrown in the towel and conceded that they're a tribute act. I don't think you're ever going to hear new music again, whereas Journey will have another new album to play live. And it's gonna rock hard.

Foreigner isn't blowing Journey away. Journey is still getting much louder applause, but it's not as consistent as Foreigner, seeing that they play hit after hit after hit. If the roles were reversed, and Journey was playing nothing but old songs with not one member that helped create them, you would be slobbering all over yourself that "Journey has truly turned themselves into a tribute band." There's no doubt that Journey, namely Neal Schon, deserve criticism for this tour, but they're not getting blown off the stage by Foreigner. Not even close. I'd say that Foreigner's set is better, but that's about it. And that's not to say that there aren't nights when Foreigner is better. There are.

I'm just pointing out that a lot of people are agreeing with me. As far as Foreigner being a "tribute band", my point in that link above was that Hansen was a far superior front man.

Yeah, there's no Mick Jones. Kelly Hansen could go up there play backed by the mechanical band from the local Chuck E. Cheese and out-perform Journey.

[StevePerryHair]

The cheering you hear at the end is because you're (finally) finished!

That was the best part of his rant indeed!
With Saint John being against guitar solos, I cant wait to see him at the Yngwie show next week

I've never seen SJ suddenly became so critical towards any member of Journey particularly Schon. I wonder if this has something to do with Schon's latest escapades, hmm.

So youve missed how he feels abour Mr Perry?
Or did you mean current active members ?

Somebody reads these things... We got extended keys solo and a real, by-gosh drum solo from Deen in Vegas ... and only one noodlefest

I've thought the same thing since last tour!! We used to complain here that Neal never deviates his guitar playing from the same things he's been playing for how many years? That how is that talent when he doesn't show creativity. And last tour, he starts doing a solo..... And yes, I thought the same thing when I saw the extended versions in Vegas this week too! I also wonder though, if it's because it's Vegas, and there are less time constraints for when they need to be done with the venue. Some of these venues have a strict "done at 11PM" rule I think. Vegas seemed to be a longer concert than the one in Pitt to me!!

[DrFU]

Somebody reads these things... We got extended keys solo and a real, by-gosh drum solo from Deen in Vegas ... and only one noodlefest

I've thought the same thing since last tour!! We used to complain here that Neal never deviates his guitar playing from the same things he's been playing for how many years? That how is that talent when he doesn't show creativity. And last tour, he starts doing a solo..... And yes, I thought the same thing when I saw the extended versions in Vegas this week too! I also wonder though, if it's because it's Vegas, and there are less time constraints for when they need to be done with the venue. Some of these venues have a strict "done at 11PM" rule I think. Vegas seemed to be a longer concert than the one in Pitt to me!!

I prefer to think we are powerful and important.

Or maybe they got word Mike was carrying and didn't want to be bored.

[StevePerryHair]

Somebody reads these things... We got extended keys solo and a real, by-gosh drum solo from Deen in Vegas ... and only one noodlefest

I've thought the same thing since last tour!! We used to complain here that Neal never deviates his guitar playing from the same things he's been playing for how many years? That how is that talent when he doesn't show creativity. And last tour, he starts doing a solo..... And yes, I thought the same thing when I saw the extended versions in Vegas this week too! I also wonder though, if it's because it's Vegas, and there are less time constraints for when they need to be done with the venue. Some of these venues have a strict "done at 11PM" rule I think. Vegas seemed to be a longer concert than the one in Pitt to me!!

I prefer to think we are powerful and important.

Or maybe they got word Mike was carrying and didn't want to be bored.

maybe! Maybe Mike has more pull than we know! You know, he was very lucky they took care of that problem for him... because I was not walking through 3 hotels and missing my concert! He DID make up for the diversions we had to go through though! I think vegas brought him luck!

I was agreeing though! I do think we are powerful and important... I do think maybe they take some of the criticisms seriously? Or they want to prove us wrong?

And Dan, if you read this, when Neal was playing, I was thinking "Dan would hate these solos that go on and on, even though it's Neal...." because I remembered you hating those from the musicians at MRfest too.

[koberry]

Somebody reads these things... We got extended keys solo and a real, by-gosh drum solo from Deen in Vegas ... and only one noodlefest

That's good to know. Whether it's Perry, Augeri, Soto, Pineda or Schon, as a fan, I'm going to give an honest opinion of what I think would make the shows better. And I always try to limit my takes on what I believe the majority of the audience thinks. I'm not gonna be like some of the hardcore goofs on here and request that they put Nickel and Dime, Cookie Duster, Hustler and Spaceman into the set, as the crowd would disappear faster than Michael Moore's lunch.

Guilty as charged! I've been a fan since hearing Mystery Mountain in jr high, love most everything from Neal's schooling of Carlos on Santana III to solo stuff and all eras of Journey. I am the proud owner of two Schon guitars. But I gotta say, I got bored when I saw Neal's solo tour - after awhile standing in the crowd at the front of the venue, I went and sat down.

Most Journey songs feature tasteful if not shredding solos and afford a bit of room to get creative when played live. But fter a while, the extended shred noodling wankery gets tiresome.

Someone here recently said that Neal is the singer's guitarist and I think they had that exactly right. Neal has an amazing sense of melody and his lightening-fast, mostly picked runs sound musical to me in most contexts. He's gotten more amazing guitar (and solos) on the radio than almost any other artist.

But I think Journey would get a lot more mileage out of cutting back the guitar solos and incorporating a few more from Eclipse or the back catalog.

My .02,

Ken

[Saint John]

And Dan, if you read this, when Neal was playing, I was thinking "Dan would hate these solos that go on and on, even though it's Neal...." because I remembered you hating those from the musicians at MRfest too.

Man, that shit irritates me to no fucking end! Bands are supposed to play within the framework of the band. I don't mind a brief solo, but it better compliment the song and it better involve at least some involvement from the other members! Blowing on your fucking guitar? Really? Um, Neal, it sounds just like someone is ....blowing on their fucking guitar!

[Calbear94]

Be careful what you wish for. I remember when people here were clamoring for Neal to rock...even suggesting that Journey should go in a more Soul Sirkus like direction.

[slucero]

I think the "more rocking" was in the context of more rocking Journey songs... and less ballad-like material...

Something along the lines of "Believe in Me" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOAW6Q75 ... re=related

Not 3 solo's per song... or 1000 note solo's over 22 bars...

[musicfan17]

I think the "more rocking" was in the context of more rocking Journey songs... and less ballad-like material...

Something along the lines of "Believe in Me" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOAW6Q75 ... re=related

Not 3 solo's per song... or 1000 note solo's over 22 bars...

Exactly! More upbeat, rockin' songs, a few less ballads, not a f' ing shred fest! Neal...Neal...Neal... greatly disappointed in you my man.

[Don]

Be careful what you wish for. I remember when people here were clamoring for Neal to rock...even suggesting that Journey should go in a more Soul Sirkus like direction.

The new album does rock but the problem is that Neal isn't playing any of those tracks, he's just doing his own fucking thing.