Mansfield, MA Show 9/23/06

[JrnyScarab]

Hi!

This is my first post. I spend a lot of time lurking about following the often entertaining saga of Deano. Just saw the show last night. If I had to describe what I saw it would be that Journey tore through their set like a buzzsaw. Crowd reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Neal played with such aggression that it was a sight to behold. Jeff definitely has given these guys a new lease on life and anyone who relies on just listening to boots from the shows has no idea what it is like. Was Jeff perfect? No. His voice cracked once on Stone In Love. Big deal. If they release any live material they will pick the best performance and fix things anyways. Is he getting better? HELL YEAH! Did an excellent job. They played Ask The Lonely and I was a bit concerned after hearing the early boots but let me tell you, he is becoming more and more comfortable with the material. He worked the crowd into a frenzy and left quite a task ahead for Def Leppard to try an top. If anyone thinks that Steve Augeri is coming back I think they are sadly mistaken. Neal has always wanted a more rocking Journey and this lineup has given it to him. He must be pissing his pants nightly.

By the way. I like Steve Augeri and am not cutting him down. He did a great job keeping the band rolling but the last few times I saw them they seemed kind of low on energy. Maybe his voice troubles were distracting him from putting on a high energy show. That definitely was not the case last night. If Steve comes back I will be surprised but not sad since I liked him as well.

Def Leppard seemed to get off to a slow start but got better as the night wore on but Journey kicked their ass the way Van Halen used to kick Black Sabbath's ass when they opened for them. I heard comments on the way out like "Journey was definitely better than Def Leppard" and "I like the new singer better than the other guy"

That is all. Thanks Jeff for a GREAT performance.

Ed

[Deb]

Great review! Thanks for posting it!

[Lula]

Thanks for the review. I've seen a few shows and know exactly what you mean about the energy. Journey has such a fire under their collective asses, they have to get in the studio. In my opinion, Steve will not be back- neither of them. JSS is it!!

[iLex]

GREAT review, thanks man!

[Playitloudforme]

I gotta say, I'm really glad a breath of life has been breathed back into Journey. THANK YOU JSS! Even if this is only a temp assignment...it was a boost the band sorely needed.

[cudaclan]

Boston Herald: http://theedge.bostonherald.com/musicNe ... at=&page=1

Don’t stop believin’ in timeless Journey
By Christopher John Treacy
Monday, September 25, 2006 - Updated: 05:27 PM EST

No offense to Steve Perry (or Steve Augeri, for that matter), but the only thing missing from Journey’s electrifying show Saturday night at the Tweeter Center was a cameo from Rodney Dangerfield during ‘‘Any Way You Want It” . . . and maybe ‘‘Only The Young.”

Running through a freight train of classics, Journey’s set was a reminder of why the Bay Area quintet is ranked as Billboard’s 29th best-selling rock act ever; its ‘‘Greatest Hits” compilation has sold 14 million copies in the States alone.



While many associate Journey with images of headbands, proms, winged-back hair, tight jeans and revved Cameros, since lead guitarist Neal Schon, now 52, got started in the classic Santana lineup and spawned the original Journey as an early ’70s prog-rock outfit, the band remains two steps better than a mere stroll down memory lane.

Schon walked onstage, shirt open, and delivered a Hendrix-informed ‘‘Star Spangled Banner” -a tad indulgent, but we’ll let it slide. With his band assembled around him, they kicked into a spotless ‘‘Stone in Love.”

Stand-in front guy Jeff Scott Soto took over for Augeri, Perry’s late-’90s replacement, in July when a throat infection threatened to derail the tour, which became an unexpected draw all season long. The one-time Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist channeled Perry flawlessly, nailing all the high notes and then some. If the big concern was whether the imposter would treat the material respectfully, worry not - Soto’s got it going on.

Schon’s power-chord strutting and Soto’s wail propelled top-notch versions of ‘‘Keep On Runnin’,” ‘‘Ask the Lonely,” ‘‘Wheel In the Sky,” ‘‘Lights,” ‘‘Don’t Stop Believin’,” ‘‘Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ ” and ‘‘Separate Ways.” Schon recreated his classic solos note-for-note, though it might’ve been more fun if he had improvised a little.

Drummer Deen Castronovo (formerly of Bad English) effectively transcended the balladic sap of ‘‘Open Arms” and ‘‘Faithfully” by simultaneously playing and singing, making them more compelling to see and hear. Elsewhere, founding member Ross Valory stoically commanded his bass while Jonathan Cain moved between rhythm guitar and a flashy red piano.

The metal-pop runt of the Sheffield, UK, postpunk litter (Human League, Cabaret Voltaire), Def Leppard’s later set was full of mischievous party spirit, sharp licks from unbelievably buff guitarist Phil Collen, 49, and one-armed wonder, drummer Rick Allen’s backbeats.

