A vent about Journey's sound engineer

From facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-hai ... 9780779314
First let me say, I love Journey!...I grew up with Styx and Journey in my ears every second. The music from these two bands helped mold my life...and eventually my career!...How I feel when I listen to Journeys music inspired me to become a live sound engineer. Now, 37 years later, I am a veteran soundman who has run sound in a live setting more than most probably any live engineer on this planet!...around 5200 shows under my belt!...I have been to Europe touring with international bands 62 times now, and also have toured extensively in S. America and of course endless criss-crossing of the USA. I have owned and operated a very successful sound/ lighting equipment rental company near the Cleveland , Ohio area since 1981.
Why do I mention all of this?...I do so in the hopes that people take me seriously when I say that I was ill when I heard Journey perform live at the Blossom Music Center in Akron, Ohio a few day ago. The band was incredible. However the sound was horrendous! Journey's live sound engineer slaughtered them!...I could barely make out what song they were playing!...the sound was very loose sounding...very unclear and with absolutely no dynamics. I felt so incredibly bad for the band members themselves that after 5 songs I couldn't take it anymore and I left! They don't deserve this! They deserve much better!...I did not recognize the FOH soundman that they had...it was not the same engineer that they have had for decades...so many people just think that the band sucks now...not true at all! It's the man behind the dials! It's not the venue, I have mixed there numerous times (plus Foreigner sounded fine)...it's plainly the engineers fault!...I also heard from numerous people that went two days later( yesterday) to Columbus to see them that it was the same thing! Miserable sound!...I just wanted everyone to know...it's not the band!...they rock! In a large venue whatever the soundman does dictates 100% how the band comes across!
I listen to this live video of the band doing Separate ways and think how I would give my left nut to be Journeys soundman...I would make the band sound just like the mix on this video...I'm sure of it!...I just had to get all this off my chest in open forum, it's really been bugging me! Arnel is such a great performer and a one of a kind voice of a God! I was sick when all I could hear through the PA at Blossom was an occasional "S" from his voice...proving that he was indeed singing!...shame on you mr soundman...you crushed my favorite band and a God-like Voice!!...Peace...
https://www.facebook.com/notes/jeff-hai ... 9780779314
First let me say, I love Journey!...I grew up with Styx and Journey in my ears every second. The music from these two bands helped mold my life...and eventually my career!...How I feel when I listen to Journeys music inspired me to become a live sound engineer. Now, 37 years later, I am a veteran soundman who has run sound in a live setting more than most probably any live engineer on this planet!...around 5200 shows under my belt!...I have been to Europe touring with international bands 62 times now, and also have toured extensively in S. America and of course endless criss-crossing of the USA. I have owned and operated a very successful sound/ lighting equipment rental company near the Cleveland , Ohio area since 1981.
Why do I mention all of this?...I do so in the hopes that people take me seriously when I say that I was ill when I heard Journey perform live at the Blossom Music Center in Akron, Ohio a few day ago. The band was incredible. However the sound was horrendous! Journey's live sound engineer slaughtered them!...I could barely make out what song they were playing!...the sound was very loose sounding...very unclear and with absolutely no dynamics. I felt so incredibly bad for the band members themselves that after 5 songs I couldn't take it anymore and I left! They don't deserve this! They deserve much better!...I did not recognize the FOH soundman that they had...it was not the same engineer that they have had for decades...so many people just think that the band sucks now...not true at all! It's the man behind the dials! It's not the venue, I have mixed there numerous times (plus Foreigner sounded fine)...it's plainly the engineers fault!...I also heard from numerous people that went two days later( yesterday) to Columbus to see them that it was the same thing! Miserable sound!...I just wanted everyone to know...it's not the band!...they rock! In a large venue whatever the soundman does dictates 100% how the band comes across!
I listen to this live video of the band doing Separate ways and think how I would give my left nut to be Journeys soundman...I would make the band sound just like the mix on this video...I'm sure of it!...I just had to get all this off my chest in open forum, it's really been bugging me! Arnel is such a great performer and a one of a kind voice of a God! I was sick when all I could hear through the PA at Blossom was an occasional "S" from his voice...proving that he was indeed singing!...shame on you mr soundman...you crushed my favorite band and a God-like Voice!!...Peace...