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Night Ranger should be motorin' ahead of Journey
Bands serve up a classic rock doubleheader Wednesday in Charm City
By PETER BOTHUM • The News Journal • September 3, 2009

All things being equal, Night Ranger should be opening up for Journey.

Fans who have been there since the beginning will insist that Journey’s first three albums, which guitarist Neal Schon and company put together BSP (Before Steve Perry), were excellent, non-commercial forays into jazz-rock.

And with Perry at the helm, Journey cranked out hits in rapid fire fashion, and you could pretty much take it to the bank that albums would go multi-platinum and shows would sell out.

They were freakin’ massive. If you’ve seen the live video for “Don’t Stop Believin',” shot during a concert in Japan, raise your hand. You know what I’m talking about.

But things are not equal, and Journey now has gone through three replacement singers who have mimed Perry’s high-register vocals on the band’s hits.

Night Ranger, meanwhile, boasts three of its original members in singer/bassist Jack Blades, singer/drummer Kelly Keagy and guitarist Brad Gillis.

This brings up Rule 545, subsection 23.4, of the Rock Rule Book: Any established band cannot continue on under the same name with a new singer. The only bands to find a loophole in this rule are Van Halen and AC/DC. That’s it.

What this means is that the current version of Journey is fraudulent. I know this column has gone here before, but I’m going there again: Despite the praise readers have heaped upon singers Steve Augeri, Jeff Scott Soto and now Arnel Pineda (whom they discovered on YouTube – wow!), Schon, his band and anyone supporting Journey are in violation.

Yes, we know, you can close your eyes and listen to any one of these three guys and it sounds just like classic Journey. But I don’t want to close my eyes at a concert I paid $50 to see.

Night Ranger, with its two lead singers intact, is to be lauded for its longevity. How awesome would it be to hear Keagy belt out “Sister Christian” and do that drum-roll gallop into the chorus that everyone has banged out on their car’s dashboard? And to hear Blades sing “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” or “When You Close Your Eyes” would be a double-shot of ’80s gold.

This two-headed bill comes to the 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore at 8 p.m. Wednesday. I’m throwing a second penalty flag on Journey because of Night Ranger’s billing as “special guests,” as if Blades, Keagy and Gillis should be honored for the chance to open up for Schon and his boys.

Tickets are $37.50-$93 at http://www.ticketmaster.com.

Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

stevew2 wrote:Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

Peter Bothum rules. I couldn't have said it better!!!

P.S. - Don't forget his show is on nein nein nein!

stevew2 wrote:Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

Could care less about them as an opening act, and if I had my druthers, it would be a different opening act for Journey.

Jana wrote:

stevew2 wrote:Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

Could care less about them as an opening act, and if I had my druthers, it would be a different opening act for Journey.

What is a druther?

Jana wrote:

stevew2 wrote:Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

Could care less about them as an opening act, and if I had my druthers, it would be a different opening act for Journey.

Night Ranger's great, esp. live. Some real guitar acrobatics and bigtime harmonies and hooks

They're a lot better than The Greg Kihn Band.

stevew2 wrote:

Jana wrote:

stevew2 wrote:Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

Could care less about them as an opening act, and if I had my druthers, it would be a different opening act for Journey.

What is a druther?

I'd rather, accented to ruther= I'd ruther, shorted to d'ruthers, then down to druthers. or something like that shit.

Gunbot wrote:They're a lot better than The Greg Kihn Band.

the fuckin Jeopady song

steveo777 wrote:

stevew2 wrote:

Jana wrote:

stevew2 wrote:Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

Could care less about them as an opening act, and if I had my druthers, it would be a different opening act for Journey.

What is a druther?

I'd rather, accented to ruther= I'd ruther, shorted to d'ruthers, then down to druthers. or something like that shit.

I need a fuckin drink

stevew2 wrote:

Gunbot wrote:They're a lot better than The Greg Kihn Band.

the fuckin Jeopady song

Scandal was the local opener and they put Greg Kihn to shame, before Journey came on and made me totally forget both of them.

Gunbot wrote:

stevew2 wrote:

Gunbot wrote:They're a lot better than The Greg Kihn Band.

the fuckin Jeopady song

Scandal was the local opener and they put Greg Kihn to shame, before Journey came on and made me totally forget both of them.

