Journey/Pat Benatar/Loverboy in Greensboro, NC 10/3/12

[Michigan Girl]

HOWEVER, I DID enjoy the show, and I probably would see Journey again as long as they continue doing the Triple or at least double bill shows. I'm not interested in seeing just Journey.

I love those, too ...I did say whomever put those together is brilliant!!

[Gideon]

This is a phenomenon referred to as confirmation bias, people see what they want to see. If you want to like something, chances are that you'll have a positive impression. If you want to dislike something, chances are that you'll have a negative impression. It works both ways, is pretty much ubiquitous, and it's extremely easy to observe, especially here where you have access to post histories, etc.

True, but sometimes you really try/want to like something and then you just don't ...e.g. Eclipse.
(Still love SAM, though) ...The post histories do come in handy especially for specific posts/quotes
and for new members ...however, we all know one another's MO by now, right?!?

There are certainly exceptions to the rule: people "objective" enough to assess things on their merits, but these people tend to be few in number. Confirmation bias has a presence everywhere, but it's most noticeable in politics. Romney alluded to this in his recent 47% gaffe when he alienated a large segment of the voting public; crass or not, the comment has merit: he doesn't need to worry about a substantial bulk of the voting public because their partisanship is too strong (the inverse w/ conservatives is also true), instead he needs to concern himself with swaying the 10-15% who are more moderate.

The same principle applies here. When Eclipse came out, it would have been pretty easy to predict conclusions by looking at the trends in a user's posting history. The 'exceptions' were people like TNC, who is pretty even-handed with criticism and praise in all matters Journey, past and present.

[Ehwmatt]

I got VIP suite tickets thru my job, so I went.

Just a quick review of last night's show in GSO:

Loverboy - good, clean fun. They played well, Mike sounded good and seemed happy to be there. Piped backing vocals, par for the course I suppose. No new songs. Solid...not a lot else to say. The crowd sang along enthusiastically.

Pat Benatar - I want to be Pat Benatar when I grow up! The woman is a flat out badass! Straight, 4-piece Rock all live. The only "canned" bit was the "We Belong" synth loop and Neil at least led into that with piano and started it himself. Neil Geraldo is awesome, their interaction on stage was fluid and comfortable and Pat was amazing vocally. She sang with such guts and passion! When she came in with the "whoa-whoa-whoa WE ARE STRONG!" I got chills! Deen came out and played drums on "Hit Me With Your Best Shot". I would love to see a full headline set from her. She owned the crowd and there was so much sing-along with her that you would have thought she was the headliner...she acted like she was. Flawless.

Journey - well executed, well rehearsed. Not a lot of passion. Deen always acts like he's having fun. Arnel was like a caffiene-overdosed chihuahua running all over. Backing vocals obviously canned (more voices than people singing). Cool nuggets (for me) in the set. Hearing BGTY and KOR was pretty awesome. The opened w/ FITH which was also cool. I enjoyed hearing NWA live too. Deen sounded great on KOR and MF.

Arnel's voice was strong and clear. But, up until last night I could never quite put my finger on why I don't like him. Now I know. He has not a single ounce of Rock And Roll charisma in his body. Perry, Augeri, Soto - all 3 had rock swagger and soul to go with their voices. Arnel has none. He's very talented, has a strong voice and a big range...I also have no doubt that he's a super nice guy. But all that does not replace swagger/charisma. He has no rhythm (no rhyme or reason to his movements) and sings very mechanically...hitting the notes without making me feel them. Also, there's things about his phrasing in some songs I just don't like (personal nitpick, I know). He barely said 3 words to the crowd all night, and didn't speak at all until like 9 songs in (could be precautionary, I know).

Also, the band just looks disjointed. Arnel bounces around like crazy like he's the only one on stage...Ross & Jon move very little and act very business-like...Neal & Deen try to look/act very "rock star"...there's no connection...nothing tying them together. All that said, the songs were the stars and all the songs I mentioned already plus "ESC4P3" were all highlights...so just hearing the songs was cool enough...even thought it did not feel like it was actually Journey playing them.

Overall, an enjoyable evening w/ Pat Benatar being the main highlight for me. She just kicked all kinds of ass. I think at this point, I am done w/ Journey. I just can't get into this line up. I'll always have the Perry/Augeri eras but, barring a reunion with one of them, last night marks my final Journey show.

Side note - the crowd during Journey's set was disappointing. Way too many people SAT DOWN during lesser known songs (including Anytime, Mother Father, Keep On Running, Never Walk Away, Be Good To Yourself)...SAT DOWN like they did not know the songs. But of course, stood/danced during Lights, LTS, AWYWI, Open Arms, etc. Then, of course, the entire place lost it's collective sanity when DSB finally came around. But how do you sit down during Anytime or Be Good To Yourself? Sheesh...

