Bad night in Raliegh NC

[whocares]

I think the original post about the drum tech being a new guy was meant as a new "member", not that he isn't capable of drumming. Any Drum tech should know the songs, like an understudy in a play, they should be ready, just incase.

[jrnyman28]

It is sad to me that when Perry had to cancel concerts because of illness, HE was HEAVILY critizised here on this board for doing so, even though HE was just taking care of HIMSELF, (like ANY singer should do), rather than continuing to sing like Augeri is doing right now.

I WISH the SAME understanding for Augeri could have been GIVEN to Perry when he needed to cancel concerts , in order to take care of his health, instead of ALL the critizism he recieved here from so many on this board!!


Lori

You are right that Perry was criticized (by some) for cancelling tours. But the difference here is that Journey is NOT cancelling tours for their singer, which they did with Perry. So the criticism is justified that Journey is not handling this well. The only scary thing is that when Perry cancelled tours, he was rarely heard from again (ROR and FTLOSM). We do not want that to happen with Steve and Journey.

[jrnyman28]

My post on BT concerning this (It is in the DH titled Please Steve):

If the reviews are accurate, that I plead with Steve: For the sake of your voice, walk off the stage. You cannot keep going like this. Deen, I know you have a great voice but even you had some difficulties from last year. Journey's songs are very hard to sing and it seems to have cost the voice of two very talented people already. Journey, get off the road. Take the hit from Def Leppard, whatever it takes to break this contract. Save Steve please. Give Steve some time to heal, or surgery, or rehabilitation, or whatever. Then get together as a unified group and write your butts off. Reheaerse it, record it, mix it right and release it. THEN, hit the road on your terms giving Steve a "soft" schedule. Play every other night. No more 2 and 3 nights in a row.
Steve, Deen, Ross, Jon, Neal: We love you guys and we want you all happy and healthy. The fans will understand if you cannot be on the road. I am supposed to be going to the Red Rocks show in August, but I would rather see the band take of each other instead of "us". It has been an 8 year run, there have been 8 tours and only one summer off (2000 for Arrival). You have accomplished so much in the past 8 years and a great deal of that is due to Steve. Don't throw it all away. Don't bury the band that we love.

Please.

[Monker]

Red13JoePa wrote:
Yes but as I recall, Perry simply up and cancelled the remainder of the FTLOSM tour for now reason. IE: none provided. I still don't think he's ever explained why officially even though every body knows.... this is where Journey would have to do it differently, not so aloof. They would have to provide reason for the cancellations if they come.

OhSherri wrote:
Actually Joe, Steve said his reason for cancelling some of the FTLOSM shows was bronchitis. Moyes Lucas confirmed that and said that was when Sony started pushing the Journey reunion instead of supporting FTLOSM.

You're both right.

The shows were originaly canceled supposedly due to ASTHMATIC bronchitis...there is a difference. Those canceled shows were supposed to be rescheduled, and never were...and no reason was given why...But, gee, I guess the timing of the band meetings to make decisions regarding the Journey reunion was just a coincidence...since they were scheduled ON canceled dates of the FTLOSM tour, and Perry attended them. A month or so later, the tour was canned and Perry was in Journey.

[whocares]

and I bet you got labeled as a bad person for posting that too j28. Which is too bad. People can only post their feelings here if it's not a happy post.

[TRAGChick]

...I would hope in time his pipes would recover to
100% of what they are now.
If an artist has a year away from singing is it
possible to make a full recovery or even close to it?
I wouldn't know.

Here's what I had to say in my "Does anybody know?" Thread:

"Why was the "new incarnation" of Journey never supported?

By "support", I mean by radio. Not once did I EVER hear a Post-Perry Journey song on CT radio. If it's different where you are, then please let me know.

IMO, if they were, then it would be like the "good old days":

They'd be supporting the NEW MATERIAL on tours...so therefore, the tours would be a few years apart...like "Escape" to "Frontiers" to "ROR"...81-82; 83, and 86....because they'd be releasing new material and TAKING BREAKS.

And, there'd be no "blown vocal chords" from touring Summer..after Summer...after Summer...relying heavily on the "Golden Oldies", so to speak."

Jeremey and Nora could maybe chime in here and answer.
Also I don't think Perry would ever come back
for a tour, maybe a show or two but I just couldn't
see him going on any tour from what he has stated
in the past.
Man I would love it if he did but that's a bet I won't take.

Hang on....my head is still spinning from reading FOUR PAGES....

OK:

Someone posted somewhere in this thread (I apologize - I can't remember who did! ) that Steve P. was a "vocal prodigy".

BINGO!!

