08.26.09 Journey @ Schottenstein Center, Columbus, OH

[Jana]

To me, it's not so much about album sales anymore, it's about having that one big hit. Their are a lot of new artists who have singles that are actually outselling their albums because of the advent of Itunes.
Taylor Swift has two or three songs already that are close to or even beyond three million downloads. That's where you are going to find success now days. That one big single. Journey needs to have another DSB type hit to create separation from the Perry era and this new lineup if they want to stop reading his name in the first Paragraph of every review and start being recognized as the NEW Journey.

I don't think it's possible to come out with another song like 'Don't Stop Believin', they really just got lucky with that one, honestly, I don't see what is so great about that song. :-/

You don't see any bands from the 80's having a HUGE smash hit in the 1990's or 2000's, I don't know why Journey would be any different.

It's not my favorite song, but it's insanely recognizable and pays the bills. Gunbot is spot on when he says it would be great if Journey in 2010 could separate themselves from the Perry era. All of us here on the board know that they've put out some good material post-Trial By Fire. But for the general public to know that would require them to put out something outstanding.

Maybe get a new song in a movie. As the lead song in the movie. Remember Me was in position to do so and is a great, great song. But when Aerosmith's I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing was given the prime spot in Armageddon, Remember Me fell through the tracks. Being the lead song on a movie soundtrack would be huge.

And there's one answer to your question of a band from the '80s having a HUGE smash hit in the 1990s or 2000s. Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 100, the first time that happened for the band after 28 years together. That's just off the top of my head. It can happen. It'd be huge for Journey.

How did Vertigo do with U2? It got a lot of radio play.

[Jana]

Journey is not the only one I consider as a nostalgia act. It has nothing to do with Perry. It's the music they're playing. if I go their show, 80% of the setlist is songs I heard in the 80's. They're playing 4 or 5 songs tops that are newer than 1986. It that not nostalgia?
Yes, AC/DC, U-2 are all Nostalgia acts as far as I'm concerned. Look, every year from 79 -86, the band would play five new songs. the Next year they would keep those songs and add 4 or 5 more news ones, so on and so on. Where are they even playing two songs from TBF, Arrival, Generations? Are they not skipping over these albums to go back 20 years to get 80% of their setlist? if you want to talk about their new music, other than Revelation where is it? Did the Augeri years not even happen? Higher Place. Wow one song in Eight+ concerts.
They're nostalgia. Why is that an insult?

I understand where you're coming from, but I still question a few things.

I'm wondering what your distinction is between a "nostalgia" act and a band that has been around for a long time. I'm pretty amazed that you feel U2 are a nostalgia act. These guys support a new album more than any band I know, and their new albums consistently sell well (unlike Journey's poor success with Arrival and Generations).

Why is it a bad thing that the band plays songs that are huge hits, and just so happen to be from the 1980s? If Higher Place had charted in the top 10 and was still played on the radio, would they be nostalgia if they played it in concert since it was released eight years ago?

I'm not sure what the setlist would have to look like for you to approve of what Journey is doing. The setlist from Grand Rapids is just about perfect for a 105-minute set. If they played for four hours, then yes, I would expect them to represent the Augeri years better and play more deep cuts. Why would a band deliberately avoid playing songs that are such staples of everyday life from the 1980s through today?

Thank you. Great common sense post.

Thanks.

Dream on.

[Don]

To me, it's not so much about album sales anymore, it's about having that one big hit. Their are a lot of new artists who have singles that are actually outselling their albums because of the advent of Itunes.
Taylor Swift has two or three songs already that are close to or even beyond three million downloads. That's where you are going to find success now days. That one big single. Journey needs to have another DSB type hit to create separation from the Perry era and this new lineup if they want to stop reading his name in the first Paragraph of every review and start being recognized as the NEW Journey.

I don't think it's possible to come out with another song like 'Don't Stop Believin', they really just got lucky with that one, honestly, I don't see what is so great about that song. :-/

You don't see any bands from the 80's having a HUGE smash hit in the 1990's or 2000's, I don't know why Journey would be any different.

