Rick wrote:
I don't know if I've read that review. Link?
I think he was pushed out there with a gun to his head if you ask me. Augeri seems like a genuinely nice guy, and I don't think he ever had any intent on hurting the band. I'm in total agreement, it is hard to see him go through that, and it sucks to see him go out like that.
On the other hand, he, like JSS grew a huge fan base as a result of being with Journey, and I hope that both of them will do great things in the future.
I doubt there are any links still valid, so I'll repost it below. Here's the review, in its entirety (minus the Def Leppard portion). The overall impression of the show is a bit different than the cut-and-paste version that ended up on backtalk, which changed the entire context of the review.
Note: This is approaching the length of an epitaph. Condensing it much more would be a crime however, as the full story needs to be told.
Journey & Def Leppard – Raleigh, NC – July 4, 2006
Simply put, this show is why I go to live concerts. For me, the sign of a good concert is some lasting memory that stays in your mind long after the night is over—something that the people who saw the show before you didn’t see, and neither will the people after you. Sometimes, magic can be made for those lucky enough to witness it. I don’t know if anyone really realized at it at the time, but Journey history was made in Raleigh, North Carolina tonight.
A little background before I get to tonight’s show and what it very special… I have seen quite a few Journey concerts with Steve Augeri singing, starting with the first tour in 1998, and basically every time they came around NC since then. Counting tonight, it is roughly the 7th show I have seen them perform. In that path, there have been a lot of highs---such as the first time the new lineup played in NC in the fall of 1998 after hearing the shock and astonishment that Perry was not with Journey anymore and the complaints of people who didn’t know before they arrived at the concert, then watching everyone’s jaws drop listening to the soundcheck when Augeri nailed Separate Ways. There was also maybe a random low when the audience for the 9-11 benefit in Atlanta Georgia in November 2001 totally misunderstood the lyrics and meaning behind the song “World Gone Wild”. Needless to say, the song was dropped for the 2nd benefit show in Texas a few days later. There were plenty of fun moments also, such as the 1999 show in Charlotte where Augeri was running and jumping on the speakers near the end of the show, and almost fell off one into the audience. Through all the shows, I have watched Steve Augeri grow as a frontman for the band and have seen the progress made through every show. I have seen shows where he was ON and sounded absolutely incredible, and the rare show where he struggled a bit. Nothing would compare to tonight however.
For tonight’s show, I managed to score front row seats. That in itself is usually a very rare thing. Tonight, it made all the difference in the world, because I could see what was happening on stage—and on the wings on the stage that are generally hidden from view.
Over the last month or two, Journey has come under a great deal of debate that has been played out in a large part on the melodicrock.com noticeboard. For a refresher—if anyone really needs one—the claims stem from the European festival shows at the beginning of June and accuse Steve Augeri of overdubbing his vocals with a pre-recorded tape. I’ve stayed out of the arguments simply because I was not at those shows. Everything that I had seen had live lead vocals with no backing tape. That, I was convinced of. The show tonight in Raleigh should lay to rest the remainder of the doubts.
For any doubters out there, the show in Raleigh was LIVE. There are roughly about 30,000 other people who were in attendance who would back up my claims. If there was ever a show where a backing tape for the lead vocals was needed, this was the show. If there was a backing tape in existence, it would have been heard tonight. It wasn’t. Steve Augeri was better for it. Journey was better for it. The people in attendance tonight got something they weren’t planning on as a result.
THE CONCERT…
For anyone that has been in North Carolina in the summer knows the weather is not the best. Temperatures today were around 90 degrees Fahrenheit with over 70% humidity. Welcome to the south. By the time the concert started, the weather had not improved, and dark clouds beckoned on the horizon. Fortunately, they never came to visit.
JOURNEY
Journey hit the stage first with Faith in the Heartland and it was immediately clear that something was wrong. Augeri showed up in Raleigh---his voice did not. To say he was having a difficult time would be putting it mildly. He was struggling. The extent would not be totally realized for a few songs though. Explanations would come later, but there was a problem.
Be Good To Yourself started and the after the first line of the song, Augeri signaled to Deen Castronovo to take over and Augeri went backstage. I have heard Deen sing a few times, and he was on tonight. Augeri returned after a little while and he and Deen went back and forth on lead vocals for the remainder of the song while Augeri tried to coax his voice into action.
Ask the Lonely came next and was somewhat of a breather with it’s lower-pitched vocal. Augeri did better on this song, but he was still having major problems. Throughout the song, Deen supplied backup and occasionally doubled Augeri’s voice. Only the Young came next with Deen singing lead. It didn’t look as if it was planned for Deen to sing on this, but after the problems Augeri was having, it wasn’t a surprise. Journey has been changing the songs Deen would sing in a show, so anything is possible. Augeri needed a breather anyway.
