The new guy singing Mother Father

[FamilyMan]

Travis is Journey's Phil X. He'll be there, but like a special ops guy. They'll deny he ever existed.

[George_g888]

Travis is Journey's Phil X. He'll be there, but like a special ops guy. They'll deny he ever existed.

This is not a good comparison. Phil X is Bon Jovi's new lead guitarist. He is playing on their upcoming record and has been playing with them dating back to 2011. Although they don't consider him an "official" member of BJ like there longtime bass player, Phil X's role in that band is much more prominent and important than Travis in Journey without a doubt.

I'd say its better to compare Travis and Bobby Banderia, Bon Jovi's former touring rhythm guitarist who left the group last year. Banderia joined BJ as a full time touring musician in 2005 when Richie Sambora was still very much in the fold...

[George_g888]

I think you're all reading too much into this.

Odds are Travis is there to fill the backing vocal void left by Deen. He sings Mother Father so Arnel can take a break. The added keyboard means less canned instrumentals, less multitasking for Jon. Maybe a chance for him to be on guitar more. I think that's the extent of it.

I 100 % agree

[tj]

I agree with you, but Travis appeared to storm off the stage before the band even began to take the curtain call formation. Maybe Travis had to take a really bad shit? The band is already introducing him during the show AND allowing him to share the spotlight with Arnel, so it's not like they have him playing under the rafters. Some bands, as you know, have back-up musicians and keep them out-of-view completely.[/quote]

That's funny. What do you do when you gotta go? I have always wondered about that with bands and athletes. Sometimes, you can't wait. Is there some sort of high sign you give the rest of the band to signal it's time for them to improvise for a while so that you can go empty your bladder/bowels?

[youkeepmewaiting]

"stormed off the stage" makes it sound pretty dramatic. He just the stage when he was meant to.

[Art Vandelay]

He's just a gun for hire, most likely to replace Deen's missing harmonies. Chances are there may have been additional keyboards played behind the curtains during other tours, but having him add the vocals only makes sense to bring him and his keyboard to the forefront. You can see someone playing acoustic guitar during Who's Crying Now on the Houston Escape DVD, during one of the backstage angle shots. So having additional musicians play from behind the scenes may not be so uncommon after all.

[AR]

WHY?

Just don't play the song.

[Archetype]

He's just a gun for hire, most likely to replace Deen's missing harmonies. Chances are there may have been additional keyboards played behind the curtains during other tours, but having him add the vocals only makes sense to bring him and his keyboard to the forefront. You can see someone playing acoustic guitar during Who's Crying Now on the Houston Escape DVD, during one of the backstage angle shots. So having additional musicians play from behind the scenes may not be so uncommon after all.

I remember seeing someone behind the stage during the 2003 Main Event tour who appeared to be playing a keyboard.

[tj]

He's just a gun for hire, most likely to replace Deen's missing harmonies. Chances are there may have been additional keyboards played behind the curtains during other tours, but having him add the vocals only makes sense to bring him and his keyboard to the forefront. You can see someone playing acoustic guitar during Who's Crying Now on the Houston Escape DVD, during one of the backstage angle shots. So having additional musicians play from behind the scenes may not be so uncommon after all.

Maybe it was just a roadie playing along, not mixed into the sound?

[tj]

WHY?

Just don't play the song.

Concensus seems to be that it is to give Arnel a break. That's fine. Play one of the instrumental pieces from the Time3 album or let Neal play something off one of his solo albums. There are several ways to get the break in other than bringing in someone who is not in the band to sing a song that most of the crowd doesn't know.

I get why they did it with Deen, a great voice and member of the band. And I am ok with extra keyboards and bg vocals. But if you are going to feature a non band member singing a song, make it a bigger deal. Get someone from another known band to guest on the song for the show. Arnel did it with Chicago for a song. Jon and Neal have to know dozens of people who could guest for a song. Start with Rolie.