A BAD REVIEW AT BRISTOW 7/7/06

[daltonsdad]

Wow! Was I at a different show than these folks or were they highly intoxicated. Soto was oversinging everything and his range was extremely limited! The highs are not possible for him! He was trying to emulate Perry, not a chance. He gave it a valliant effort I will say, but man I was cringing and even my 11 year old son was saying man Dad that sounds bad! I was extremely disappointed but SOTO did put off trmenedous energy.

If you look at the pics, I think you will see the band is actually looking at SOTO like damn man did I just hear that! Do they look happy and approving to you? I did not see one positive sign of body language or a gesture of approval for Soto from the others. I didn't have any to give either. The music was good but I was about to hurl from the vocals! I will also comment that themixer/sound people "turned down the volume on vocals after like 2 songs". I also noticed they added background fade as well, an almost full elimnation of any "tweeter" in the vocals!

Elliott & Leppard should have compensated with more songs. All I can say is there will be some pissed of fans in the next few weeks! If I had tix, I would list them on EBAY NOW! Sell them to an unsuspecting fan who knows nothing of this controversy!

Get Perry back and have a monster tour! After all to have done what they have and to continue on this tour proves to me they are now only about the money! They are "fracturing" the JOurney name as Steve Perry described it when asking them not contiue on under the "Journey" name initially! Maybe I need to take up drinking, it is obvious that must have been the catalyst to a good review!

Thanks to the beautiful young blonde who made the show for my son & I! Without her, it would have been a bust! She can share my space & blanket! Anytime that she wants to....

Sorry to disagree but the consensus around me, at least from those not bombed out of their minds was a distinct and certain 2 thumbs down!

[Journeynut]

Wow! Was I at a different show than these folks or were they highly intoxicated. Soto was oversinging everything and his range was extremely limited! The highs are not possible for him! He was trying to emulate Perry, not a chance. He gave it a valliant effort I will say, but man I was cringing and even my 11 year old son was saying man Dad that sounds bad! I was extremely disappointed but SOTO did put off trmenedous energy.

If you look at the pics, I think you will see the band is actually looking at SOTO like damn man did I just hear that! Do they look happy and approving to you? I did not see one positive sign of body language or a gesture of approval for Soto from the others. I didn't have any to give either. The music was good but I was about to hurl from the vocals! I will also comment that themixer/sound people "turned down the volume on vocals after like 2 songs". I also noticed they added background fade as well, an almost full elimnation of any "tweeter" in the vocals!

Elliott & Leppard should have compensated with more songs. All I can say is there will be some pissed of fans in the next few weeks! If I had tix, I would list them on EBAY NOW! Sell them to an unsuspecting fan who knows nothing of this controversy!

Get Perry back and have a monster tour! After all to have done what they have and to continue on this tour proves to me they are now only about the money! They are "fracturing" the JOurney name as Steve Perry described it when asking them not contiue on under the "Journey" name initially! Maybe I need to take up drinking, it is obvious that must have been the catalyst to a good review!

Thanks to the beautiful young blonde who made the show for my son & I! Without her, it would have been a bust! She can share my space & blanket! Anytime that she wants to....

Sorry to disagree but the consensus around me, at least from those not bombed out of their minds was a distinct and certain 2 thumbs down!

Ouch.

[conversationpc]

Hmmm...I tend to believe the good reviews of this show, even though I am one that hopes Augeri returns to the band at some point. Even at the other forum, the unmentionable one, the reviews I've seen have all been positive, even though most of the people there seem to worship at the throne of Steve A. or Steve P. I don't think either camp would hesitate to post a bad review if they thought so. Soto may not have the range that Perry once did but he definitely has more range than much of his solo work and other stuff he's done has shown. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Your never having posted here before and saying stuff about "fracturing the stone" makes me question that this is a legitimate review or that you already had some kind of agenda going into it.

[amaron]

Wow! Was I at a different show than these folks or were they highly intoxicated. Soto was oversinging everything and his range was extremely limited! The highs are not possible for him! He was trying to emulate Perry, not a chance. He gave it a valliant effort I will say, but man I was cringing and even my 11 year old son was saying man Dad that sounds bad! I was extremely disappointed but SOTO did put off trmenedous energy.

If you look at the pics, I think you will see the band is actually looking at SOTO like damn man did I just hear that! Do they look happy and approving to you? I did not see one positive sign of body language or a gesture of approval for Soto from the others. I didn't have any to give either. The music was good but I was about to hurl from the vocals! I will also comment that themixer/sound people "turned down the volume on vocals after like 2 songs". I also noticed they added background fade as well, an almost full elimnation of any "tweeter" in the vocals!