I pretty much wrote the exact same review of Journey after I saw them in August 2011. Definitely not worth my money to see them again. So I passed when they returned a couple weeks ago.

[Gideon]

^^ This guy is another good example of an exception.

[RyanHippFTW]

lost my shit when they did Never Walk Away, and attendance was sad they closed off nosebleeds and still had big patches of empty seats

[tater1977]

Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Greensboro, NC, Oct 3, 2012


http://youtu.be/fXAGfXQt9JU


Great performance. Journey's Deen Castronovo sit in on drums and pounded out this rocker. Benatar still has the acetylene pipes...

[Pelata]

Pat Benatar - Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Greensboro, NC, Oct 3, 2012


http://youtu.be/fXAGfXQt9JU


Great performance. Journey's Deen Castronovo sit in on drums and pounded out this rocker. Benatar still has the acetylene pipes...

Yeah, that was cool...she sounds fantastic.

[Yoda]

lost my shit when they did Never Walk Away, and attendance was sad they closed off nosebleeds and still had big patches of empty seats

Yeah I noticed that! I looked around and was pretty disappointed at how many empty seats there were. Seems like more seats sold back when they came to Greensboro a few years ago. I got to move down to some really awesome seats! The event staff was really nice!

[RyanHippFTW]

I swear there was a crackhead at this show. There was this old, sweating looking fat dude I saw between sets who was fucked up on something who kept shouting shit like a crazy person. After Loverboy he was yelling something about Loverboy, and after Pat Benatar he was walking around yelling something stupid over and over and shouting at concession stand people. Then at the end of the night I walked passed him outside and he asked me for a smoke. Told him I didn't and with these creepy eyes being all jittery he did a thing with his hand pretending to smoke saying "oh you don't smoke". I walked away, he froze in that position and kept like that a while after I had left.

[Jeremey]

I swear there was a crackhead at this show. There was this old, sweating looking fat dude I saw between sets who was fucked up on something who kept shouting shit like a crazy person. After Loverboy he was yelling something about Loverboy, and after Pat Benatar he was walking around yelling something stupid over and over and shouting at concession stand people. Then at the end of the night I walked passed him outside and he asked me for a smoke. Told him I didn't and with these creepy eyes being all jittery he did a thing with his hand pretending to smoke saying "oh you don't smoke". I walked away, he froze in that position and kept like that a while after I had left.

Are you sure? Greensboro doesn't have any crackheads, this can't be true!

[Yoda]

I swear there was a crackhead at this show. There was this old, sweating looking fat dude I saw between sets who was fucked up on something who kept shouting shit like a crazy person. After Loverboy he was yelling something about Loverboy, and after Pat Benatar he was walking around yelling something stupid over and over and shouting at concession stand people. Then at the end of the night I walked passed him outside and he asked me for a smoke. Told him I didn't and with these creepy eyes being all jittery he did a thing with his hand pretending to smoke saying "oh you don't smoke". I walked away, he froze in that position and kept like that a while after I had left.

Are you sure? Greensboro doesn't have any crackheads, this can't be true!

There was this group of people who sat in front of me. This old fat guy (might have been the same one) this ugly blonde woman, and a black guy. The blonde woman would not sit in her seat. she insisted on standing the whole time shaking her bony butt. The rest of everybody else in the risers were sitting down, but this woman was clearly on something. She looked just like a crack head! She kept trying to dance down the steps to the stage, and the event staff kept sending her back to her seats. A lot of people around her complained. Toward the end of the night, I saw them carrying her out.

[RyanHippFTW]

the dude I'm talking about had a teal shirt, black hair, and I think khakis

[Pelata]

I swear there was a crackhead at this show. There was this old, sweating looking fat dude I saw between sets who was fucked up on something who kept shouting shit like a crazy person. After Loverboy he was yelling something about Loverboy, and after Pat Benatar he was walking around yelling something stupid over and over and shouting at concession stand people. Then at the end of the night I walked passed him outside and he asked me for a smoke. Told him I didn't and with these creepy eyes being all jittery he did a thing with his hand pretending to smoke saying "oh you don't smoke". I walked away, he froze in that position and kept like that a while after I had left.

Are you sure? Greensboro doesn't have any crackheads, this can't be true!

There was this group of people who sat in front of me. This old fat guy (might have been the same one) this ugly blonde woman, and a black guy. The blonde woman would not sit in her seat. she insisted on standing the whole time shaking her bony butt. The rest of everybody else in the risers were sitting down, but this woman was clearly on something. She looked just like a crack head! She kept trying to dance down the steps to the stage, and the event staff kept sending her back to her seats. A lot of people around her complained. Toward the end of the night, I saw them carrying her out.

