Journey in Newcastle, the good and the bad

[Don]

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on ... ro-4005523

Times are tough at the moment and money is short so the prospect of three rock giants Journey, Whitesnake and Thunder on one bill is enough to tempt open even the tightest of wallets.

Thunder, who recently reformed especially for this tour, were the perfect band to open the show.

In a set with absolutely no filler, Thunder delivered a greatest hits show that really set the ball rolling.

Lead singer Danny Bowes, with his cheeky Cockney charm took no time at all getting the crowd to their feet with Dirty Love and the Bad Company-like I Love You More Than Rock and Roll while their big ballad, Love Walked In, showed Bowes‘s voice had lost none of its edge.

With Thunder heading back into semi-retirement after this tour this could be the last chance to see them live until their busy schedules align and the right opportunity arises to tempt them back on stage together again but for now at least Newcastle lapped up the energy and enthusiasm from the stage.

With a lively opening from Thunder setting the bar high, Whitesnake had to hit the ground running and Give Me All Your Love did just that. For a grandfather in his 60s David Coverdale has certainly weathered the ravages of time better than most.

Maybe it‘s the copious cups of tea he drinks or moving from Teesside to the beautiful Lake Tahoe in Sierra Nevada that has done the trick but whatever it is he should bottle it and flog it.

Although his voice at times can‘t quite reach the heights of yesteryear Coverdale more than makes up for it with his showmanship and charisma, which he has by the spadeful.

Coverdale dominates the huge stage making even those at the back feel part of the show. A real treat for vintage Whitesnake fans came when original guitarist Bernie Marsden made a surprise appearance during Fool For Your Loving and a touching tribute to fallen past members Jon Lord, Cozy Powell and Mel Galley prior to Love Will Set You Free brought a tinge of sadness and celebration to the night.

With Whitesnake covering all eras of the band from the early days of Ready and Willing and Don‘t Break My Heart Again through the MTV big hair days of Is This Love and the bombastic Still Of the Night right to the title track from their latest Forevermore opus and everything else in between there was more than enough to keep everyone happy although a song or two from his Deep Purple days would surely have topped things off nicely.

The last occasion Journey played at the Metro Radio Arena, they were joined by melodic rock veterans Foreigner and Styx. This time, with Thunder and Whitesnake breathing down their necks, Journey promised to showcase more of their Rock side pledging to leave most of their ballads back home.

There is no better way to start than the stomping Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) followed in quick succession by Chain Reaction and Ask The Lonely. Journey were certainly true to their word with only mega ballad Open Arms, a truly stunning Faithfully and golden oldie Lights showing their lighter waving side.

With Neal Schon‘s guitar to the forefront along with keyboardist Jonathan Cain doubling up on guitar, Journey certainly packed a harder punch live than they do on record with a storming Edge of the Blade and Escape giving Schon plenty of scope to flex his fretboard skills.

Journey easily buried their soft rock reputation.

Sure the biggest cheer of the night greeted Don‘t Stop Believin’ but despite it being a tad overplayed in recent years, there‘s no denying its classic status.

Lead singer, Arnel Pineda‘s rise from rags to riches is a Hollywood writer‘s dream and to be able to fill the legendary Steve Perry‘s shoes was an unenviable task but Pineda‘s performance was utterly flawless.

Powerful, melodic and pitch perfect with energy and passion in abundance.

After almost four hours of music by three quality bands Coverdale‘s pre-show proclamation of giving the fans more bang for their buck certainly rang true and no-one left the arena feeling short changed.

[Don]

No amount of panache can compensate for a lack of passion


http://rushonrock.com/2013/05/23/review ... e-thunder/

According to one popular reality television show it’s all about the
voice. And given the fact that Danny Bowes, David Coverdale and Arnel
Pineda barely missed a note in Newcastle it’s a point of view that’s
difficult to contest.

All three were in sparkling form as the soft rock classics just kept
on coming – Thunder’s Bowes setting the tone with his soulful, bluesy
delivery, Whitesnake’s Coverdale countering with one of his most
consistent performances in decades and Journey’s Pineda reinforcing his
reputation as the AOR scene’s rising star.

However, with a who’s who of guitar heroes treading the boards on
Tyneside the voices were just part of a sparkling package. And as the
80s anthems flowed the focus ultimately switched to the lords of the
strings and a four-hour masterclass in fret-burning brilliance.

Luke Morley, Ben Matthews, Doug Aldrich, Reb Beech and Neal Schon
nailed every solo and ripped through every riff. But there was more.
Something few could have ever imagined or anticipated and a moment that
will live with everyone present. When Whitesnake went back to the future
and brought on Bernie Marsden to join the party, a collective gasp
filled the rapt arena. Even the lads from Journey packed the wings for a
better view of a genuine icon.

Marsden bravely shunned the shiny MTV-flavoured versions of Fool For You Lovin’ and Here I Go Again
and took both songs back to where they started – his solo on the latter
recalling the days before Coverdale became all-consumed with the
trappings of fame, fortune and Tawny Kitean. It worked a treat before
the shrill tones of Still Of The Night brought a triumphant close to the best Whitesnake show in decades.

Prior to their set, Aldrich told RUSHONROCK that
Thunder had ‘kicked the asses’ of both Whitesnake and Journey in
Sheffield. The softly-spoken American was in reflective mood as he sat
in the back of an empty truck revealing his band’s determination to up
their game and justify their co-headline status.

Aldrich’s steely resolution had clearly rubbed off on local hero
Coverdale – the Teessider overcoming a shaky start to lay to rest any
lingering doubts about one of classic rock’s most revered voices. Forevermore, more than any other song on a setlist spanning 35 years, proved there’s plenty of life in the old dog yet.

But Thunder didn’t make it easy for Coverdale and co. to slip back
into the comfort zone. The semi-retired bastions of bluesy British rock
rifled through a 45-minute slot with Bowes’ idle banter juxtaposed
alongside some seriously compelling music. A blistering version of Higher Ground brought the very best out of Morley and with Love Walked In any sceptics checked out. These days less is more where Thunder are concerned but their ‘national treasure’ status is assured.

Journey had it all to do as the final course of a sumptuous rock
feast and they did it – in a thoroughly professional manner that
occasionally bordered on the dispassionate. Pineda’s presence ensured a
vibrant centerpiece to an uber-slick show but his band-mates
consistently failed to follow the Filipino frontman’s exuberant lead.
Nobody expected Schon and co. to match the band’s youthful singer stride
for stride but an all-too static delivery from the band’s elder
statesmen screamed indifference.

Jonathan Cain was the prime offender. Perhaps the
multi-instrumentalist was buzzing behind that cool exterior but he
looked like a musician going through the motions and dreaming of that
cosy double bed at the lavish Malmaison.

That Pineda carried Journey is symptomatic of a tired act in desperate need of a fresh approach to the arena format.

More confident than ever, the former karaoke singer engaged his
audience, reached the high notes and utterly overshadowed his plodding
colleagues. Pineda is still hungry: too many of Journey’s flag-bearers
look like they’ve already had their fill.

Of course there’s still no finer sight or sound than the polished US titans belting out Ask The Lonely, Only The Young, Faithfully and the ubiquitous Don’t Stop Believin’. Nobody does AOR better. But no amount of panache can compensate for a lack of passion.

Simon Rushworth

[Don]

Setlist
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Chain Reaction
Ask the Lonely
Only the Young
Stone in Love
Keep on Runnin'
Edge of the Blade
Lights
Open Arms
Dead or Alive
Escape
Wheel in the Sky
Be Good to Yourself
Faithfully
Don't Stop Believin'