Elliott & Leppard should have compensated with more songs. All I can say is there will be some pissed of fans in the next few weeks! If I had tix, I would list them on EBAY NOW! Sell them to an unsuspecting fan who knows nothing of this controversy!

Get Perry back and have a monster tour! After all to have done what they have and to continue on this tour proves to me they are now only about the money! They are "fracturing" the JOurney name as Steve Perry described it when asking them not contiue on under the "Journey" name initially! Maybe I need to take up drinking, it is obvious that must have been the catalyst to a good review!

Thanks to the beautiful young blonde who made the show for my son & I! Without her, it would have been a bust! She can share my space & blanket! Anytime that she wants to....

Sorry to disagree but the consensus around me, at least from those not bombed out of their minds was a distinct and certain 2 thumbs down!

Ouch.

I'm willing to bet the same type of post was made after Augeri's first concert with Journey in 1998. You just can't please a certain sect of people.

[AR]

Maybe I need to take up drinking

Maybe you should. Perry is 57 years old and seems geuninely happy with life away from performing. No one knows what he could really do vocally at this point anyway. He's not coming back, get over it.

[Journeynut]

Wow! Was I at a different show than these folks or were they highly intoxicated. Soto was oversinging everything and his range was extremely limited! The highs are not possible for him! He was trying to emulate Perry, not a chance. He gave it a valliant effort I will say, but man I was cringing and even my 11 year old son was saying man Dad that sounds bad! I was extremely disappointed but SOTO did put off trmenedous energy.

If you look at the pics, I think you will see the band is actually looking at SOTO like damn man did I just hear that! Do they look happy and approving to you? I did not see one positive sign of body language or a gesture of approval for Soto from the others. I didn't have any to give either. The music was good but I was about to hurl from the vocals! I will also comment that themixer/sound people "turned down the volume on vocals after like 2 songs". I also noticed they added background fade as well, an almost full elimnation of any "tweeter" in the vocals!

Elliott & Leppard should have compensated with more songs. All I can say is there will be some pissed of fans in the next few weeks! If I had tix, I would list them on EBAY NOW! Sell them to an unsuspecting fan who knows nothing of this controversy!

Get Perry back and have a monster tour! After all to have done what they have and to continue on this tour proves to me they are now only about the money! They are "fracturing" the JOurney name as Steve Perry described it when asking them not contiue on under the "Journey" name initially! Maybe I need to take up drinking, it is obvious that must have been the catalyst to a good review!

Thanks to the beautiful young blonde who made the show for my son & I! Without her, it would have been a bust! She can share my space & blanket! Anytime that she wants to....

Sorry to disagree but the consensus around me, at least from those not bombed out of their minds was a distinct and certain 2 thumbs down!

Ouch.

I'm willing to bet the same type of post was made after Augeri's first concert with Journey in 1998. You just can't please a certain sect of people.

We have come to expect, dare I say love a certain sound. Can't blame us for that

[JrnySuxBalls]

but man I was cringing and even my 11 year old son was saying man Dad that sounds bad!

LOL. Nice touch.

[amaron]

Wow! Was I at a different show than these folks or were they highly intoxicated. Soto was oversinging everything and his range was extremely limited! The highs are not possible for him! He was trying to emulate Perry, not a chance. He gave it a valliant effort I will say, but man I was cringing and even my 11 year old son was saying man Dad that sounds bad! I was extremely disappointed but SOTO did put off trmenedous energy.

If you look at the pics, I think you will see the band is actually looking at SOTO like damn man did I just hear that! Do they look happy and approving to you? I did not see one positive sign of body language or a gesture of approval for Soto from the others. I didn't have any to give either. The music was good but I was about to hurl from the vocals! I will also comment that themixer/sound people "turned down the volume on vocals after like 2 songs". I also noticed they added background fade as well, an almost full elimnation of any "tweeter" in the vocals!

Elliott & Leppard should have compensated with more songs. All I can say is there will be some pissed of fans in the next few weeks! If I had tix, I would list them on EBAY NOW! Sell them to an unsuspecting fan who knows nothing of this controversy!

Get Perry back and have a monster tour! After all to have done what they have and to continue on this tour proves to me they are now only about the money! They are "fracturing" the JOurney name as Steve Perry described it when asking them not contiue on under the "Journey" name initially! Maybe I need to take up drinking, it is obvious that must have been the catalyst to a good review!

Thanks to the beautiful young blonde who made the show for my son & I! Without her, it would have been a bust! She can share my space & blanket! Anytime that she wants to....

