MR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypOg_86jyo8

Big reveal: tour will be two years!?

That's a big commitment from Steve! I'm sure he will draw in more crowds, so it should be a great tour!

Thanks for sharing!

Two years is a loooong tour. Poor Arnel! I hope they schedule it so he can properly rest his chords.

Having said that:
That interview gave me fanboy goosebumps. Hearing how much effort Smitty is putting into his prep, the choices of drums, his process to revisit being a drummer for a rock band.

Most people may wonder what the big deal is about having a different drummer in the band, but I witnessed the difference in their sound with Deen vs. Smitty on the kit. Steve's sophistication absolutely elevates that band. It's just a night and day difference -- especially live. GOD I hope they record some rehearsals. (NEAL PLEASE POST SOME VIDEOS!!!)

Speculation:
Two years and the Journey is over? Hmmmm... I hope Neal can convince Jon to step into the studio with Smitty one last time. Even if they do it at Jon's home studio and put out the music as downloads to save on production expenses. One last hurrah for the hardcore fanbase. (I'm dreaming, I know)

I don't think the tour itself is two years, but rather he committed to playing with them for the next two years worth of tours (the 2016 tour and the 2017 tour...most likely summer tours as usual). Last I heard he's still planning to do his jazz stuff during the off time, then returning to the jazz scene full time in 2018.

Art Vandelay wrote:I don't think the tour itself is two years, but rather he committed to playing with them for the next two years worth of tours (the 2016 tour and the 2017 tour...most likely summer tours as usual).

Makes sense.