It's not my favorite song, but it's insanely recognizable and pays the bills. Gunbot is spot on when he says it would be great if Journey in 2010 could separate themselves from the Perry era. All of us here on the board know that they've put out some good material post-Trial By Fire. But for the general public to know that would require them to put out something outstanding.

Maybe get a new song in a movie. As the lead song in the movie. Remember Me was in position to do so and is a great, great song. But when Aerosmith's I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing was given the prime spot in Armageddon, Remember Me fell through the tracks. Being the lead song on a movie soundtrack would be huge.

And there's one answer to your question of a band from the '80s having a HUGE smash hit in the 1990s or 2000s. Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 100, the first time that happened for the band after 28 years together. That's just off the top of my head. It can happen. It'd be huge for Journey.

How did Vertigo do with U2? It got a lot of radio play.

Vertigo hit #31 on the TOP 40.
This year's "Get On Your Boots" hit #37 on the TOP 40 (which really surprised me).

[Jana]

I highly doubt that 75% of the people who bought Revelation were only intrigued by the re-recorded greatest hits. If they wanted that, they would splurged and paid the $3 extra for the 3 disc Essential Journey set.

I can say that ANY song on Revelation is good enough to be on a greatest hits package 5 years down the road.

Yes, the material is good on Revelation. But people don't know that until they get it home. There has to be a good reason for them to buy it, and it was because of what Wal-Mart offered and not because it was Journey. If the name Journey carried it, then Arrival and Generations would have sold as well as Revelation did. Buying something for $12 at a superstore like Wal-Mart and getting three discs is a compelling reason to check out the package.

Like I have said 3 times already, if the new album is not a Wal-Mart release and still sells as well as Revelation did, then Journey is back in the mainstream conscious of the music-buying public and their efforts the last few tours and albums has paid off. Let's wait until that happens before crowning them.

But they are taking every step to set themselves up to be successful. Revelation, the Revelation Tour and the promotion they have been doing on TV is great. The real test is next year.

I don't know how Wal-Mart marketed it down here b/c I went to buy it as a Journey fan. But when I went there, the girl said something like, everybody has been coming in wanting the new Journey CD. I bought it about seven days after it hit the stores.

[Don]

Bon Jovi TOP 40 hits this decade

Who Says You Can't Go Home #23

Make A Memory #27

[Voyager]

"It's sort of a cosmic thing," said keyboardist Jonathan Cain, who wrote the song's opening piano riffs -- among the most recognizable in modern pop music.

[isla]

METROMIX-columbus

http://columbus.metromix.com/music/essa ... de-look-...

Inside look: Journey at the Schottenstein Center

We admit, seeing a Journey show with anyone other than Steve Perry belting out the tunes is a bit of a letdown. But this new guy can really sing.

In case you haven't heard the story, Journey found its current singer, Arnel Pinedo, on YouTube. Pinedo was in a Journey cover band, and his versions of the classic songs impressed the members of Journey enough to bring him on board.

The energetic Pinedo kept the crowd entertained Aug. 26 at the Schottenstein Center, both with his vocals and his frantic stage presence. Of course, when you're listening to songs like "Don't Stop Believing" and "Any Way You Want It," it's hard not to be entertained

Check out all our photos from the show, then take a look at some of our other recent concert galleries, featuring the "American Idol Live Tour," Modest Mouse, CD101 Summerfest and Lynyrd Skynyrd

[Jana]

A concert-goer said in a review that Deen didn't sing, and Arnel sang Higher Place. I'm confused. I thought Deen sang Higher Place.

[Don]

Three more reviews knocking the sound. What ever Neal changed isn't working. We never heard of these issues last year. Did the band change the mixer guy or are the venues so terrible that sound isn't amplifying properly?

[RaisedOnRadio92]

Three more reviews knocking the sound. What ever Neal changed isn't working. We never heard of these issues last year. Did the band change the mixer guy or are the venues so terrible that sound isn't amplifying properly?