Sorry to disagree but the consensus around me, at least from those not bombed out of their minds was a distinct and certain 2 thumbs down!

Ouch.

I'm willing to bet the same type of post was made after Augeri's first concert with Journey in 1998. You just can't please a certain sect of people.

We have come to expect, dare I say love a certain sound. Can't blame us for that

Actually, I was referring to the fact that for some people (ie: Perry-onlies), it doesn't matter who is singing. They'll never hit the high notes good enough and the songs will never sound good enough.

[AR]

POP MUSIC
Monday, July 10, 2006; Page C05

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 00813.html

Def Leppard and Journey

When your band owns some of the most instantly recognizable rock singalong anthems of all time, it doesn't take much to please -- and co-headlining '80s arena rock demigods Def Leppard and Journey did just enough for rock fans Friday night at Nissan Pavilion.

With lead singer Steve Augeri (who replaced original singer Steve Perry in 1998) out with a throat infection, Journey pressed on with vocalist and Journey super-fan Jeff Scott Soto. (Ironically, Soto was the voice of a fictional band, Steel Dragon -- from the 2001 movie "Rock Star" -- that also gets fronted by a fan.)

But it's questionable whether even loyal Journey fans could tell the difference, since so many concertgoers heard "Open Arms" and their slightly faster "Don't Stop Believin' " from the gravel parking lot thanks to Nissan Pavilion's famously horrendous traffic problems. But for the record, Soto's Steve Perry tenor was dead-on.
Then Def Leppard's harder guitar shredding, high-shrieked yelps and lead singer Joe Elliott's black leather pants and tiger-striped trench coat pumped up the imbibing, crimped-haired fans looking to relive the glory days. The air guitars came out during hard rock standards like "Let's Get Rocked" and "Rock of Ages." The pop metal band encored with two of its biggest hits, "Love Bites" and "Pour Some Sugar on Me," to round out the 14-song set.

Both bands gave the audience what they wanted, and minor details -- Elliott's sluggish stage presence, for instance -- were easy to overlook behind the beer goggles and nostalgia.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(I'll give "daltonsdad" this, I'm sure it was a heavy drinking crowd LOL)

[NealIsGod]

Actually, I was referring to the fact that for some people (ie: Perry-onlies), it doesn't matter who is singing. They'll never hit the high notes good enough and the songs will never sound good enough.

Yeah, some people just won't accept anyone but Perry. And if Perry DID come back and sing with Journey, they would claim his voice is perfect no matter how raspy it really is.

[amaron]

Actually, I was referring to the fact that for some people (ie: Perry-onlies), it doesn't matter who is singing. They'll never hit the high notes good enough and the songs will never sound good enough.

Yeah, some people just won't accept anyone but Perry. And if Perry DID come back and sing with Journey, they would claim his voice is perfect no matter how raspy it really is.

They need to really listen to a FTLOSM concert... and accept what reality is.

Even if Steve Perry were to come back today it wouldn't be 1986 all over again.

[daltonsdad]

LOL! An agenda? That is funny. I am only opining on what I saw & heard and what the people who were obviously not impaired around me stated. I saw the reactions! I heard the range. If he was dead on Perry then I must be also losing my hearing in my old age of 41! The only agenda I had was to make some great memories with my son and to see a great show. I accepted Steve II, even though after seeing and hearing Steve I for years, there was no compare. The reactionsand the looks of pain from the crowd and the discussions in line while getting a soda waiting for Leppard were quite clear. Soto did give a very noble attempt and was in a very hard place, however, it was like pulling someone from the crowd to sing. This is just my opinion! I liked the show 3 years ago with Steve II, so I am not totally closed minded. I was quite impressed with Steve II. I had to come on here to see what others thought as I was so dumbfounded by what I had heard. I didn't go negative at first nor did I comment to my son as I wanted the experience to be great for him! He is the one who looked at me with a look like "What the ***K? Then I laughed and said I know man, let's enjoy the music Leppard will rock us out! He did but I caught a number of painful looks , the same pain I was feeling with each attempt to reach the highs!

If anyone here can honestly state they did not hear the difference in the mixing after the first 2 songs, they were drunk or are deaf! It was glaringly obvious they turned him down, wayyyyyyy down! I have been to over 100 concerts and I pay close attention to sound and chemistry. I got over Diamond Dave being replaced with Sammy but never Sammy with the dudette from Extreme. Somethings just veer too far off track! This was certainly one of them! Van Halen 3 and Journey 3 just aren't credible. I may be too discerning in my taste, but I have expectations. Hearing this was not one of them!

