Journey on CNN (08/21)

[The_Noble_Cause]

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/27/politics ... index.html

'We Love NYC' will be both streamed and broadcast over traditional cable.

According to Neal, Narada called up Clive Davis personally to get them booked.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Today!

5pm EST / 2pm PST

[Loneman1]

Did I read on FB that Journey is opening the show? I'm gonna be likely in the middle of the final touches of prepping my parents house to get all new flooring on Monday so I'll probably miss it live but am recording it on DVR. It would be awesome if Journey opened on a couple levels, including that it would save a lot of fast forwarding!!

[The_Noble_Cause]

Neal says schedule changed. They are on third or fourth - after Santana. Approx. 6:17pm.

[Gideon]

AP sounded very scratchy.

Having personally attended two Journey concerts in the last 30 days, I can verify AP still has plenty of gas in the tank.

But NS, JC, or management or all the above have got to make peace with the fact that at almost 54 years old singing one of the hardest catalogs in all of popular music, they need to be very, very careful with him.

He's not 40 and this isn't 2008 where he can just brute force his way through the catalog like he used to. Jason and Deen have to be given some of the workload.

[Journey2Infinity]

Yes, VERY raspy and pretty flat. He was missing notes completely, losing his place in AWYW, slurring words, barely opening his mouth half the time. His whole demeanor was odd. It looked like he was on something. He has sounded good in other live clips I've watched, but those were from the audience, not straight off the mixer like the NYC show. Vocally, he sounded like Augeri before his exit. Time to get Deen to be the front man!

[The_Noble_Cause]

YHis whole demeanor was odd. It looked like he was on something.

I didn't see that at all. Did he duck notes and fail to hit some? Yes. Dude's 56.

[The_Noble_Cause]

He's not 40 and this isn't 2008 where he can just brute force his way through the catalog like he used to. Jason and Deen have to be given some of the workload.

Agreed. I think last night in AC Jason and Deen did 1 each. They should each be doing 2 or 3. Maybe 4.

On a positive the note, the band was excellent. The combo of Narada/Deen continue to drive the band.

[Lerxst101]

He's not 40 and this isn't 2008 where he can just brute force his way through the catalog like he used to. Jason and Deen have to be given some of the workload.

Agreed. I think last night in AC Jason and Deen did 1 each. They should each be doing 2 or 3. Maybe 4.

On a positive the note, the band was excellent. The combo of Narada/Deen continue to drive the band.

It’s not Saturday evening QBing, but last night at the show, I kept thinking, “Arnel needs to hold back a bit with the two appearances on Saturday — especially the NYC show.” Deen was great as always, but I hadn’t heard Jason before — I hadn’t listened to “Suzanne” from the Chicago show(s) — wow!!! And I honestly believe Arnel was so good last night — I hate when people don’t see him sing at that level.

[Eric]

When Arnel is rough he just need to make that shit his own. Just show up and play with energy and it’s all good.

[Onestepper]

Not gonna lie, the wife and I cringed a bit watching AP last night. It was rough, but I also think it's difficult to just walk out there and be 100% with just those two songs, one of which is an absolute beast that he's most likely used to singing at the end of of a show, versus 5 minutes in. And as mentioned before, he's 56.

Overall, the band sounds great.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Not gonna lie, the wife and I cringed a bit watching AP last night. It was rough, but I also think it's difficult to just walk out there and be 100% with just those two songs, one of which is an absolute beast that he's most likely used to singing at the end of of a show, versus 5 minutes in. And as mentioned before, he's 56.

Overall, the band sounds great.

A fast paced rocker, like AWYWI, is prolly not the best way to ease into singing. Not making excuses. It is what it is. Re-watching DSB, I think it was mostly fine aside from the high parts. May be time to do those in falsetto or something.

[Lerxst101]

Not gonna lie, the wife and I cringed a bit watching AP last night. It was rough, but I also think it's difficult to just walk out there and be 100% with just those two songs, one of which is an absolute beast that he's most likely used to singing at the end of of a show, versus 5 minutes in. And as mentioned before, he's 56.