The classic "one girl party".

To the right of the box I was in, this one girl was just dancing to every song Journey played like she was on "So You Think You Can Dance?" or something...drink in one hand, other hand in the air, just dancing her ass off! She was kinda hot too, and I noticed all the guys around me spent more time with their eyes cut to the right than on the stage.

[jrnyfan@nc.rr.com]

Here's "Anytime" and the start of "Mother Father" my party shot. I ended up in like 25th row or something, awful seats after so many years of being in the first 12 rows. I know it was a Wednesday night, but so many empty seats. The audience was NOT into "Faith in the Heartland" as an opener --- most people around me sat down during anything that wasn't the dirty dozen. I think this was my 14th show since 98, and it wasn't bad, wasn't spectacular. Enjoyed the couple of rarities in the set. I still think the confetti is the best addition to their show they've had in ages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj3UpU39InY

[kgdjpubs]

Here's "Anytime" and the start of "Mother Father" my party shot. I ended up in like 25th row or something, awful seats after so many years of being in the first 12 rows. I know it was a Wednesday night, but so many empty seats. The audience was NOT into "Faith in the Heartland" as an opener --- most people around me sat down during anything that wasn't the dirty dozen. I think this was my 14th show since 98, and it wasn't bad, wasn't spectacular. Enjoyed the couple of rarities in the set. I still think the confetti is the best addition to their show they've had in ages.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj3UpU39InY

sounds like the Raleigh crowd showed up in Greensboro on Wednesday night. For anyone not versed in NC concert dynamics, Charlotte is usually party central. Not sure why, but that town always goes crazy. Raleigh can be either a good rock crowd (aka party) or sometimes you get the people that think they are going to the symphony. It seems to have no relation at all as to whether the band is good or not. Haven't seen enough Greensboro shows to determine what the average is there, but that dead crowd can kill the enjoyment of a concert.

Looks like you at least got some extra songs thrown in. I decided to sit this one out--just too much money to spend for the headliner to play 90 minutes. My thoughts are if you are the headlining band, you should play for 2hrs minimum.

[steveo777]

Just found out the entire band was sick, taking antibiotics, and even so.....they soldiered on. So if anything was a bit off, they did what they could.

[Yoda]

Just found out the entire band was sick, taking antibiotics, and even so.....they soldiered on. So if anything was a bit off, they did what they could.

That explains the sore throat spray and the oxygen that Arnel was taking then.

[RyanHippFTW]

did any of you guys catch the stupid commercial for mask shirts or something they played on the big screen after Pat Benatar? like are their kids in it why would they play that

[fightingilliniJRNY]

did any of you guys catch the stupid commercial for mask shirts or something they played on the big screen after Pat Benatar? like are their kids in it why would they play that

Because it is Ross Valory's company.

[Yoda]

did any of you guys catch the stupid commercial for mask shirts or something they played on the big screen after Pat Benatar? like are their kids in it why would they play that

That was my pee break.

[Rocker Chic]

#1 - I've always, since the Armageddon soundtrack, been an Augeri fan. I loved the way he acted on stage. IMO he looked cool, he acted cool, and had swagger on top of a great voice. I've never said anything to the contrary and have always championed him. Other people may have knocked Augeri in the past like you mentioned, but I'm not one of them.

Augeri IS cool as fuck. I like his style more than anybodies. He was more jazzy and smooth up there than anything. He was his own and was comfortable in his own skin. He defiantly had a nice mix of groove and rock combined.

Steve Augeri was always 'cool', even before Tall Stories broke!

As a bartender back in the late 80s at the coolest rockabilly-punk-hard rock-glam-metal club, he *always* had a very kind & attentive demeanor, dressed well, had the effin' coolest shoes... And he was always good for a buy back.

A mutual friend was at Mike Orlando's (Sonic Stomp, Adrenaline Mob) birthday party a few years ago and commented to me how "Steve walked in like a freakin' rock star"... I told him that Steve has ALWAYS been a freakin' rock star! It just comes natural to him.

Debbie

[Rocker Chic]

This is a phenomenon referred to as confirmation bias, people see what they want to see. If you want to like something, chances are that you'll have a positive impression. If you want to dislike something, chances are that you'll have a negative impression. It works both ways, is pretty much ubiquitous, and it's extremely easy to observe, especially here where you have access to post histories, etc.

Nope, I think that you're completely wrong on that statement...