Shame on them for continuing on just for the sake of Money. Do I care if Perry ever comes back? NOPE! Would I go see Journey "Reunited"? Yep! Will I ever see Journey again if Soto is the lead singer? NOPE! It's like trading a Yugo for a Mercedes, it just doesn't work unless you don't have the cash and you are going under financially? Journey is Bankrupt at this point for me!

I am extremely glad others enjoyed themselves and thought Soto was dead on! Good for them! From my vantage point a big GONG! You know the one where they make you leave the stge on the Gong Show?

I thought I would be honest and give those who do not want to be disappointed a chance to bail. Leppard was lethargic at best and Journey should be on their last Journey! It is a shame as I am a diehard fan of the band! I hope others enjoy the show, I am just saying it is too bad I did not! I did make the best of it as the music was excellent and once they turned Soto down, It was almost tolerable!

[Red13JoePa]

Preciate your thoughts however, you seem to be decidedly in the minority.

[NealIsGod]

Preciate your thoughts however, you seem to be decidedly in the minority.

An army of one.

[Red13JoePa]

The pics seem to be just Valory being Valory. Remember this is a guy who was compelled, when filming a DVD no less ( ), to mouth the words "I hate him" to the camera when Augeri came up to him.

[daltonsdad]

Like I said, glad they enjoyed it! Let's wait for the upcoming shows and see if I march alone! LOL! My opinion is merely just that, my opinion. Spend the dough, go see the show! Enjoy yourself! Iam just saying as of now, that was my last Journey show! To each their own!

[AR]

The guy has a right to his opinion. I'll judge for myself when I hear Jeff. No problem with hearing a dissenting review from the glowing ones, I'm just ever so tired of the get SP back thing. Appreciate the reading what you thought.

[NealIsGod]

Like I said, glad they enjoyed it! Let's wait for the upcoming shows and see if I march alone! LOL! My opinion is merely just that, my opinion. Spend the dough, go see the show! Enjoy yourself! Iam just saying as of now, that was my last Journey show! To each their own!

I also appreciate your opinion. The jury is out for me until I hear a boot, at least.

Now, let's hear more about that blonde...

[ohsherrie]

Thanks for your opinion daltonsdad. Everyone has a right to like what they like and say they don't if they don't. I'm still reserving judgement because I've yet to hear him do the material. I'm waiting for Jetster's review and a bootleg if someone will be so kind as to send me one. I know I won't get to a show. It's been too long since I saw Rock Star for me to remember much about his voice.

[conversationpc]

LOL! An agenda? That is funny. I am only opining on what I saw & heard and what the people who were obviously not impaired around me stated. I saw the reactions!

If anyone here can honestly state they did not hear the difference in the mixing after the first 2 songs, they were drunk or are deaf! It was glaringly obvious they turned him down, wayyyyyyy down! I have been to over 100 concerts and I pay close attention to sound and chemistry. I got over Diamond Dave being replaced with Sammy but never Sammy with the dudette from Extreme. Somethings just veer too far off track! This was certainly one of them! Van Halen 3 and Journey 3 just aren't credible. I may be too discerning in my taste, but I have expectations. Hearing this was not one of them!

Shame on them for continuing on just for the sake of Money. Do I care if Perry ever comes back? NOPE! Would I go see Journey "Reunited"? Yep! Will I ever see Journey again if Soto is the lead singer? NOPE! It's like trading a Yugo for a Mercedes, it just doesn't work unless you don't have the cash and you are going under financially? Journey is Bankrupt at this point for me!

The language you're using such as the above comment is similar to those who cannot stand Journey without Steve Perry and wouldn't give a good review even if the show was the best ever. That's the way it sounds to me. If that's not the case, then forgive me, but I call it the way I see it. If I hear what you're talking about when I hear the boots, then I'll be the first to apologize.

Regardless, there is so much noise at most rock concerts that you can't always make out all the different parts of the music correctly. I've been to concerts where I could swear the singer was dead on and then I've heard others say they thought he sounded horrible. The "Arrival" tour in 2001 is a good example. I thought Augeri sounded great that night and the reviewer from the Indianapolis Star said he struggled with his voice that night. Same concert. Two different takes.

I will say, though, that the further away from the stage you're seated, the more clearly you'll be able to pick out different parts. How close to the stage were you? I was way out in the lawn section for Journey's 30th anniversary show last year and could clearly hear that Augeri sounded pretty bad throughout most of the show.

While Soto is a great singer, I'm skeptical myself because I can't picture Soto's voice singing Journey tunes. However, I haven't heard anything except good reviews from Journey fans AND articles in the papers.