That girls voice always gave be a boner

stevew2 wrote:

Gunbot wrote:

stevew2 wrote:

Gunbot wrote:They're a lot better than The Greg Kihn Band.

the fuckin Jeopady song

Scandal was the local opener and they put Greg Kihn to shame, before Journey came on and made me totally forget both of them.

That girls voice always gave be a boner

I heard she was a transvestite.

Eddie wanted her for Van Halen after Diamond Dave left but I think she was pregnant at the time and had to turn him down.

stevew2 wrote:

Jana wrote:

stevew2 wrote:Other than Sister Christian {I thought the name of the song was Motor head} I ve dont know other any other song they ve done. Thats why they are opening up for Journey

Could care less about them as an opening act, and if I had my druthers, it would be a different opening act for Journey.

What is a druther?

"The singular form "druther" is used with the same meaning, but much more rarely.
The noun "druthers" is sometimes used in conjunction with the verb "druther" for increased comic effect.
If I've got my druthers, I'd druther not.
or, alternatively,
If I've got my druthers, I druther not"

God that place is a dump. I cannot believe bands make stops there. Journey played that shitheap in 06 and I for the love of all that is holy do not know what the fuck Bruce is high on signing on to playing there this month as well. Just skip it and play in DC 30 miles away in a fairly new hockey arena.

Anyway, screw opening acts. Night Ranger with all originals will never be as good as Journey with lead singer number 5.

Rockindeano wrote:God that place is a dump. I cannot believe bands make stops there. Journey played that shitheap in 06 and I for the love of all that is holy do not know what the fuck Bruce is high on signing on to playing there this month as well. Just skip it and play in DC 30 miles away in a fairly new hockey arena.

Anyway, screw opening acts. Night Ranger with all originals will never be as good as Journey with lead singer number 5.

Agreed! Journey has also proved lately that they can still populate fairly good sized venues with no opening act.

While I LOVE Journey, I have to defend Night Ranger a little.

Less than a month ago I saw them headline in NYC and they were INCREDIBLE. They guitar work was insane, the harmonies were dead on and they looked like they were having a blast up there (and the crowd loved it). Songs like Don't Tell Me You Love Me, (You Can Still) Rock In America, & Four In The Morning kick ass live. If they perform anywhere near what I saw in NYC, when they are with Journey, it should result in ONE HELL of a rockin' night for those in attendance (as in the Night Ranger/Journey combo).

steveo777 wrote:Agreed! Journey has also proved lately that they can still populate fairly good sized venues with no opening act.

Not quite yet. Playing casinos without an opening act doesn't count, because a casino will book anybody and have a show almost every day of the year. While they have been playing arenas and amphitheaters on both legs of the Revelation Tour, they still had another band to make the bill more attractive.

There's nothing wrong with bringing along another band to open, since it provides more bang for the fans' bucks and provides a great night of music, but venue size cannot be used to demonstrate Journey's true resurgence until they are booked into these places by themselves.

Lea Salonga and Jamie Foxx sell out Casinos. I also don't think any major act is going to brag about selling out state fairs.

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:

steveo777 wrote:Agreed! Journey has also proved lately that they can still populate fairly good sized venues with no opening act.

Not quite yet. Playing casinos without an opening act doesn't count, because a casino will book anybody and have a show almost every day of the year. While they have been playing arenas and amphitheaters on both legs of the Revelation Tour, they still had another band to make the bill more attractive.

There's nothing wrong with bringing along another band to open, since it provides more bang for the fans' bucks and provides a great night of music, but venue size cannot be used to demonstrate Journey's true resurgence until they are booked into these places by themselves.

They played Darien Lake alone and broke 14,000 in attendance.

steveo777 wrote:

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:

steveo777 wrote:Agreed! Journey has also proved lately that they can still populate fairly good sized venues with no opening act.

Not quite yet. Playing casinos without an opening act doesn't count, because a casino will book anybody and have a show almost every day of the year. While they have been playing arenas and amphitheaters on both legs of the Revelation Tour, they still had another band to make the bill more attractive.

There's nothing wrong with bringing along another band to open, since it provides more bang for the fans' bucks and provides a great night of music, but venue size cannot be used to demonstrate Journey's true resurgence until they are booked into these places by themselves.

