Concert review: Journey, July 24, 2011 Phoenix, Arizona

[tater1977]

Concert review: Journey, July 24, 2011 Phoenix, Arizona

Ted Hansen
Mesa Classic Rock Music Examiner
July 26, 2011


There appears to be two camps when it comes to those that enjoy a Journey show (we’ll leave out the Steve Perry forever attendees who will never be fully satisfied by Journey’s current line up). One camp is comprised of those that enjoy Journey no matter what they do, willing to embrace Journey’s new material from their Escape (2011) or Revelation (2008) releases as well as loving everything they did in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The other ninety-nine percent enjoying a Journey concert are those that love everything Journey did from 1977-1984 but can’t be bothered by anything new (they really have a new album out?). Fortunately, Journey’s performance at the Ashley Furniture HomeStore Pavilion in Phoenix on Sunday night could appease both camps.

A near sell-out crowd of almost 20,000 braved the traffic, heat, wind and rain to sing along with Journey for their hour and a half long set, a combination of fourteen songs of the old and three songs of the new. Count me in the minority camp. I enjoyed the song performances off of Eclipse, “City of Hope,” Edge of the Moment,” and “Chain of Love,” as much, if not more, than the established Journey hits.

Maybe this is because the songs from Eclipse allow Arnel Pineda, Journey’s front man since 2007, to show his true voice. He doesn’t HAVE to sound like Steve Perry and it shows, all for the better. These are his songs. Not that Pineda can’t channel his inner Perry (if you closed your eyes during “Send Her My Love” you would have been transported back to 1983), but he shouldn’t need to. Had “Chain of Love,” been written and recorded by Journey in 1980 (and it wouldn’t have been, for that’s not what the band sounded like in 1980), fans would have danced and sang along. Instead, the numbers from Eclipse were a good time for many in the audience to get that drink they were craving. Not for me. I was enraptured. Me and that other guy.

Because Journey has done variations of this set list thousands of times, it is easy to dismiss them as slick and workmanlike. That’s because they make the Journey sound appear so easy. Drummer Deen Castronovo is a madman, pounding his drums into submission. The calm of bassist Ross Valory overshadows how his work keeps each song together. Keyboardist/guitarist Jonathan Cain remains at the top of his game, a nice piano solo intro to “Open Arms” showcasing what he can do. But this is guitarist Neal Schon’s group (the only original member of the band). There is a reason he is considered one of rock’s best guitarists. He may not be animated and run around the stage but I expected to see fire burst from his fingertips at any moment. Whether it be a melodic guitar solo from “Who’s Crying Now” or a more blistering one from “Be Good To Yourself,” Schon remains a master at his craft.



It wasn’t until after the rains had come and almost subsided for the ninety nine percent camp to be satisfied. Perhaps fitting for those who had waited, Jonathan Cain fired up the intro to “Faithfully” and the crowd rose, sang along and swayed (did we really do the “American Idol” audience arms in the air wave?). Then it was time for the song that has resurrected Journey, “Don’t Stop Believin’” and the crowd responded with the wild enthusiasm they had been saving for the “this is what we want to hear played” song of the night.

A warning for those that have yet to see Journey but plan to. This is the Journey Eclipse tour. You will hear songs from that album. I’ve called Eclipse a love it or hate it album. Give it a try. You might join me and that other guy in the minority. For everyone else, go get your drink and then come back and enjoy the rest of the show.

Set list: Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) | Ask the Lonely | City of Hope | Send Her My Love | Who’s Crying Now | Stone In Love | Edge of the Moment | Lights | Wheel In the Sky | Chain of Love | Open Arms | Be Good To Yourself | Escape | Faithfully | Don’t Stop Believin’ | Encore: Any Way You Want It


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