Overall, the band sounds great.

A fast paced rocker, like AWYWI, is prolly not the best way to ease into singing. Not making excuses. It is what it is. Re-watching DSB, I think it was mostly fine aside from the high parts. May be time to do those in falsetto or something.

I really wonder whether he has a vocal coach, and if so, what kind of warmups does he do? Too often these 1-3 song gigs, he's clearly not warmed up. Even in Chicago, you noticed how his voice got better and better as the night went on.

[Monker]

That was really bad. Arnel sounded horrible. He should not have been singing for this. I don't care what song he was singing, it would not matter with how rough his voice was.

And, where were all of the other lead singers to help him out? Deen and Travis were nowhere to be heard. The band HAD to know how bad Arnel was going to sound and whoever was in charge of the mix should have put Deen - or someone - at a higher volume to help him out.

IMO, it also looks like over kill having two complete drum kits out there.It's an extremely odd look for Journey. It's just not needed.

Marco is good enough but the shoes he's filling are extra small....

....wonder how Perry feels knowing that it now takes three lead singers to do what he was doing by himself in 1985.

[The_Noble_Cause]

The band HAD to know how bad Arnel was going to sound and whoever was in charge of the mix should have put Deen - or someone - at a higher volume to help him out.

Not necessarily. The footage from the night before at Hard Rock sounded good. The footage at Jones Beach- just a few hours after the CNN broadcast - also sounds good.

Here he is doing DSB at Jones Beach. Like the Augeri years, they keep him slightly buried under the mix. Still sounds good.

https://youtu.be/b99qMLYLF5M

IMO, it also looks like over kill having two complete drum kits out there.It's an extremely odd look for Journey. It's just not needed.

Narada and Deen are the best part of the current lineup imo. Glad the band is actually taking a few risks. Unfortunately, the rumor is Narada is just fulfilling a tour obligation and then it will only be Deen again.

I wonder how Perry feels knowing that it now takes three lead singers to do what he was doing by himself in 1985.

Probably envious he didn't have this kind of support. If he did, he might still actually have a career.

Neither Jason or Deen are "lead singers" btw. But you already know that and are just here to troll.

[Gideon]

SP was a countertenor, 36 years old in 1985, effectively in the prime of his life singing a catalog quite literally made for him. AP is a tenor, 53 years old as of this post, not in the prime of his life, singing a catalog made for a countertenor. Apples and fucking oranges.

Hell, I'd be cool with Journey dropping this shit another half step. Only trained musicians can tell the difference while in the audience. If not, bare minimum: NS, JC, and management have to pass the baton more liberally to the other guys throughout the night. Have Jason or Deen sing the Perry parts during Just the Same Way or Anytime or Feeling That Way; give them each 1-2 solo songs.

It'll give the audience a longer set, help preserve Arnel's voice; everybody fucking wins.

[The_Noble_Cause]

SP was a countertenor, 36 years old in 1985, effectively in the prime of his life singing a catalog quite literally made for him. AP is a tenor, 53 years old as of this post, not in the prime of his life, singing a catalog made for a countertenor. Apples and fucking oranges.

Hell, I'd be cool with Journey dropping this shit another half step. Only trained musicians can tell the difference while in the audience. If not, bare minimum: NS, JC, and management have to pass the baton more liberally to the other guys throughout the night. Have Jason or Deen sing the Perry parts during Just the Same Way or Anytime or Feeling That Way; give them each 1-2 solo songs.

It'll give the audience a longer set, help preserve Arnel's voice; everybody fucking wins.

Well said.

[Monker]

SP was a countertenor, 36 years old in 1985

Actually, I think Perry's "prime" as far as singing and vocals go was around 1980.

AP is a tenor, 53 years old as of this post, not in the prime of his life, singing a catalog made for a countertenor. Apples and fucking oranges.

And, Perry was paranoid about his vocals...and still is. Knowing that it now takes three singers to get through a Journey concert must feel pretty good.