They played Darien Lake alone and broke 14,000 in attendance.

That's one example, and you're splitting hairs. When they are booked into Live Nation's amphitheaters for an entire summer tour with no opening act, then a better example can be drawn. By mixing amphitheaters, state fairs, arenas and casinos this year, it hasn't given us a real judge of Journey's drawing power. Not to mention either Heart or Night Ranger was in tow at 95% of these shows.

Book an entire tour at Live Nation's amphitheaters - like the 2008 leg of the Revelation Tour - but with no opening acts, then you can have a better idea of what kind of confidence promoters have in Journey circa 2010.

I think Journey has to go a little country to do that. Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban have no problem selling out those types of places. Write 10 more songs like After All These Years and Journey will be set.

Seriously, Journey is not U2 or Bon Jovi. Those bands have at least had some Top 40 hits this decade. Riding on the coat tails of Don't Stop Beleivin' can only take you so far.

Gunbot wrote:I think Journey has to go a little country to do that. Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban have no problem selling out those types of places. Write 10 more songs like After All These Years and Journey will be set.

Seriously, Journey is not U2 or Bon Jovi. Those bands have at least had some Top 40 hits this decade. Living off of the coat tails of DSB can only take you so far.

They played Live Nation's amphitheaters by themselves in 2005 with far less public notoriety. Journey has done everything right in the last year and a half. What lies ahead in 2010 could be very interesting.

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:

Gunbot wrote:I think Journey has to go a little country to do that. Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban have no problem selling out those types of places. Write 10 more songs like After All These Years and Journey will be set.

Seriously, Journey is not U2 or Bon Jovi. Those bands have at least had some Top 40 hits this decade. Living off of the coat tails of DSB can only take you so far.

They played Live Nation's amphitheaters by themselves in 2005 with far less public notoriety. Journey has done everything right in the last year and a half. What lies ahead in 2010 could be very interesting.

Writing a hit song that actually lands on the front page of Billboard and they'll be halfway there.
2005 was just about the right time for them. The economy was decent, Melodic Rock was starting to make a comeback, the timing was right. I think the zenith was 2008 though and I see the I Love The 80s wave starting to slowly grind down these next few years.

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:

Gunbot wrote:I think Journey has to go a little country to do that. Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban have no problem selling out those types of places. Write 10 more songs like After All These Years and Journey will be set.

Seriously, Journey is not U2 or Bon Jovi. Those bands have at least had some Top 40 hits this decade. Living off of the coat tails of DSB can only take you so far.

They played Live Nation's amphitheaters by themselves in 2005 with far less public notoriety. Journey has done everything right in the last year and a half. What lies ahead in 2010 could be very interesting.

Just get out that Manila DVD. That's what I am so looking forward to.

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:That's one example, and you're splitting hairs. When they are booked into Live Nation's amphitheaters for an entire summer tour with no opening act, then a better example can be drawn. By mixing amphitheaters, state fairs, arenas and casinos this year, it hasn't given us a real judge of Journey's drawing power. Not to mention either Heart or Night Ranger was in tow at 95% of these shows.

Book an entire tour at Live Nation's amphitheaters - like the 2008 leg of the Revelation Tour - but with no opening acts, then you can have a better idea of what kind of confidence promoters have in Journey circa 2010.

From this interview it sounds like they will be touring with at least one other band, but who knows?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkT3Boxd49I

Pretty funny about Arnel Panera. Also, wasn't it a chick on "The River" who first played After All These Years?

Jana wrote:

fightingilliniJRNY wrote:

Gunbot wrote:I think Journey has to go a little country to do that. Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban have no problem selling out those types of places. Write 10 more songs like After All These Years and Journey will be set.

Seriously, Journey is not U2 or Bon Jovi. Those bands have at least had some Top 40 hits this decade. Living off of the coat tails of DSB can only take you so far.

They played Live Nation's amphitheaters by themselves in 2005 with far less public notoriety. Journey has done everything right in the last year and a half. What lies ahead in 2010 could be very interesting.

Just get out that Manila DVD. That's what I am so looking forward to.

Get it out where, exclusively through their website? Best Buy? Target? That's an important question.