HE wrote & co-wrote the songs KNOWING HIS OWN ABILITY AND WHAT HE COULD DO WITH IT!!

IMO, that's why it's so freaking HARD for ANYone to sing these songs....we're working on "Stone in Love" right now and MAN...I'm a FEMALE SINGER, and that song is in a HIGH REGISTER for ME!!

But, getting back to the serious issue with Mr. Augeri:

SP's voice is like no other.....and IMO there's NO OTHER MALE SINGER outside of a "Journey-Cover/Tribute Band" that can sing these songs....sorry, but I really think that's the case now.

A singer LITERALLY has to live, breathe, and eat these songs over YEARS of practice to give them the proper delivery.

[bionic]

This is posted on MR's Noticeboard by a guy named Kevin.He was there,in Railegh.
Sad....so very sad.

"JOURNEY

Journey hit the stage first with Faith in the Heartland and it was immediately clear that something was wrong. Augeri showed up in Raleigh---his voice did not. To say he was having a difficult time would be putting it mildly. He was struggling. The extent would not be totally realized for a few songs though. Explanations would come later, but there was a problem.
Be Good To Yourself started and the after the first line of the song, Augeri signaled to Deen Castronovo to take over and Augeri went backstage. I have heard Deen sing a few times, and he was on tonight. Augeri returned after a little while and he and Deen went back and forth on lead vocals for the remainder of the song while Augeri tried to coax his voice into action.
Ask the Lonely came next and was somewhat of a breather with it’s lower-pitched vocal. Augeri did better on this song, but he was still having major problems. Throughout the song, Deen supplied backup and occasionally doubled Augeri’s voice. Only the Young came next with Deen singing lead. It didn’t look as if it was planned for Deen to sing on this, but after the problems Augeri was having, it wasn’t a surprise. Journey has been changing the songs Deen would sing in a show, so anything is possible. Augeri needed a breather anyway.
As the song ended, Neal Schon started up his guitar solo. With his choice of playing the Star Spangled Banner at concerts over the past few years, it wasn’t hard to guess what was coming. Tonight’s version was inspired with Ross Vallory and Deen giving the “we’re not worthy” bows towards the end. Stone in Love was next and Steve Augeri was back, but Deen took over shortly in to the song singing the majority of the lead vocals from there on. Wheel in the Sky followed, and Augeri took the lead in this, but Deen was still doing a lot of doubling parts and singing the high parts leaving Augeri for the lower notes.
By now, everyone was fully aware there was something serious going on, but the show continued. Lights was next, and Augeri signaled for Deen. They went back and forth on lead vocals throughout the song. Near the end of the song, Augeri went back to the drums, signaled to Deen and the two of them went offstage. It was plainly obvious there was a problem. Augeri’s voice was not getting any better and he was really struggling. You could feel the tension in the air. Augeri said something and Deen’s reaction had to be seen to believed. Basically, it was “you have got to be kidding me!”. What was said would be revealed very soon. Augeri disappeared into the wings of the stage and the stage was set.
For anyone who is not aware, Deen Castronovo has been doing lead vocals for several years now, but had always been behind the drum seat, playing the drums and singing. Tonight, that changed. A drum tech came out and got in the drummers seat and Deen made his way out to the front of the stage as Open Arms had started. Open Arms isn’t a very drum-intensive song, and there are no drums until the end of the song. Ross Vallory was near the drum kit trying to help the new guy on drums as Deen was out front with just a microphone singing the song. Anyone could tell that Deen was extremely nervous being alone out front, but the crowd loved it. The applause at the end was geniune.
Every Generation started up next, and Augeri was back, this time with guitar in tow. Jonathan Cain took lead vocals, and Augeri did some backup on the chorus. Chain Reaction followed with Augeri singing lead, but he was still having problems. He was giving his all, but the voice just wasn’t there. His voice was improved from the start of the show, but he was still struggling.
As the song ended, Augeri addressed the crowd and informed them of the situation that was occurring on stage. What follows isn’t exactly verbatim, but was written down immediately after he said it, so it is VERY close. “You might have noticed I haven’t been myself. I’ve been a little under the weather lately, so here comes Deen Castronovo to save the day. Give him a lot of love”. That was the intro to Faithfully, and once again, Deen was center stage, and the tech was on the drums. Deen was less nervous this time, trying to get the audience to sing, but still far from comfortable. Ross was at the drums once again helping the tech through the song.
Don’t Stop Believin’ was next and Augeri was back once again. His voice had improved, but he was still signaling for Deen to take the high parts. Separate Ways followed and Augeri’s voice was on the rebound. He was far from perfect, but was still giving 110%. He would nail one note, then his voice would die on the next, but he didn’t give up. Any Way You Want It was next, and the voice continued to improve. Deen continued helping, but Augeri’s voice was finally starting to come around. By this point, he was hitting about 70-80% of the high notes. Early in the show would have been maybe 15-20%. Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin closed the show out with Augeri finally in command.
As the band left the stage, Augeri and Deen embraced for probably the 5th time that night. It was obvious how much Augeri appreciated it. Without Deen being able to sing lead vocals, everyone knew the concert probably would have been cancelled. Augeri knew that better than anyone else.
They say that heroes arise in the time of need. Journey encountered that tonight, and Deen Castronovo stepped up. If there was ever a case for Journey to need a backing tape for Augeri, tonight was the case. There was no backing tape used, and everyone was better for the result.
I don’t know what will happen for the rest of the tour. Journey has a major problem if Augeri has another night like this one, but for those in the right time and place, they saw history being made. Tonight’s show wasn’t what anyone was expecting, but I’ll take this over a pre-recorded experience any day. After seeing the reaction of the crowd when Deen finished Open Arms at center stage, I don’t think I’m alone in that thought.