As the song ended, Neal Schon started up his guitar solo. With his choice of playing the Star Spangled Banner at concerts over the past few years, it wasn’t hard to guess what was coming. Tonight’s version was inspired with Ross Vallory and Deen giving the “we’re not worthy” bows towards the end. Stone in Love was next and Steve Augeri was back, but Deen took over shortly in to the song singing the majority of the lead vocals from there on. Wheel in the Sky followed, and Augeri took the lead in this, but Deen was still doing a lot of doubling parts and singing the high parts leaving Augeri for the lower notes.
By now, everyone was fully aware there was something serious going on, but the show continued. Lights was next, and Augeri signaled for Deen. They went back and forth on lead vocals throughout the song. Near the end of the song, Augeri went back to the drums, signaled to Deen and the two of them went offstage. It was plainly obvious there was a problem. Augeri’s voice was not getting any better and he was really struggling. You could feel the tension in the air. Augeri said something and Deen’s reaction had to be seen to believed. Basically, it was “you have got to be kidding me!”. What was said would be revealed very soon. Augeri disappeared into the wings of the stage and the stage was set.
For anyone who is not aware, Deen Castronovo has been doing lead vocals for several years now, but had always been behind the drum seat, playing the drums and singing. Tonight, that changed. A drum tech came out and got in the drummers seat and Deen made his way out to the front of the stage as Open Arms had started. Open Arms isn’t a very drum-intensive song, and there are no drums until the end of the song. Ross Vallory was near the drum kit trying to help the new guy on drums as Deen was out front with just a microphone singing the song. Anyone could tell that Deen was extremely nervous being alone out front, but the crowd loved it. The applause at the end was geniune.
Every Generation started up next, and Augeri was back, this time with guitar in tow. Jonathan Cain took lead vocals, and Augeri did some backup on the chorus. Chain Reaction followed with Augeri singing lead, but he was still having problems. He was giving his all, but the voice just wasn’t there. His voice was improved from the start of the show, but he was still struggling.
As the song ended, Augeri addressed the crowd and informed them of the situation that was occurring on stage. What follows isn’t exactly verbatim, but was written down immediately after he said it, so it is VERY close. “You might have noticed I haven’t been myself. I’ve been a little under the weather lately, so here comes Deen Castronovo to save the day. Give him a lot of love”. That was the intro to Faithfully, and once again, Deen was center stage, and the tech was on the drums. Deen was less nervous this time, trying to get the audience to sing, but still far from comfortable. Ross was at the drums once again helping the tech through the song.
Don’t Stop Believin’ was next and Augeri was back once again. His voice had improved, but he was still signaling for Deen to take the high parts. Separate Ways followed and Augeri’s voice was on the rebound. He was far from perfect, but was still giving 110%. He would nail one note, then his voice would die on the next, but he didn’t give up. Any Way You Want It was next, and the voice continued to improve. Deen continued helping, but Augeri’s voice was finally starting to come around. By this point, he was hitting about 70-80% of the high notes. Early in the show would have been maybe 15-20%. Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin closed the show out with Augeri finally in command.
As the band left the stage, Augeri and Deen embraced for probably the 5th time that night. It was obvious how much Augeri appreciated it. Without Deen being able to sing lead vocals, everyone knew the concert probably would have been cancelled. Augeri knew that better than anyone else.
They say that heroes arise in the time of need. Journey encountered that tonight, and Deen Castronovo stepped up. If there was ever a case for Journey to need a backing tape for Augeri, tonight was the case. There was no backing tape used, and everyone was better for the result.
I don’t know what will happen for the rest of the tour. Journey has a major problem if Augeri has another night like this one, but for those in the right time and place, they saw history being made. Tonight’s show wasn’t what anyone was expecting, but I’ll take this over a pre-recorded experience any day. After seeing the reaction of the crowd when Deen finished Open Arms at center stage, I don’t think I’m alone in that thought.
Setlist…
Faith in the Heartland
Be Good To Yourself (Steve & Deen)
Ask the Lonely (Deen on backup)
Guitar Solo (Star Spangled Banner)
Stone in Love (Steve and Deen)
Wheel in the Sky (Deen on a lot of backing vocals)
Lights (Steve and Deen)
Open Arms (Deen)
Every Generation
Chain Reaction
Faithfully (Deen)
Don’t Stop Believin’ (Deen on high notes)
Separate Ways
Any Way You Want It
Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’
It wasn't perfect, but it was Steve and that clip brought back some great memories. Saw him in San Francisco, Portland and Puerto Rico for the FLOTSM tour....
