G.R. Van Andel Arena Concert---With impressions of the show.

[Chevypv]

Well, Ill be at the Grand Rapids concert tomorow, too bad nobody from here is lives in the area, Ill be going with my Bro, And ive got good lower bowl seats (too poor for the floor). Ill let you guys know how it is, I would try and get some boots from it, but im not sure it would look good if a security employee gets kicked out for recording the show . The Van Andel is a great venue so Im expecting a GREAT show.

[lights1961]

Well, Ill be at the Grand Rapids concert tomorow, too bad nobody from here is lives in the area, Ill be going with my Bro, And ive got good lower bowl seats (too poor for the floor). Ill let you guys know how it is, I would try and get some boots from it, but im not sure it would look good if a security employee gets kicked out for recording the show . The Van Andel is a great venue so Im expecting a GREAT show.

HAVE A GREAT TIME... JSS will put a smile on your face for his love of Journey and the songs!!
three times and want to see more---so little time... so little cash...

Rick

[Chevypv]

Well, Ill be at the Grand Rapids concert tomorow, too bad nobody from here is lives in the area, Ill be going with my Bro, And ive got good lower bowl seats (too poor for the floor). Ill let you guys know how it is, I would try and get some boots from it, but im not sure it would look good if a security employee gets kicked out for recording the show . The Van Andel is a great venue so Im expecting a GREAT show.

HAVE A GREAT TIME... JSS will put a smile on your face for his love of Journey and the songs!!
three times and want to see more---so little time... so little cash...

Rick

The only bad thing is, if I had worked it I could have gone back stage and met the guys, but since I wanted to go with my bro, (and i wanted to sing along) I decided to attend...Oh well, at least I dont have to worry about drunk jackasses trying to jump the stage...

[Moon Beam]

Hope you have a fantastic time, wish I could join
you as it's only a few hours from here but this no
income thing has got me tied.
Hope you post a review, I'll be looking for it.

[RedWingFan]

Well, Ill be at the Grand Rapids concert tomorow, too bad nobody from here is lives in the area, Ill be going with my Bro, And ive got good lower bowl seats (too poor for the floor). Ill let you guys know how it is, I would try and get some boots from it, but im not sure it would look good if a security employee gets kicked out for recording the show . The Van Andel is a great venue so Im expecting a GREAT show.

I'm taking my nephew to this show, he's likes both bands. I'm looking forward to the new and improved JSS. I didn't think he did too hot when I saw him in Indy in July.

[Chevypv]

HOLY SHIT was that concert BAD ASS!!!

JSS ripped it up. it was amazing.

Ok, im no good at remembering specific moments in the show, but I have to say, It was impressive.

so, my brother an I arrived, got to our seats (good, not great) and started to wander a little. I noticed my security supervisor a few rows away, so i went over to talk to him. He says "if theres room ill come get you and move you up alittle"
Cool, not gonna hold my breath though.
The show starts off, of course with a KICK-ASS national anthem, and they bust straight into stone in love.

Everyone around me starts asking me "who is that singer?" so I let them know. a few of them made comments about how good he is, and I said, Yeah, I know, He is isn't he

Anyway, they sounded great, and suddenly during the intro to Lights, my supervisor comes up and leads us to the section next to the stage and says "eh, second row looks good, have fun"
so there we are, second row on stage left, CLOSER THAN THE FRONT ROW OF THE FLOOR to the stage . The concert REALLY kicked ass from then on.
(yes Jeff, that was me and my brother standing alone rockin out on stage left)
yeah, Jeff made and held eye contact with both of us, which was pretty cool

anyway, I was really impressed with the performance, they sounded tighter than ever, and had way more energy.

During intermission I was heading out for a smoke and heard a few people talking about how "that was way better than when Augeri was singin", And I would have to agree, this concert blew all the others ive seen out of the water

(BTW, stayed for the leps, cause i had second row, Not really as much my thing, but they rocked out pretty well too!)

[Clasicrockldy]

During intermission I was heading out for a smoke and heard a few people talking about how "that was way better than when Augeri was singin", And I would have to agree, this concert blew all the others ive seen out of the water

I like that quote !

Hey Chevy, I am glad that you and your bro had a wonderful time. JSS does kick serious ass onstage! Thanks for the review !

[ArnelRox]

HOLY SHIT was that concert BAD ASS!!!

Oh man. How much longer till 11/7? Damn. I can't wait. This is the most excited I've been about a concert in years.

