Columbia Review

[Jeremey]

First let me say thanks to Jeff for the opportunity to see Journey once more this year – My first show of the tour was in Charlotte, which was within the first 2 weeks of Jeff joining the tour (I believe) and I enjoyed seeing all that the band has accomplished since this past summer!

As I mentioned, the show was 100 times better in Columbia than it was back in Charlotte. The band was very tight. It was as if Journey was at a pre-Escape/Frontiers “kings of the world” level of hunger – as though after 8 years of going through the motions, the band realized what it meant to have to prove something again.

One of the big differences between Charlotte and Columbia, for me, was that Jeff has been able to take command of the songs. In Charlotte, that was not always the case. Last Thursday, it was clear that he’s taken the songs and found what he can and can’t do with them, working them over and sending them back out in his own voice. Some here have said Jeff’s working too hard to pull off a Perry style vocal, but I didn’t hear that at all. There were some Perry mannerisms as a tribute to the songs themselves, but he brought them all out in his own style. What Perry and Jeff have in common that Augeri did not is that both of their voices “sit” a little deeper in their respective range. Jeff’s voice is pitched a bit lower than Perry’s, but they both share a deeper timbre that Augeri was lacking. He’s able to deliver the songs a bit more sincerely, and he’s just a better overall singer and showman than Steve Augeri.

Another thing that struck me was this – This isn’t the Journey I knew from the countless spins of Frontiers and Time 3. This is a different, new era for Journey. The “other” Journey – of Steve Perry and stadiums, the baggage and drama of what I knew as the legend of Journey now has a separate place in history. In a way, I feel singing those songs now and sharing them with others seems to have become more of what a true “tribute” is all about while this new Journey moves forward. This is an evolved band with the previous “era” ending with Trial by Fire. This band appears to have dusted off the ashes of the past and made a true effort to start again. Like I said earlier, it seems like there’s a hunger that hasn’t been there in 26 years. What started out as one of Journey’s darkest years may end as one of their best.

[Andrew]

Could not agree more on all points. Perfectly put Jeremy.

[Granny]

Could not agree more on all points. Perfectly put Jeremy.

Andrew, I ws there too, and Jeff was incredible...all ove the stage and enjyoing himself...they all were...We had a fantastic time...wish the show was longer tho' like another 2 hrs....

[Ms_M]

Sounds like a great show. Thanks for your review.

[donnaplease]

Sounds like a great show. Thanks for your review.

Can't wait til Friday!!!!

[RossValoryRocks]

Sounds like a great show. Thanks for your review.

Can't wait til Friday!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!

[EightyRock]

That all sounds great, Jeremey and I agree Jeff has a much better voice and is a better fit for them than Augeri. I will reserve dubbing them over the hump and into a great new era for the band until I hear new material BOTH written and a significant amount of it played at gigs in 2007.

[FormerJrnyFan]

Sounds like a great show. Thanks for your review.

Can't wait til Friday!!!!

ME TOO!!!!!!

[ohsherrie]

WOW!! Jeremy, that is the most eloquent and concise review I've heard. I don't see how anyone could have described the difference between what is now and what was for the past 8 years in a better way. Add to that your expertise in this subject and I don't see how anyone can doubt that Jeff is the best thing that could happen to a Journey without Steve Perry.

[fred_journeyman]

Jeremey,

Thanks INCREDIBLY for that brief review and insight into the band and their performance. As someone who admittedly, has been waffling regarding Journey, THAT is the kind of response/post that is extremely helpful to me! It gives me plenty of food for thought. What I specifically liked about it was that you didn't sugar coat anything (didn't appear to need to) and at the same time, you INFORMED me as to WHY you felt the way you did. Coming from you, with your background as a Journey tribute artist and vocalist, your review is high praise and opens the door to hope for me.

Thank you, thank you, and a million times, thank you!

[AR]

Jeremey is also a great perfomer. I think "Frontiers" has a gig in College Park, MD sometime soon. I plan on being there.

[dcvader]

Jeremey is also a great perfomer. I think "Frontiers" has a gig in College Park, MD sometime soon. I plan on being there.

I think it's Dec 9th. I will be there too

[larryfromnextdoor]

nicely written dude!........what about the part where
u hooked up with soto and got that pic? how did that
go? id love to see you and he share a stage for a
tune or 2....

[Just Mindy]

Jeremey is also a great perfomer. I think "Frontiers" has a gig in College Park, MD sometime soon. I plan on being there.