Hell, I'd be cool with Journey dropping this shit another half step. Only trained musicians can tell the difference while in the audience. If not, bare minimum: NS, JC, and management have to pass the baton more liberally to the other guys throughout the night. Have Jason or Deen sing the Perry parts during Just the Same Way or Anytime or Feeling That Way; give them each 1-2 solo songs.

I wish Deen were hear to look into using prerecorded vocals...cuz it seems when they are on TV, Arnel has issues...major issues with this CNN concert. I'd like to see someone do some comparing of audience recorded shows.

It'll give the audience a longer set, help preserve Arnel's voice; everybody fucking wins.

Yes, that should obviously happen. It may be the real reason they brought in Deen. But, they can also simply turn down Arnel's mic at parts and turn up Deen's and have him cover it. Or, Arnel move the mic further away from his face, after signally to Deen to turn it up and cover for him. There was an analysis I just watched of the Queen Live Aid bit where they did exactly this for Freddie. They did it so flawlessly you would never know Freddie was not 100%...and it is generally considered the best performance at Live Aid. Journey should be at this level...especially with seven people on stage.

[The_Noble_Cause]

And, Perry was paranoid about his vocals...and still is. Knowing that it now takes three singers to get through a Journey concert must feel pretty good.

Lollapalooza was a full show. Neither of those guys sang once.

The fact that you are now vicariously thinking and feeling through Perry confirms you have gone full blown Perryhead.

Cain should revise the lyrics to WYLAW and dedicate it to Perry-obsessed freaks like you

"When you are a Perryhead, you see the world inside his eyes...."

I wish Deen were hear to look into using prerecorded vocals...cuz it seems when they are on TV, Arnel has issues...major issues with this CNN concert. I'd like to see someone do some comparing of audience recorded shows.

Dean didn't do ANY of that. Jeremey did all the work of comparing audio waves/files. Most of the time, Deen couldn't tell the difference between live Augeri and tape Augeri.

Yes, that should obviously happen. It may be the real reason they brought in Deen. But, they can also simply turn down Arnel's mic at parts and turn up Deen's and have him cover it. Or, Arnel move the mic further away from his face, after signally to Deen to turn it up and cover for him.

You are making all sorts of assumptions. Do you really think Journey's in-house mixer was involved at all for the CNN festival?

[Gideon]

I love Perry, but he'd have to mumble rap his way through the Journey catalog at this age. The only thing he'd probably feel any good about here is that he was much, much shrewder at masking his vocal limitations than AP is.

AP's instinct is to brute force his way through the catalog with that big, operatic voice. If you listen to Journey bootlegs from '83, SP was making all kinds of stylistic alterations to lyric elocution and articulation. (Many of which I hated, but there you go.)

Separate Ways is a great example. AP struggles with certain SW notes, particularly the "though we touched and went our Separate Ways" lyric before Neal's solo. It's a real bitch for him to get through.

However... compare that to a choice he made, ironically, when his voice was much stronger and his endurance much greater for the Revelation DVD:

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

At the 3:05 mark, AP eschews the shrieking part of that lyric for a lower, gruffer interpretation of the lyric. It works extremely well. He's apparently forgotten that he can make different lyrical choices that won't cause the crowd to riot or cause him to faceplant.

[Archetype]

I’m honestly ok with Narada fulfilling his commitment and moving on. Two drummers is starting to look sort of of obnoxious. Sonically it’s cool, but it just looks ridiculous. Deen is a monster.

[MysteryMountain]

Unfortunately, the rumor is Narada is just fulfilling a tour obligation and then it will only be Deen again.

You spelled fortunately wrong.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Unfortunately, the rumor is Narada is just fulfilling a tour obligation and then it will only be Deen again.

You spelled fortunately wrong.

Yeah, let's fire Narada, before the Journey album he's producing/writing is even finished. Great thinking!

[Onestepper]

I’m honestly ok with Narada fulfilling his commitment and moving on. Two drummers is starting to look sort of of obnoxious. Sonically it’s cool, but it just looks ridiculous. Deen is a monster.

Obnoxious? Really?

This band slept walked for the last 10+ years, even with 4/5th of the glory days lineup, playing the dirty dozen over and over with zero creativity or artistic flare, and basically just mailing it in every night.