Opening with ‘‘Let’s Get Rocked,” now-chubby Joe Elliot’s nasal screech led Def Leppard through ‘‘Bringin’ on the Heartbreak,” ‘‘Foolin’ ”‘‘Women,” complete with comic-book depiction on the screens above, unremarkable but entertaining versions of T Rex’s ‘‘20th Century Boy” and the David Essex classic ‘‘Rock On,” both off Leppard’s recent covers disc, ‘‘Yeah,” plus ‘‘Rock of Ages,” ‘‘Photograph,” and ‘‘Love Bites.” Despite sounding decent and having a funky multitiered stage set, Def Leppard couldn’t match Journey’s satisfying professionalism and crowd-pleasing energy, thus separating the men from the boys. But it had to be tough for any band to follow a set so lid-tight the music locked inside will remain fresh for at least another 20 years.

Journey and Def Leppard, with Stoll Vaughan. At Tweeter Center, Mansfield, Saturday night.

[JrnyScarab]

Pretty much sums up what I said. They came, kicked ass, and left a trail of mouths hanging open. When the Leppards hit the stage it felt like there was nothing that could quench the thirst that had built up from Journey's set. Felt like the air had been let out of a balloon. Even the ballads were incredibly fresh sounding. Hope they ride the momentum right into the studio for a new album.

Boston Herald: http://theedge.bostonherald.com/musicNe ... at=&page=1

Don’t stop believin’ in timeless Journey
By Christopher John Treacy
Monday, September 25, 2006 - Updated: 05:27 PM EST

No offense to Steve Perry (or Steve Augeri, for that matter), but the only thing missing from Journey’s electrifying show Saturday night at the Tweeter Center was a cameo from Rodney Dangerfield during ‘‘Any Way You Want It” . . . and maybe ‘‘Only The Young.”

Running through a freight train of classics, Journey’s set was a reminder of why the Bay Area quintet is ranked as Billboard’s 29th best-selling rock act ever; its ‘‘Greatest Hits” compilation has sold 14 million copies in the States alone.



While many associate Journey with images of headbands, proms, winged-back hair, tight jeans and revved Cameros, since lead guitarist Neal Schon, now 52, got started in the classic Santana lineup and spawned the original Journey as an early ’70s prog-rock outfit, the band remains two steps better than a mere stroll down memory lane.

Schon walked onstage, shirt open, and delivered a Hendrix-informed ‘‘Star Spangled Banner” -a tad indulgent, but we’ll let it slide. With his band assembled around him, they kicked into a spotless ‘‘Stone in Love.”

Stand-in front guy Jeff Scott Soto took over for Augeri, Perry’s late-’90s replacement, in July when a throat infection threatened to derail the tour, which became an unexpected draw all season long. The one-time Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist channeled Perry flawlessly, nailing all the high notes and then some. If the big concern was whether the imposter would treat the material respectfully, worry not - Soto’s got it going on.

Schon’s power-chord strutting and Soto’s wail propelled top-notch versions of ‘‘Keep On Runnin’,” ‘‘Ask the Lonely,” ‘‘Wheel In the Sky,” ‘‘Lights,” ‘‘Don’t Stop Believin’,” ‘‘Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’ ” and ‘‘Separate Ways.” Schon recreated his classic solos note-for-note, though it might’ve been more fun if he had improvised a little.

Drummer Deen Castronovo (formerly of Bad English) effectively transcended the balladic sap of ‘‘Open Arms” and ‘‘Faithfully” by simultaneously playing and singing, making them more compelling to see and hear. Elsewhere, founding member Ross Valory stoically commanded his bass while Jonathan Cain moved between rhythm guitar and a flashy red piano.

The metal-pop runt of the Sheffield, UK, postpunk litter (Human League, Cabaret Voltaire), Def Leppard’s later set was full of mischievous party spirit, sharp licks from unbelievably buff guitarist Phil Collen, 49, and one-armed wonder, drummer Rick Allen’s backbeats.

Opening with ‘‘Let’s Get Rocked,” now-chubby Joe Elliot’s nasal screech led Def Leppard through ‘‘Bringin’ on the Heartbreak,” ‘‘Foolin’ ”‘‘Women,” complete with comic-book depiction on the screens above, unremarkable but entertaining versions of T Rex’s ‘‘20th Century Boy” and the David Essex classic ‘‘Rock On,” both off Leppard’s recent covers disc, ‘‘Yeah,” plus ‘‘Rock of Ages,” ‘‘Photograph,” and ‘‘Love Bites.” Despite sounding decent and having a funky multitiered stage set, Def Leppard couldn’t match Journey’s satisfying professionalism and crowd-pleasing energy, thus separating the men from the boys. But it had to be tough for any band to follow a set so lid-tight the music locked inside will remain fresh for at least another 20 years.

Journey and Def Leppard, with Stoll Vaughan. At Tweeter Center, Mansfield, Saturday night.