I think it's Dec 9th. I will be there too

Wish I could get there too, I'd be pushing my luck if I tried

What day of the week is that?

[Ms_M]

Jeremey is also a great perfomer. I think "Frontiers" has a gig in College Park, MD sometime soon. I plan on being there.

I think it's Dec 9th. I will be there too

Wish I could get there too, I'd be pushing my luck if I tried

What day of the week is that?

It's a Saturday.

[Just Mindy]

It's a Saturday.

It is??? Interesting

[conversationpc]

First let me say thanks to Jeff for the opportunity to see Journey once more this year – My first show of the tour was in Charlotte, which was within the first 2 weeks of Jeff joining the tour (I believe) and I enjoyed seeing all that the band has accomplished since this past summer!

As I mentioned, the show was 100 times better in Columbia than it was back in Charlotte. The band was very tight. It was as if Journey was at a pre-Escape/Frontiers “kings of the world” level of hunger – as though after 8 years of going through the motions, the band realized what it meant to have to prove something again.

One of the big differences between Charlotte and Columbia, for me, was that Jeff has been able to take command of the songs. In Charlotte, that was not always the case. Last Thursday, it was clear that he’s taken the songs and found what he can and can’t do with them, working them over and sending them back out in his own voice. Some here have said Jeff’s working too hard to pull off a Perry style vocal, but I didn’t hear that at all. There were some Perry mannerisms as a tribute to the songs themselves, but he brought them all out in his own style. What Perry and Jeff have in common that Augeri did not is that both of their voices “sit” a little deeper in their respective range. Jeff’s voice is pitched a bit lower than Perry’s, but they both share a deeper timbre that Augeri was lacking. He’s able to deliver the songs a bit more sincerely, and he’s just a better overall singer and showman than Steve Augeri.

Another thing that struck me was this – This isn’t the Journey I knew from the countless spins of Frontiers and Time 3. This is a different, new era for Journey. The “other” Journey – of Steve Perry and stadiums, the baggage and drama of what I knew as the legend of Journey now has a separate place in history. In a way, I feel singing those songs now and sharing them with others seems to have become more of what a true “tribute” is all about while this new Journey moves forward. This is an evolved band with the previous “era” ending with Trial by Fire. This band appears to have dusted off the ashes of the past and made a true effort to start again. Like I said earlier, it seems like there’s a hunger that hasn’t been there in 26 years. What started out as one of Journey’s darkest years may end as one of their best.

Great stuff! That's the best summation of what I've had stewing in the back of my mind but haven't been able to process quite as fully as you did.

[Ms_M]

It's a Saturday.

It is??? Interesting

Yup - it's the day after my b-day. I expect it to be a "lost day" for me. LOL!

[Crazie Scarab]

Nicely put, Jeremey. Great post!

[Jeremey]

Thanks you all! I think everyone should have great expectations for the future of this band. Yes, I think you'll see new material next year. Yes, I think you'll see it performed in concert in much the same way Journey would introduce new material back in 1979-1986. Larry, the pics came about because we were set for a meet and greet - unfortunately the venue couldn't get their shit together, but we finally got escorted back to meet with Jeff in a hallway in the basement of the arena. Neal was kind enough to interrupt his pre-show meal and come out and say hello as well!!

For those of you that can make it, the show next month in College Park is Saturday Dec 9th - Santa Fe Cafe is a great venue, and it's pretty much on the campus of UM, so it's a late night and a young crowd, but they LOVE the Journey music. We'll be doing the full 3 hour show, so hope to see some folks there! Wish we could make it to Ed's this Thursday, but logistically it's just not possible. Maybe we can all do some sort of get together next year - I know a great band we could hire....

[fred_journeyman]

Thanks you all! I think everyone should have great expectations for the future of this band. Yes, I think you'll see new material next year. Yes, I think you'll see it performed in concert in much the same way Journey would introduce new material back in 1979-1986...

Thanks again, Jeremey. That's all I ask.

[AR]

Wish we could make it to Ed's this Thursday, but logistically it's just not possible. Maybe we can all do some sort of get together next year - I know a great band we could hire....

Wish you could be here too. I'll see ya on 12/9 though!

[dcvader]

. Maybe we can all do some sort of get together next year - I know a great band we could hire....

This is a must do thing. We gotta figure out a way to do a freakin' bash.

[Red13JoePa]

Strongly disagree that they were merely going through the motions for 8 years.