Now they actually have some new blood with a new energy and sound, trying new things, and they are obnoxious.

Absolutely unbelievable. You'd be better off just going outside and yelling at the clouds.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I’m honestly ok with Narada fulfilling his commitment and moving on. Two drummers is starting to look sort of of obnoxious. Sonically it’s cool, but it just looks ridiculous. Deen is a monster.

Obnoxious? Really?

This band slept walked for the last 10+ years, even with 4/5th of the glory days lineup, playing the dirty dozen over and over with zero creativity or artistic flare, and basically just mailing it in every night.

Now they actually have some new blood with a new energy and sound, trying new things, and they are obnoxious.

Absolutely unbelievable. You'd be better off just going outside and yelling at the clouds.

I'm with you. I love Deen. As Herbie said, I think he's a major franchise talent. But he's not a creative machine like Narada. Neal has a creative partner. If fans lose that, we go right back to stagnation with Cain holding all the cards regarding new material. How shortsighted and sad of fans to want to see Narada depart.

[Art Vandelay]

I’m honestly ok with Narada fulfilling his commitment and moving on. Two drummers is starting to look sort of of obnoxious. Sonically it’s cool, but it just looks ridiculous. Deen is a monster.

Obnoxious? Really?

This band slept walked for the last 10+ years, even with 4/5th of the glory days lineup, playing the dirty dozen over and over with zero creativity or artistic flare, and basically just mailing it in every night.

Now they actually have some new blood with a new energy and sound, trying new things, and they are obnoxious.

Absolutely unbelievable. You'd be better off just going outside and yelling at the clouds.

I'm with you. I love Deen. As Herbie said, I think he's a major franchise talent. But he's not a creative machine like Narada. Neal has a creative partner. If fans lose that, we go right back to stagnation with Cain holding all the cards regarding new material. How shortsighted and sad of fans to want to see Narada depart.

But does Narada have to perform to still be a creative member of the team? He's written and collaborated on all of the new material. His stamp...his 'rub' is already applied. Not that I don't like having him play. It's awesome seeing the new rhythm section. But writer/producer/studio drummer/live drummer are all different entities. Just trying to feel out the argument here.

[The_Noble_Cause]

But does Narada have to perform to still be a creative member of the team? He's written and collaborated on all of the new material. His stamp...his 'rub' is already applied. Not that I don't like having him play. It's awesome seeing the new rhythm section. But writer/producer/studio drummer/live drummer are all different entities. Just trying to feel out the argument here.

Narada and Randy are drums and bass on the new cd. If they don't perform behind it, it's a waste.

[Art Vandelay]

But does Narada have to perform to still be a creative member of the team? He's written and collaborated on all of the new material. His stamp...his 'rub' is already applied. Not that I don't like having him play. It's awesome seeing the new rhythm section. But writer/producer/studio drummer/live drummer are all different entities. Just trying to feel out the argument here.

Narada and Randy are drums and bass on the new cd. If they don't perform behind it, it's a waste.

So having Marco Mendoza tearing it up on stage is a waste?
ROR had Larrie Londin and a bit of Steve Smith on drums and both Bob Glaub and Randy on bass. The ROR touring group served the live versions justice.
More artists than not use use different studio and touring musicians.
I know you were excited for the new lineup, as was I. Not having Narada on stage doesn't discount his credibility to the band.

[MysteryMountain]

Unfortunately, the rumor is Narada is just fulfilling a tour obligation and then it will only be Deen again.

You spelled fortunately wrong.

Yeah, let's fire Narada, before the Journey album he's producing/writing is even finished. Great thinking!

You'll have to point out where I said fire him. You said, "rumor is, he'd be leaving after fulfilling a tour obligation", to which I'm just fine with that.

[The_Noble_Cause]

You'll have to point out where I said fire him. You said, "rumor is, he'd be leaving after fulfilling a tour obligation", to which I'm just fine with that.

Saw him last night. Him and Deen trading solos practically made the show for me. On top of that, his energy is infection and joyful. Would be a shame to lose him.