Setlist…
Faith in the Heartland
Be Good To Yourself (Steve & Deen)
Ask the Lonely (Deen on backup)
Guitar Solo (Star Spangled Banner)
Stone in Love (Steve and Deen)
Wheel in the Sky (Deen on a lot of backing vocals)
Lights (Steve and Deen)
Open Arms (Deen)
Every Generation
Chain Reaction
Faithfully (Deen)
Don’t Stop Believin’ (Deen on high notes)
Separate Ways
Any Way You Want It
Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ "

Expect a statement from the band regarding there future very soon!

[WalrusOct9]

don't count on it. The band's had plenty of time to say something, why start now?

[bionic]

don't count on it. The band's had plenty of time to say something, why start now?

Just wait and see?

[NealIsGod]

don't count on it. The band's had plenty of time to say something, why start now?

Just wait and see?

And you are...?

[jrnyman28]

and I bet you got labeled as a bad person for posting that too j28. Which is too bad. People can only post their feelings here if it's not a happy post.

Actually, so far I have been ignored. I will give it some time and then post it in the GF where more people will see it...

[jrnyman28]

It's not about showing an audience quality musicianship or they wouldn't be doing ANY of this, either the tapes or the crappy live perfomances. No contract can force Augeri to perform if he is in bad shape. Their hand has been forced, since it was caught in the cookie jar. Now he is going "live" to garner as much sympathy from those that will provide it.

A new conspiracy theory, have Steve sound bad enough on stage that the audience will actually accept the band using tapes!!

[NealIsGod]

It's not about showing an audience quality musicianship or they wouldn't be doing ANY of this, either the tapes or the crappy live perfomances. No contract can force Augeri to perform if he is in bad shape. Their hand has been forced, since it was caught in the cookie jar. Now he is going "live" to garner as much sympathy from those that will provide it.

A new conspiracy theory, have Steve sound bad enough on stage that the audience will actually accept the band using tapes!!

It's so crazy that it just might work!

[Marabelle]

Incredible. If these grown men can't make up their mind to do the right thing then all is completely lost. Someone mentioned intregrity; well
that's out of the window. It's looking like, where is the money?

[conversationpc]

IMO, that's why it's so freaking HARD for ANYone to sing these songs....we're working on "Stone in Love" right now and MAN...I'm a FEMALE SINGER, and that song is in a HIGH REGISTER for ME!!

Really? I don't have the training to be able to tell what key a song is in or how high a particular note is but that one doesn't seem that high to me. I can sing the whole thing except for the really high notes during the chorus when Perry sings "Stone in love!".

[whocares]

anyone, man or woman who can actually sing and not just think they can sing, knows how hard on the voicebox, most Past Journey songs are. They literally hurt you to sing them more than a few in a row. It kills my voice trying to sing them, and I've had lots of training.

[TRAGChick]

IMO, that's why it's so freaking HARD for ANYone to sing these songs....we're working on "Stone in Love" right now and MAN...I'm a FEMALE SINGER, and that song is in a HIGH REGISTER for ME!!

Really? I don't have the training to be able to tell what key a song is in or how high a particular note is but that one doesn't seem that high to me. I can sing the whole thing except for the really high notes during the chorus when Perry sings "Stone in love!".

What I meant was, the song is in the key of "G" - the highest note is on the word, "nights" in the phrase, "Those Summer nights I'm callin'....Stone in Love".

and that note is an octave ABOVE "middle-C" - pretty damn high for a guy.