Journey tops Leppard in band battle
By MICHAEL ECK, Special to the Times Union
First published: Sunday, September 17, 2006
SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Journey began its career as a '70s prog-rock band with epic guitar solos, hippie-dippie lyrics and deep roots in the classic Santana lineup. Def Leppard came to the fore as part of the New Wave of British heavy metal, alongside such other manic stalwarts as Iron Maiden.
Both went on to became among the major pop icons of the '80s, and both appeared Saturday night at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in a double bill that promised memories of senior proms, battles of the bands and late nights cruising with the radio on.
And the show made good on that promise -- at least in part.
Journey kicked off with a stellar set heavy on big hits and fan favorites like "Wheel In The Sky," "Lights," "Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin," and "Keep on Runnin."
New singer Jeff Scott Soto is more the chain-walleted amalgam of David Lee Roth and Steven Tyler than he is a descendant of Journey legend Steve Perry, but he was warmly received by the large crowd.
Drummer Deen Castronovo handled the high parts on key Perry tunes like "Who's Crying Now," "Open Arms" and "Faithfully," but Soto ably impressed the house on the rest of the stuff, including an almost punky "Wanted Dead or Alive."
Guitarist Neal Schon seemed more tastefully reined in than on past area visits, but he still provided an opening blast of "The Star-Spangled Banner" leading into "Stone in Love." (this person obviously doesn't get that we don't want Neal "reined in".
)
Keyboardist Jonathan Cain mugged all night, with a smug smile and a constantly waving hand that was a virtual parody of itself. Still, he sure played that piano (and rhythm guitar when necessary).
Journey finished out with a run of favorites, including "Don't Stop Believin," "Anyway You Want It" and "Separate Ways."
Def Leppard was positively lethargic by contrast.
Yes, they played expected hits like "Bringin on the Heartbreak," "Foolin" (evidently, final g's were against the rules in the '80s) and "Photograph," but even those had little spark -- and none were helped by a bass-heavy sound mix that lacked the clarity and punch of Journey's set.
Singer Joe Elliott and the crew did find a little more energy when they tackled covers from the band's new album, "Yeah."
But then, Def Leppard's versions of T. Rex's "20th Century Boy" and David Essex's "Rock On" don't improve in the originals (even if the former's Marc Bolan was Lep guitarist Vivian Campbell's prime influence).
If Saturday actually had been a prom or a battle of the bands, Journey would have won hands down.
Cain's pal Stoll Vaughan opened the evening with a brief set best described as Dylanesque, in a damning-with-faint-praise kind of way. Michael Eck is a freelance writer from Albany and a frequent contributor to the Times Union
I think we all knew that. 
Thanks for the article.
