Journey At Monsters Of Rock UK - A mini review!

[Paul_UK]

I put this in the Classic Rock forum while this one was closed, so thought i'd bring it over here for those who might have missed it and be interested....

Just as I actually had some worthy Journey chat to share, the forum closes...great!! Thanks to Liz for pointing me in this direction!

Well it was quite ironic that while it was all kicking off in here on Saturday night, I was rocking out to Journey at the Monsters Of Rock festival here in the UK!

The band played an awesome hour long set that comprised mostly of the hits. This wasn't really a surprise as that's what all the other bands done too and is to be expected at these kind of gigs as that's what a neutral crowd want to hear.

Journey certainly gave what i can only describe as a music lesson to all the other guests on the day...they truly were sensational. Not only did they have what was probably the best sound of the day, they all looked like they were having a ball on stage and they all seemed genuinely surprised at the warm welcome the UK crowd gave them.

I'm not gonna get into the whole Augeri debate in my post, but on the night he sounded on top form. Of course what with the week's topic in here I couldn't help but pay close attention to his vocal and I have to say the boy done good!...We were up close too, just 3 rows back!

As for the setlist, as i mentioned it was mostly hits...They kicked off with "Separate Ways" and "Stone In Love" and the order after that is a bit of a blur! Included was, "Wheel In The Sky", Faithfully", Any Way You Want It", "Suzanne (Deen vocals)", "Lights", "Open Arms", "Be Good To Yourself", "Keep On Running", "Place In Your Heart", "Escape", "God Save The Queen (Neal solo), "Don't Stop Believin'".

It really was a pleasure to see Journey back on British soil after all these years...I really hope they come back again real soon, you guys in the USA are so damn lucky!

[Moon Beam]

Thanks for posting here Paul.
Please tell me you were singing out loudly when
Escape played.
Glad you had a good time.

[Liz22562]

Thanks Paul!

[NoMoreTails]

The set lists I've seen so far look good although I'd like to see a couple more Augeri era tunes. I only hope that they'll continue with the likes of CR,DOA,KOR,EOTB,OOHW, etc on the US tour (at least a couple with the time constraints). But why do Suzanne at Monsters of Rock?

[shaggy]

yeah Journey were good but it infuriated me that they omitted stuff from Arrival, Red 13 and Generations. Augeri is the lead singer not Perry and its high time they dumped some of the old stuff in favour of the more recent songs. All that this "classic stuff only shows" does is perpetuate the myth that Journey as a band will always be in the shadow of Perry. Perry has been gone for close on a decade - time to move on. Ok so many of those at Monsters will probably have been blissfully unaware that Augeri is the singer and Castronovo is the drummer, but surely this was the ideal time to show everyone that Journey was still alive and kicking and doing new material instead of retreating into the old "we need to reintroduce the band to the UK fans again so let's just stick to what they all remember" crapola. I didnt go to their shows at Edinburgh or Manchester cos of financial constraints and inability to get the time off work to go anyway, but I hope that at these gigs they did start acknowledging their work since Perry tried so despeartely to dictate to the band with his over inflated ego. Perry was the reason why Journey never toured beyond the confines of North America, and why fans around the world outside of that region were denied a chance to see the band. There was a Journey before Perry and there is still a Journey long after his departure, the band needs to realise that and stop trying to please those stuck in a timewarp who refuse to accept he will never be coming back.

[PROPERRY]

yeah Journey were good but it infuriated me that they omitted stuff from Arrival, Red 13 and Generations. Augeri is the lead singer not Perry and its high time they dumped some of the old stuff in favour of the more recent songs. All that this "classic stuff only shows" does is perpetuate the myth that Journey as a band will always be in the shadow of Perry. Perry has been gone for close on a decade - time to move on. Ok so many of those at Monsters will probably have been blissfully unaware that Augeri is the singer and Castronovo is the drummer, but surely this was the ideal time to show everyone that Journey was still alive and kicking and doing new material instead of retreating into the old "we need to reintroduce the band to the UK fans again so let's just stick to what they all remember" crapola. I didnt go to their shows at Edinburgh or Manchester cos of financial constraints and inability to get the time off work to go anyway, but I hope that at these gigs they did start acknowledging their work since Perry tried so despeartely to dictate to the band with his over inflated ego. Perry was the reason why Journey never toured beyond the confines of North America, and why fans around the world outside of that region were denied a chance to see the band. There was a Journey before Perry and there is still a Journey long after his departure, the band needs to realise that and stop trying to please those stuck in a timewarp who refuse to accept he will never be coming back.

Oh here we go again...somebody thinking that this is about fans wanting to get Perry back in the Journey

That is so ridiculous, Perry has said he does not want to perform with Journey, and THIS Perry Fan understands that completely.


It is NOT about Perry, NOR is it about fans wanting to get Perry back in Journey, that is not what this is about at all. This is about Augeri & the band "using backup tapes" & "lip synching at concerts", so leave Perry out of the band's problems.

Lori

[Paul_UK]

Very well said, Shags! I'm sure if Perry did rejoin the band we'd never see them on UK shores again...on that point alone i hope he stays well away!

[Red13JoePa]

Those that aren't awares of tapegate or dismissed it are posting some raves about the Euro shows..... I'm hoping the lave OOHW in for Philly (Camden, NJ) for opening night, US. Gimme a FITH or a TPIYH, too.
'Drew. Still planning on brandishing the sign for Joey boy

[jrnyman28]

It is NOT about Perry, NOR is it about fans wanting to get Perry back in Journey, that is not what this is about at all. This is about Augeri & the band "using backup tapes" & "lip synching at concerts", so leave Perry out of the band's problems.

Lori

Actually, this post was about neither. He did not say anything about wanting Perry back (although he did mention there are fans that do...which is correct) and their set list had nothing to do with lip-synching since they could have easily lipped the Augeri-era stuff as well.

[shaggy]

Thanks Jrnyman 28 for actually reading what I posted. Maybe certain other people need to read what is posted first instead of making assumptions and making themselves look stupid.

This is exactly why I walked away from the Journey backtalk forum. It just got so full of holier-than-thou individuals who could never engage in discussion about the band without their own prejudices coming into play and turning a thread into a flame fest just cos they didnt agree with another person's opinion. I recently popped onto the official Journey site to see if it had changed and lo and behold it was still the same. The minute someone dares to make an observational comment or remark about the band or dares to so much as question a setlist or whatever, and the "Journey police" stomp all over you and make you feel like you are some kind of anti christ for daring to say anything bad against them. I like Journey, but I cant abide the backtalk pages of their website cos its just so intolerent of any form of critisism of the band however small and insignificant by over zealous cookie-baking, garland-making, fusspots who think the sun shines out of the band's collective backsides.

[Marabelle]

LOL! So true! So true! Holier than Thou folks take away all of the fun!

[shaggy]

nice to know I'm not the only one who felt the same way