[jrnyman28]

Strongly disagree that they were merely going through the motions for 8 years.

I think it is meant as a relative description. 'By way of comparison, the bands energy now makes it look like they were simply going through the motions for the past 8 years'....

Although I agree that is a tough pill to swallow...the Main Event and several of the other tours did look that way (mostly the GH Tours). But UTR was incredible to me. Arrival was very good. The first two were getting Steve's feet wet and all the band was working on getting tight. But by way of comparison...

[The_Noble_Cause]

Although I agree that is a tough pill to swallow...the Main Event and several of the other tours did look that way (mostly the GH Tours). But UTR was incredible to me. Arrival was very good. The first two were getting Steve's feet wet and all the band was working on getting tight. But by way of comparison...

I agree with the Dave.
The band's on-stage energy declined after UTR.

Coincidentally, this correlates with the increasing use of tapes.

[The_Noble_Cause]

First let me say thanks to Jeff for the opportunity to see Journey once more this year – My first show of the tour was in Charlotte, which was within the first 2 weeks of Jeff joining the tour (I believe) and I enjoyed seeing all that the band has accomplished since this past summer!

As I mentioned, the show was 100 times better in Columbia than it was back in Charlotte. The band was very tight. It was as if Journey was at a pre-Escape/Frontiers “kings of the world” level of hunger – as though after 8 years of going through the motions, the band realized what it meant to have to prove something again.

One of the big differences between Charlotte and Columbia, for me, was that Jeff has been able to take command of the songs. In Charlotte, that was not always the case. Last Thursday, it was clear that he’s taken the songs and found what he can and can’t do with them, working them over and sending them back out in his own voice. Some here have said Jeff’s working too hard to pull off a Perry style vocal, but I didn’t hear that at all. There were some Perry mannerisms as a tribute to the songs themselves, but he brought them all out in his own style. What Perry and Jeff have in common that Augeri did not is that both of their voices “sit” a little deeper in their respective range. Jeff’s voice is pitched a bit lower than Perry’s, but they both share a deeper timbre that Augeri was lacking. He’s able to deliver the songs a bit more sincerely, and he’s just a better overall singer and showman than Steve Augeri.

Another thing that struck me was this – This isn’t the Journey I knew from the countless spins of Frontiers and Time 3. This is a different, new era for Journey. The “other” Journey – of Steve Perry and stadiums, the baggage and drama of what I knew as the legend of Journey now has a separate place in history. In a way, I feel singing those songs now and sharing them with others seems to have become more of what a true “tribute” is all about while this new Journey moves forward. This is an evolved band with the previous “era” ending with Trial by Fire. This band appears to have dusted off the ashes of the past and made a true effort to start again. Like I said earlier, it seems like there’s a hunger that hasn’t been there in 26 years. What started out as one of Journey’s darkest years may end as one of their best.

Weren't u initially oppossed to the band moving on with yet another singer?
I recall ur post, but am too lazy to dig for it.

I can only assumed JSS won u over.

[Jeremey]

Weren't u initially oppossed to the band moving on with yet another singer?
I recall ur post, but am too lazy to dig for it.

I can only assumed JSS won u over.

Pretty much, yes, was opposed to Journey continuing on with another singer for the sole purpose of churning out more greatest hits tours. My opinion on that hasn't changed. But from what I've seen, that doesn't appear to be the direction Journey is heading.

[Jeremey]

Strongly disagree that they were merely going through the motions for 8 years.

I think it is meant as a relative description. 'By way of comparison, the bands energy now makes it look like they were simply going through the motions for the past 8 years'....

Although I agree that is a tough pill to swallow...the Main Event and several of the other tours did look that way (mostly the GH Tours). But UTR was incredible to me. Arrival was very good. The first two were getting Steve's feet wet and all the band was working on getting tight. But by way of comparison...

Right on. I don't mean that's what actually happened. I just mean in hindsight, that's how things appear to be now. I saw SA on Under the Radar and was impressed with his energy but very disappointed with his vocal chops. I saw the 30 year anniversary tour, and admitted SA's voice seemed to have undergone a remarkable improvement, but the band seemed completely disinterested. I think it's been a cumulative process, though.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I saw SA on Under the Radar and was impressed with his energy but very disappointed with his vocal chops. I saw the 30 year anniversary tour, and admitted SA's voice seemed to have undergone a remarkable improvement, but the band seemed completely disinterested.

That pretty much hits the nail right on the head.