For example, I adore Tesla and have for decades (seen them a handful of times). Many years ago (while Tommy Skeoch was still in the band), I couldn't wait to see them at the Beacon Theatre in NYC, so I was pumped for the show. Right from the beginning of the show, Jeff Keith and Tommy were obviously wasted, yet they continued to guzzle cans of beer throughout the night (they had a large cooler filled with beer set up right next to the drum riser, very out in the open). Jeff sounded like shit and his singing, as well as Tommy's playing, was the sloppiest I have ever seen and heard. Jeff's interaction with the audience was deplorable and condescending. The 3 other guys looked like they would rather be anywhere but on that stage with Jeff and Tommy. I was embarrassed to even be there, but more so for paying good money to see that train wreck.

That night, I swore that I would never pay to see them again, if they didn't clean up their act and do the job that we pay them to do. I have many favorite bands that span all sorts of genres and, when they suck, I will flat out say they suck. This wasn't simply an off night for Tesla. It was so totally horrible from beginning to end, that I swore I was witnessing their ultimate demise.

Years later (after Tommy had left the band), my same friend and I had an opportunity to get free tickets to see them at the Nokia (now Best Buy) Theatre, so we figured we didn't have anything to lose and took a chance on seeing them again. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable Tesla shows that I had ever seen! Jeff was clean and sober (only drank water all night), he sounded great, the rest of the band was as energetic and tight as I'd ever seen them, and their crowd interaction was appreciative and engaging. They redeemed themselves tenfold!

Now, there are those fan-boys/girls that profess that their favorite artist/band can do no wrong... EVER! I am not one of those. In fact, if I was asked who my favorite band is, I honestly don't think that I could even answer, because there are so many that I love. I love them all for very different reasons and, to me, each one has recorded material or gave performances that I thought were truly abysmal. Maybe I'm more objective because of that. I don't know, but if I expect to enjoy a performance and I don't, I will say so.

Debbie

[Gideon]

This is a phenomenon referred to as confirmation bias, people see what they want to see. If you want to like something, chances are that you'll have a positive impression. If you want to dislike something, chances are that you'll have a negative impression. It works both ways, is pretty much ubiquitous, and it's extremely easy to observe, especially here where you have access to post histories, etc.

Nope, I think that you're completely wrong on that statement...

For example, I adore Tesla and have for decades (seen them a handful of times). Many years ago (while Tommy Skeoch was still in the band), I couldn't wait to see them at the Beacon Theatre in NYC, so I was pumped for the show. Right from the beginning of the show, Jeff Keith and Tommy were obviously wasted, yet they continued to guzzle cans of beer throughout the night (they had a large cooler filled with beer set up right next to the drum riser, very out in the open). Jeff sounded like shit and his singing, as well as Tommy's playing, was the sloppiest I have ever seen and heard. Jeff's interaction with the audience was deplorable and condescending. The 3 other guys looked like they would rather be anywhere but on that stage with Jeff and Tommy. I was embarrassed to even be there, but more so for paying good money to see that train wreck.

That night, I swore that I would never pay to see them again, if they didn't clean up their act and do the job that we pay them to do. I have many favorite bands that span all sorts of genres and, when they suck, I will flat out say they suck. This wasn't simply an off night for Tesla. It was so totally horrible from beginning to end, that I swore I was witnessing their ultimate demise.

Years later (after Tommy had left the band), my same friend and I had an opportunity to get free tickets to see them at the Nokia (now Best Buy) Theatre, so we figured we didn't have anything to lose and took a chance on seeing them again. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable Tesla shows that I had ever seen! Jeff was clean and sober (only drank water all night), he sounded great, the rest of the band was as energetic and tight as I'd ever seen them, and their crowd interaction was appreciative and engaging. They redeemed themselves tenfold!

Now, there are those fan-boys/girls that profess their favorite band can do no wrong... EVER! I am not one of those. In fact, if I was asked who my favorite band is, I honestly don't think that I could even answer, because there are so many that I love. I love them all for very different reasons and, to me, each one has recorded material or gave performances that I thought were truly abysmal. Maybe I'm more objective because of that. I don't know, but if I expect to enjoy a performance and I don't, I will say so.

Debbie

Cool.

[RyanHippFTW]

did any of you guys catch the stupid commercial for mask shirts or something they played on the big screen after Pat Benatar? like are their kids in it why would they play that

Because it is Ross Valory's company.

oh gawd seriously?

[fightingilliniJRNY]

did any of you guys catch the stupid commercial for mask shirts or something they played on the big screen after Pat Benatar? like are their kids in it why would they play that

Because it is Ross Valory's company.

oh gawd seriously?

Yep.

http://www.mouthman.com/

http://www.mouthman.com/aboutus.asp