The sound at the Rockford show this year and the Council Bluffs show last year was soo loud and overbearing, that it was nearly distorting itself. Not good..

[isla]

A concert-goer said in a review that Deen didn't sing, and Arnel sang Higher Place. I'm confused. I thought Deen sang Higher Place.

Let me put your confusion to rest, Jana. Arnel sung Higher Place and here's a short video clip of it. Yes, I finally found it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4JUPmCAaI

[fightingilliniJRNY]

Three more reviews knocking the sound. What ever Neal changed isn't working. We never heard of these issues last year. Did the band change the mixer guy or are the venues so terrible that sound isn't amplifying properly?

Both. I believe the band did change the "mixer guy" (no more Kevin Elson), and I think the venues they are playing this year are not always cut out for concerts. A lot of state fair grandstands, a lot of arenas that don't usually have a lot of rock shows.

The best sound is usually found at an amphitheater. Look for much better sound when the band hits all the sheds next year for the new album tour. The reason you didn't hear about sound issues last year is because there weren't any - they were in amphitheaters.

[Ehwmatt]

Every time I've ever seen Journey Neal has had guitar issues. There's always an issue with the mix, usually with Neal being lost in the mix or sometimes I've seen where the rhythm guitars are nice and loud, cutting thru with ease and then when he kicks the lead on it would just completely disappear...

I dunno if it has to do with his amp configuration (maybe he uses a different amp for leads and has it set wrong sometimes or the levels need to be worked out in-show for a couple songs) or if it has to do with his effects rig... whatever the case may be, it's always been an issue, at least at the start of the set if not intermittently throughout the show.

[portland]

METROMIX-columbus

http://columbus.metromix.com/music/essa ... de-look-...

Inside look: Journey at the Schottenstein Center

We admit, seeing a Journey show with anyone other than Steve Perry belting out the tunes is a bit of a letdown. But this new guy can really sing.

In case you haven't heard the story, Journey found its current singer, Arnel Pinedo, on YouTube. Pinedo was in a Journey cover band, and his versions of the classic songs impressed the members of Journey enough to bring him on board.

The energetic Pinedo kept the crowd entertained Aug. 26 at the Schottenstein Center, both with his vocals and his frantic stage presence. Of course, when you're listening to songs like "Don't Stop Believing" and "Any Way You Want It," it's hard not to be entertained

Check out all our photos from the show, then take a look at some of our other recent concert galleries, featuring the "American Idol Live Tour," Modest Mouse, CD101 Summerfest and Lynyrd Skynyrd

who is Arnel Pinedo???

[DrFU]

A concert-goer said in a review that Deen didn't sing, and Arnel sang Higher Place. I'm confused. I thought Deen sang Higher Place.

Let me put your confusion to rest, Jana. Arnel sung Higher Place and here's a short video clip of it. Yes, I finally found it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4JUPmCAaI

How fabulous to hear that song live again.

Austin, Austin, Austin, please.

[isla]

METROMIX-columbus

http://columbus.metromix.com/music/essa ... de-look-...

Inside look: Journey at the Schottenstein Center

We admit, seeing a Journey show with anyone other than Steve Perry belting out the tunes is a bit of a letdown. But this new guy can really sing.

In case you haven't heard the story, Journey found its current singer, Arnel Pinedo, on YouTube. Pinedo was in a Journey cover band, and his versions of the classic songs impressed the members of Journey enough to bring him on board.

The energetic Pinedo kept the crowd entertained Aug. 26 at the Schottenstein Center, both with his vocals and his frantic stage presence. Of course, when you're listening to songs like "Don't Stop Believing" and "Any Way You Want It," it's hard not to be entertained

Check out all our photos from the show, then take a look at some of our other recent concert galleries, featuring the "American Idol Live Tour," Modest Mouse, CD101 Summerfest and Lynyrd Skynyrd

who is Arnel Pinedo???

I know . . . I know! Since it's a direct quote of the article, I did not edit it, or else the writer might sue me !