A rant from PR53 including topics like Arnel & Showmansh

[ProgRocker53]

Yes, it helps alot when you're attending a rock show and the frontman is running around, talking to the crowd, performing stunts, and being entertaining.

Yes, Journey has had two of the most charismatic frontmen rock has ever seen in Perry and Soto, both of whom have put on many exciting and enchanting concert performances.

And, yes, it seems that Journey has earned a reputation as being a band that truly needs one of those showmen up front, no less with amazing pipes.

HOWEVER..

Isn't it really all about the music?

In the past year and a half I've been to many concerts. One of the best was Journey with Jeff Scott Soto. He emoted, he moved around, he kicked ass, he captured the crowd, and people were like "Perry who?"

I saw Eddie Money and Van Halen with David Lee Roth. Both Mahoney and Roth, of course, are incredible showmen. Mahoney related to the audience in a grand way and refused to let their attention slip away, and Roth commands no elaboration. He's fucking David Lee Roth.

HOWEVER.. neither of these three wre the best shows that I went to.

The best shows I attended were Rush and Porcupine Tree.

Neither of those two bands has a leader in the way that Van Halen or Journey does. Geddy Lee and Steven Wilson both did move around quite a bit, but both focused moreso on playing their instruments and singing rather than putting on any kind of show.

Those two concerts were the best I had ever been to.

The bands pumped out two-and-a-half hour sets, weighed heavily to their newest material and shocking fans with deep old album cuts, including EP songs from both! It was incredible. The musicianship was tight, there were jams, there were solos, the atmosphere was electric, and there were few ballads.... and both Rush and Porcupine Tree catered to every kind of "legacy sound" they had accumulated through their respective careers.

....so, who's not to say the new Journey won't be just the same way? Journey's musicians (except maybe Ross) are among the upper echelon in each of their respective talents, ESPECIALLY Neal. They're going to come out and perform all of your favorite hit singles plus (hopefully, maybe) the occasional deep album cut to appeal to us die-hards. Arnel has a sensational voice, and just because he won't be doing backflips off of amps or what have you, doesn't mean he won't excel in an arena concert setting.

I mean, come on... Toto puts on amazing shows consistently without doing anything out of the ordinary in terms of showmanship. I credit that to the insane musicianship being displayed.

What my point is, Arnel may not be a David Lee Soto or a Jeff Scott Roth, but he's going to be singing in a manner that supercedes most other singers, INCLUDING (probably) the modern Steve Perry. The dude's young, he's living the dream and giving it his all. I look forward to seeing Arnel succeed, and I hope he does. I hope the Journey boys stick behind him for a long time and they churn out some excellent new music. And even if they won't release new music... Foreigner hasn't released a new album in YEARS but I'll still go check 'em out and support the band, even if they are completely different from the original incarnation.

NEAL! I'm a bit miffed about the loss of JSS, but this is your band dude, and if you see it working for the better with Arnel so be it. At least you're keeping the Journey going. Thanks.

Here's to hopefully more people discovering Journey through this incarnelation and enjoying some more awesome concerts and new music.

[weatherman90]

When I saw Eddie he seemed to be pretty drunk. I suppose he varies from night to night.

[JH'sTXfan]

The dude's young, he's living the dream and giving it his all.

Do you really think 40 is young?

[ProgRocker53]

The dude's young, he's living the dream and giving it his all.

Do you really think 40 is young?

Compared to most of his bandmates and peers, yes