[Red13JoePa]

Like I said, glad they enjoyed it! Let's wait for the upcoming shows and see if I march alone! LOL! My opinion is merely just that, my opinion. Spend the dough, go see the show! Enjoy yourself! Iam just saying as of now, that was my last Journey show! To each their own!

I also appreciate your opinion. The jury is out for me until I hear a boot, at least.

Now, let's hear more about that blonde...

Yea, about the blonde. Did you find out if it's a true, natural blonde

[brywool]

This review seems reasonable for me from what I know of Jeff. He DOES over sing everything and not in a good way like Perry or Augeri, just ... I can't put my finger on it but that's one big reason I didn't like the Soul Sirkus deal. Over sang everything. I know that while he's got a good range, it's not Perry's or Augeris. BUT until I hear something from these shows, it's really tough to say, but this review sounds like what I'd expect if I was at the show.

[EightyRock]

"Your never having posted here before and saying stuff about "fracturing the stone" makes me question that this is a legitimate review or that you already had some kind of agenda going into it."

BINGO!!! The Kool-aid crowd strikes again. If you don't think Soto blows Augeri out of the water, you might as well just stay home anyway. NO...he isn't Perry and nobody is, but he will bring a fresh, strong voice to the band, which has been desperately needed. Their name has taken a huge beating in the press and if they want to revive it, Soto and a new direction is their only hope. Perry ain't coming back. Just about everybody has faced that. Augeri is done, stick a fork in him. Soto is gonna rock Journey if they ever get off this damn greatest hits tour and record something.

[EightyRock]

One more thing. Soto is the kind of singer Neal always wanted for Journey prior to Perry fronting the band and making them rich . Now he's got what he wants in the vocal dept. and I doubt he's letting go!

[JrnySuxBalls]

Explain to me "over singing". Is it like, too many licks or something?

[conversationpc]

Explain to me "over singing". Is it like, too many licks or something?

People accused Freddie Mercury of doing that and he's one of the better frontmen ever to grab a microphone. Now, this stuff that "divas" like Mariah Carey do, THAT is oversinging to me. Actually, I like how Neal Boortz refers to it..."Urban Yodeling"

[ohsherrie]

.................. NO...he isn't Perry and nobody is, but he will bring a fresh, strong voice to the band, which has been desperately needed. Their name has taken a huge beating in the press and if they want to revive it, Soto and a new direction is their only hope. Perry ain't coming back. Just about everybody has faced that. Augeri is done, stick a fork in him. Soto is gonna rock Journey if they ever get off this damn greatest hits tour and record something.

That's what I'm hoping for EightyRock. I want Soto to help Journey retire with dignity rather than as a struggling nostalgia act. Perry's reputation as one of the best is still in tact, I would like to see Journey elevated back to that status.

[NealIsGod]

That's what I'm hoping for EightyRock. I want Soto to help Journey retire with dignity rather than as a struggling nostalgia act. Perry's reputation as one of the best is still in tact, I would like to see Journey elevated back to that status.

Why do you want them to retire? I hope they rock into their 70's.

Perry wouldn't elevate anything except their blood pressure.

[brywool]

On Mercury- Mercury was a GREAT singer ON RECORD. Live is another story. Rent the Wembley DVD. He's so flat that it's unbelievable. Every concert recording I've heard with Freddie, he had terrible pitch. I woudn't say he over sang live, I'd say that he pushed his voice too hard and because of doing that and forcing too much air through his chords, that his pitch went wonky. I love Queen and Freddie, but live, the guy wasn't very good. On albums, he'd use a lot of falsetto parts that were very quietly sung and doable in a studio. Once you get behind a rock band on stage in front of 50,000, those notes get a hell of a lot tougher to accomplish.

On Sotto- I can't explain it, I wish I could. To take Perry and Augeri out of the picture for a sec, compare Hardline to Soul Sirkus. The Hardline vocalist gives just the right amount of phrasing and vocal runs to make the songs work. Sotto, at least on the SS album (because other than the movie and SS, that's all I've heard) tries too hard to do vocal acrobatics and FOR ME, they don't come off. They sound like a guy trying to outsing all the other instruments in the band. I wish I could think of a better example but I'm drawing a blank. Basically it's just the sound of trying too hard. There are a lot of singers today that do the same thing. Chris Cornell, while having a great rock voice (SUPERB) sometimes does the same thing.

Perry and Augeri would do vocal runs, but they fit the song and added to it. Jeff's take away from the songs. My opinion folks... No big deal.

[Wally_Hatchet]

Sorry, I'm not buying into it.

For one, titiling the thread "bad review" was a dead giveaway.

I've read many reviews and all have been postive, even from skeptics and Perry/Augeri faithfuls.

Nice try.