Journey, Loverboy, Night Ranger aim to cheese
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:14 amJourney, Loverboy, Night Ranger aim to cheese
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/11/28/j ... -to-cheese
By Mike Ross,Edmonton Sun
For a bunch of bands whose very names together constitute one of the most frightening bills in concert history – Journey, Loverboy, Night Ranger – they sure know how to put on a rock ‘n’ roll show.
It you didn’t know it was supposed to be cheesy, it might’ve been great.
The solid turn-out at Rexall Place Tuesday night is more evidence that this sort of thing is coming back. Call it hair metal, ‘80s cheese, corporate rock, whatever, the entire show was a vivid ''journey” through time to an era that never existed. You know that Star Trek episode when they went to an alternate Earth where the Roman Empire never fell? It’s like that, except with music and the ‘90s and a good chunk of the ‘00s never happened. No Nirvana. No grunge. No cynicism. No irony. Just glorious, long-haired, major-keyed, escapist classic rock goodness from one decade to the next.
Journey played as if they reigned supreme throughout the ages, too, pulling out all the stops for a show rich in those close happy vocal harmonies, manicured guitar riffs and polished power balladry for which they are known, and – in another world – reviled. Here in the safety of the bubble of the hockey arena, of course, there was only joy. The cheers came more for the vivid memories more than their delivery, which was almost flawless, songs like Any Way You Want It or the slow number Faithfully, or Open Arms, preceded by Jonathan Cain’s impressive piano solo, or later, for Don’t Stop Believin’ – no prompting necessary with this crowd, who were by then in full nostalgic regression. There was even a Journey-esque guitar shredding rendition of O Canada. O man.
It was amazing to consider that this once huge, yet once forgotten band drew an impressive 11,000 fans to the big arena despite the fact that Steve Perry has long since been replaced by a Filipino singer named Arnel Pineda (though it appeared a good number of the local Filipino community turned up to see him). With the other band members taking their turns on lead vocals – all of them gifted with that classic hard rock opera singer voice - Pineda nailed just about everything he did - and what he didn’t was just proudly pitchy - while the band plowed through the Journey canon as if the last 20 years never happened.
Earlier, Loverboy sure showed how they have a lot of fans in this town. The crowd stood up for Turn Me Loose, stayed up for Working for the Weekend, and sang along to every “whoa-oh-oh” they could. Singer Mike Reno, a little rough around the edges, a little thicker in the middle, could still hit those super high notes. A more cynical reviewer might say that this entire concert was best experienced with your eyes closed, so just never mind. Being back in an arena again has obviously energized this band. Reno looked like he was about to cry tears of joy at the reception he got. There were a few cheesy moments - or would’ve been had the Roman Empire fell when it was supposed to – but even that didn’t seem to matter. We don’t know for cheese in this universe.
Even more alternate reality was experienced with the opening act Night Ranger. Amazingly, the band played its short set to an arena full of cheering fans, not to empty seats as is usual for a support act that comes on two hours before the headliner. Their first appearance in Edmonton had plenty of Spinal Tappian rock moments, more shredding double lead solos, more dramatic power ballads, and more classic rock clichés, plus a reading of Sister Christian that brought the house down and the singer to his knees. It might’ve been funny were it not delivered with such joy and sincerity. As with Journey and Loverboy, this stuff works because they believe it.
Should’ve seen this coming. Scientific American had an article about how pop music has become more “moody” in the last 50 years, with more hits in minor keys than major ones, but the tide has clearly turned the other way. Everything comes in cycles. And consider Rock of Ages – HUGE hit on Broadway, and recently in Edmonton. And what is the climactic song, the thing that ties it all together? You guessed it, same as it was Tuesday night: Don’t Stop Believin’. Coincidence? I think not!
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/11/28/j ... -to-cheese
By Mike Ross,Edmonton Sun
For a bunch of bands whose very names together constitute one of the most frightening bills in concert history – Journey, Loverboy, Night Ranger – they sure know how to put on a rock ‘n’ roll show.
It you didn’t know it was supposed to be cheesy, it might’ve been great.
The solid turn-out at Rexall Place Tuesday night is more evidence that this sort of thing is coming back. Call it hair metal, ‘80s cheese, corporate rock, whatever, the entire show was a vivid ''journey” through time to an era that never existed. You know that Star Trek episode when they went to an alternate Earth where the Roman Empire never fell? It’s like that, except with music and the ‘90s and a good chunk of the ‘00s never happened. No Nirvana. No grunge. No cynicism. No irony. Just glorious, long-haired, major-keyed, escapist classic rock goodness from one decade to the next.
Journey played as if they reigned supreme throughout the ages, too, pulling out all the stops for a show rich in those close happy vocal harmonies, manicured guitar riffs and polished power balladry for which they are known, and – in another world – reviled. Here in the safety of the bubble of the hockey arena, of course, there was only joy. The cheers came more for the vivid memories more than their delivery, which was almost flawless, songs like Any Way You Want It or the slow number Faithfully, or Open Arms, preceded by Jonathan Cain’s impressive piano solo, or later, for Don’t Stop Believin’ – no prompting necessary with this crowd, who were by then in full nostalgic regression. There was even a Journey-esque guitar shredding rendition of O Canada. O man.
It was amazing to consider that this once huge, yet once forgotten band drew an impressive 11,000 fans to the big arena despite the fact that Steve Perry has long since been replaced by a Filipino singer named Arnel Pineda (though it appeared a good number of the local Filipino community turned up to see him). With the other band members taking their turns on lead vocals – all of them gifted with that classic hard rock opera singer voice - Pineda nailed just about everything he did - and what he didn’t was just proudly pitchy - while the band plowed through the Journey canon as if the last 20 years never happened.
Earlier, Loverboy sure showed how they have a lot of fans in this town. The crowd stood up for Turn Me Loose, stayed up for Working for the Weekend, and sang along to every “whoa-oh-oh” they could. Singer Mike Reno, a little rough around the edges, a little thicker in the middle, could still hit those super high notes. A more cynical reviewer might say that this entire concert was best experienced with your eyes closed, so just never mind. Being back in an arena again has obviously energized this band. Reno looked like he was about to cry tears of joy at the reception he got. There were a few cheesy moments - or would’ve been had the Roman Empire fell when it was supposed to – but even that didn’t seem to matter. We don’t know for cheese in this universe.
Even more alternate reality was experienced with the opening act Night Ranger. Amazingly, the band played its short set to an arena full of cheering fans, not to empty seats as is usual for a support act that comes on two hours before the headliner. Their first appearance in Edmonton had plenty of Spinal Tappian rock moments, more shredding double lead solos, more dramatic power ballads, and more classic rock clichés, plus a reading of Sister Christian that brought the house down and the singer to his knees. It might’ve been funny were it not delivered with such joy and sincerity. As with Journey and Loverboy, this stuff works because they believe it.
Should’ve seen this coming. Scientific American had an article about how pop music has become more “moody” in the last 50 years, with more hits in minor keys than major ones, but the tide has clearly turned the other way. Everything comes in cycles. And consider Rock of Ages – HUGE hit on Broadway, and recently in Edmonton. And what is the climactic song, the thing that ties it all together? You guessed it, same as it was Tuesday night: Don’t Stop Believin’. Coincidence? I think not!
I think my eyes were as bugged out as this emoticon's when that happened! Any other songs of his that you recommend?