Thanks for the review. Did u get pix or any sound clips?

[Chevypv]

HOLY SHIT was that concert BAD ASS!!!

Oh man. How much longer till 11/7? Damn. I can't wait. This is the most excited I've been about a concert in years.

Thanks for the review. Did u get pix or any sound clips?

Tried to get pix, my camera sucked it up in the dark....so no pix

No sound clips either, thought about doin some video but that close to the stage I didn't want to press my luck

[heardonthestreet]

The band will never be able to break away from being a greatest hits band. Those songs are the mainstay.

Highlight for me was Deen. He conducted the band and set the pace for the show. He does not sound like Perry at all, imo, but he has his own remarkable voice and his delivery was wonderful to watch. He is like Perry, in that his face is wonderful to watch when he is singing. Being a great looking guy does help. The crowd loved his "Open Arms" and "Faithfully." People around me womdered why he was not the lead vocalist. He has great range without effort.

"Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin,""Separate Ways" and "Don't Stop Believin" were great sing-a-longs.

God Bless ROR for IBAWY. Jeff covered this well as it was well within his range. What a great Journey song.

I hope that last night was the last time that JSS wares Rodriquiez jersey. I think that he put a hex on him.

The two bands are quite a contrast. DL rocked hard and the the crowd loved it. Journey has some remarkable hits to their credit and the band covered them well to the crowd's satisifaction.

[perryfaithful]

HOTS...you were there too?

[ProgRocker53]

When I took a couple buddies to a Journey concert this summer, they all wanted Deen to be lead singer as well. Everybody was pretty much smitten with him.

It's too bad that Deen has said before that he couldn't front a band because he'd feel empty without the drums.

[heardonthestreet]

HOTS...you were there too?

............................................

I was given tickets and the arena is only a half hour away. If I'm going to shoot off my mouth here, I figured that I would have to have something to base my critique on.

If you can get to a concert, go! Deen will more than make it worth your while.

[Clasicrockldy]

HOTS...you were there too?

............................................

I was given tickets and the arena is only a half hour away. If I'm going to shoot off my mouth here, I figured that I would have to have something to base my critique on.

If you can get to a concert, go! Deen will more than make it worth your while.

Now since you went to a concert, how do you feel about JSS fronting the band, HOTS?

[Chevypv]

A little side note, I was pretty sure, and my Bro confirmed it, when they introduced JSS, Jon said "give it up for our new lead singer, Jeff Scott Soto!!"

Thought that was kinda cool, no replacement bs anymore, and while i know that doesn't prove anything, cuase its much quicker to say, it was fun to hear

[Clasicrockldy]

A little side note, I was pretty sure, and my Bro confirmed it, when they introduced JSS, Jon said "give it up for our new lead singer, Jeff Scott Soto!!"
Thought that was kinda cool, no replacement bs anymore, and while i know that doesn't prove anything, cuase its much quicker to say, it was fun to hear

Jon said that ??? Whoa !

[heardonthestreet]

HOTS...you were there too?

............................................

I was given tickets and the arena is only a half hour away. If I'm going to shoot off my mouth here, I figured that I would have to have something to base my critique on.

If you can get to a concert, go! Deen will more than make it worth your while.

Now since you went to a concert, how do you feel about JSS fronting the band, HOTS?

...............................................

I'd say, "Stick with Talismen and thanks for holding the fort until the troops arrive."

[Moon Beam]

Chevypv thanks for the review!
Glad you had a great time.

[NoMoreTails]

HOTS...you were there too?

............................................

I was given tickets and the arena is only a half hour away. If I'm going to shoot off my mouth here, I figured that I would have to have something to base my critique on.

If you can get to a concert, go! Deen will more than make it worth your while.

Now since you went to a concert, how do you feel about JSS fronting the band, HOTS?

...............................................

I'd say, "Stick with Talismen and thanks for holding the fort until the troops arrive."

The "troops" are DOA, vocally speaking...

[ArnelRox]

A little side note, I was pretty sure, and my Bro confirmed it, when they introduced JSS, Jon said "give it up for our new lead singer, Jeff Scott Soto!!"

Thought that was kinda cool, no replacement bs anymore, and while i know that doesn't prove anything, cuase its much quicker to say, it was fun to hear

I HOPE a boot of that surfaces. Altho it might result in some mass suicides.

Interesting how they went from saying Steve Augeri won't be performing with us tonite due to ongoing health issues to give it up for our friend Jeff Scott Soto & now this. Um if this isn't "writing on the wall" what is?

