Journey kept Boise fans believin’ Saturday night

[tater1977]

Journey kept Boise fans believin’ Saturday night

Journey Boise Concert

August 5, 2012

By: Rustyn Rose

http://www.examiner.com/review/journey- ... rday-night

Journey is one of those amazing bands that everyone seems to love regardless of musical tastes and genres. The reason for that is the feel good accessibility the Northern, California based band infuses into its music. Saturday night, August 4, Journey brought that upbeat vibe back to Boise for a packed outdoor show at the Idaho Center Ampitheater in Nampa.

With the heat still hovering at 90 degrees, Journey took the stage and set the tone right out the gate with “Any Way You Want It”. For most fans this was their chance to see new vocalist Arnel Pineda for the first time. With his hair cut down to a boyish bob, Pineda jumped into the fray getting the crowd whipped into a blissful frenzy.


Backing Pineda’s play were band founders Ross Valory (bass) and Neal Schon (guitar), along with longtime members Jonathan Cain (keyboards, guitar) and Deen Castronovo (drums). Journey cruised through an 18-song set which included more hits than a Rihanna-Chris Brown reunion.


From newer songs like “Never Walk Away” and “City of Hope” to infrequently played cuts like “Escape” and “Chain Reaction”, to the monster hits; “Open Arms,” “Faithfully”, “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”, “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights”, Journey covered all the bases.

Schon did his trademark “Star-Spangled Banner” solo which turned into the summertime classic, “Stone In Love”. Soundtrack hits “Ask The Lonely” and “Only The Young” both made appearances, as did songs like the emotive “Send Her My Love”, and the power-of-self anthem, “Be Good To Yourself”.

Pineda ran, spun, jumped, and cajoled, but most of all he sang his heart out. Midway into the set he changed into a Boise State Broncos t-shirt, showing some love for the home team. The once reticent newcomer to the band has grown into a true showman.

Journey rained confetti down on the crowd with a burst of cannons for the a capella ending of “Don’t Stop Believin’”. Closing the whole show out, the band brought every fan in the venue to its feet for “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’”.

Canadian rockers Loverboy teed the crowd up and Journey knocked it out of the park. Sure the band could have played another 18 songs and not run out of hits, but most everyone went home happy.

[Gideon]

I'd love nothing more than the opportunity to slap the shit out of Neal (without suffering the ensuing legal consequences ), the lack of "Resonate" in the setlist is irritating. After that trainwreck of a music video, why won't you redeem it through a kickass live performance in Louisville? Do not fail me, Neal.

[Don]

I hope Pineda is saving his pennies because his chances of gathering royalties after his tenure with the band is beyond dead at this point. Did Eclipse even happen? Man, that album is going to go down as the second worse selling Journey record of all time. And to think, their original plan had been for this year to be simply the second leg of the Eclipse tour. Now the tour doesn't even have a name.