[ArnelRox]

I'd say, "Stick with Talismen and thanks for holding the fort until the troops arrive."

Who are the "troops"? Perry? He ain't coming back to Journey HOTS.

I can't believe u didn't just love Jeff. Wow. U know I'm a Perry loon too but Jeff is just dynamite.

[heardonthestreet]

I'd say, "Stick with Talismen and thanks for holding the fort until the troops arrive."

Who are the "troops"? Perry? He ain't coming back to Journey HOTS.

I can't believe u didn't just love Jeff. Wow. U know I'm a Perry loon too but Jeff is just dynamite.

.............................................

I don't know who I would consider "the troops' JR. I just know that it isn't JSS, imo. It's not to say that he does not perform well. To me, Journey needs a voice more like Deens. Many of the fans here want Journey to rock more but the Classics have always had just the right combination, imo. The CLASS in Classic is what has always made Journey the successful band that it was.
Thank you JR for asking so nicely. I respect your admiration for the vocalist that makes it work for you.

JSS is in his element with Talismen and is very good. I hope that his exposure with Journey will bring his band good publicity here in the states.

[NoMoreTails]

...a Perry-head that does want a "Perry Clone"

[heardonthestreet]

...a Perry-head that does want a "Perry Clone"

.................................

No! NMT, I have always stated that if someone can do it as good as or better, I would admit it. So far it has not happened. Deen won't give it a full attempt or else they won't let him. They would still have a hard time if any new material wasn't good enough. I still think that what's missing is Perry's input in writing new material and someone who is good as or better than Perry. Deen is the only one who comes close, imo. Just one or two songs, isn't enough to know if I'm thinking right on this.

[ArnelRox]

I don't know who I would consider "the troops' JR. I just know that it isn't JSS, imo. It's not to say that he does not perform well. To me, Journey needs a voice more like Deens. Many of the fans here want Journey to rock more but the Classics have always had just the right combination, imo. The CLASS in Classic is what has always made Journey the successful band that it was.
Thank you JR for asking so nicely. I respect your admiration for the vocalist that makes it work for you.

JSS is in his element with Talismen and is very good. I hope that his exposure with Journey will bring his band good publicity here in the states.

I like Deen's voice a lot. I was blown away the first time I heard him sing back in 04. But to me, it doesn't have the power that Jeff does. I think Jeff has all the class that anyone could ever ask for. When I heard early boots, I wasn't completely comfortable but I had a strong feeling he could do it, & just needed a little time. After all he jumped in mid-tour. The recent boots, wow. I can play them all day long & I just love the way he sings the classics. My husband wasn't sure at first either. But the other nite when I played recent boots for him, his eyes lit up & he kept saying "that's good, that's very very good". The energy is what grabs me too. It reminds of of Perry's energy. I honestly don't think Journey could find anyone more capable of doing this job.

We're all entitled to our own opinions of course. That's what makes the world go round. I'm sorry Journey + Jeff didn't do it for u b/c that means u won't get to enjoy the shows. I don't think Perry is ever gonna tour again. I still keep hoping tho. If he doesn't, at least I still have Journey shows to enjoy. & they're a whole lot more enjoyable now than they were for the past few yrs.

[NoMoreTails]

...a Perry-head that does want a "Perry Clone"

.................................

No! NMT, I have always stated that if someone can do it as good as or better, I would admit it. So far it has not happened. Deen won't give it a full attempt or else they won't let him. They would still have a hard time if any new material wasn't good enough. I still think that what's missing is Perry's input in writing new material and someone who is good as or better than Perry. Deen is the only one who comes close, imo. Just one or two songs, isn't enough to know if I'm thinking right on this.

I like Deen's voice for a couple of songs a night, overall I think is voice is a bit too thin, which I've thought about Hugo. But Deen is not a blantant ripoff of Perry as is my opinion of Hugo, Hugo's original stuff I've heard even has Perry's breathy-ness, etc. I think Deen covers what he has done very well and the "thin" impression could be from nights when his voice was a bit ragged out, he has the courseness of later Perry. It's been stated that Deen doesn't want to be the front man, furthermore, I don't think he could, as singing lead all night is much different than singing just a couple of songs, plus backgrounds. He would have to go through a different type of training for a tour having not been a (every song) lead singer since his early years. I think it would wreck his voice and he probably does too, seeing what happened to SA after taking off several years from singing and trying to come back to the demands of singing Journey songs.