Deen Castronovo or Steve Smith on live Journey classics?

[Majestic]

I love Steve Smith's work on the albums, but I have never seen him live, accept on DVD.

I love how Deen plays the classics live, and I've seen him live several times. He is a great drummer, and in my opinion, an even better singer. However, I don't think Deen's drumming on the Augeri era material is as tasty as what Smith brought to the band in the Perry era. He isn't as creative as Smith was. Smith had such an amazing sound, and added so many tasteful touches to the songs that his beats became almost as recognizable and memorable as the melodies. ALMOST!

I guess I like Smith better in the studio recording and creating and Deen a little better live. I think Deen covers Smith's stuff just about perfectly, but he can't create as well. But man can that boy sing!

[texafana]

Deen.

SS played the songs too fast (live) IMO.
This drummer prefers Deen's heavier rock groove over Steve's jazz influenced finesse.

If you had been at the HWOF after concert, you'd quickly change your mind. Smitty wiped the floor with Deen on his own kit. His beats were 10 times more thunderous than Deen while throwing in sophisticated fills that only an artist of his caliber could dream up let alone pull off. When Deen took over after Smitty's two songs, the drums sounded simplistic in comparison without anyplace near the energy. It was a sight to behold. Even Deen fell over backwards (literally) watching what Smitty was doing (he was kneeling behind him as he played).

Any video or audio of these performances?

[bluejeangirl76]

i dont think i ever paid attention to SS drumming...

Listen to the intro for this promo - you don't even need to see what's going on to recognize that solo.

http://www.hudsonmusic.com/products/rocksolos.html

There is a reason Smith is featured on this dvd and just look at the people he's classified with.
CLEARLY he's one of the best.

[Red13JoePa]

Deen.

SS played the songs too fast (live) IMO.
This drummer prefers Deen's heavier rock groove over Steve's jazz influenced finesse.

SS played faster live to help SP out.

I prefer the Deen drums version of World Play to the Virgil one, but of course, the latter is superior overall due to added guitars and whole new songs added.
But Castronovo's kit is aflame on his version of New Position.

[Art Vandelay]

Smitty all the way. But keep in mind that he told Deen to make the songs his own (as he should have). He's done a hell of a job at that.

What I like about Smitty is that he knows how to play for the song, make it interesting. One of my all-time favorite drum fills is Nigel Ollsen's in Elton John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me." Very creative...and very similar to the drum fill structure in Faithfully. I believe Smitty once acknowledged Nigel for inspiring him on how to play rock ballads.

[Abitaman]

Deen, just because of all the different things he brings to the band. But one on drumming, Steve has a slight edge-ERIC

[Vladan]

Steve Smith is a better drummer. Its like saying Steve Augeri is a better singer than Perry... that's impossible. So if you choose Deen over Smith, or Augeri over Perry? then you chose poorly and are one of those pro Backtalk fanboy or fangirls who have no concept of reality.

[Abitaman]

Steve Smith is a better drummer. Its like saying Steve Augeri is a better singer than Perry... that's impossible. So if you choose Deen over Smith, or Augeri over Perry? then you chose poorly and are one of those pro Backtalk fanboy or fangirls who have no concept of reality.

In your opinion!!! Because someone thinks different than you doesn't make them a back talker. I myself have posted once over there, in all the years it was open. No concept of reality is someone who thinks only there point of view is right, and anyone who doesn't agree with them is wrong. The world is not black and white, there is a lot of gray, and a lot of different of opinions. Because someone doesn't agree with you on something a simple as music doesn't make them stupid. It makes you look stupid if you think you way is the only way. I for one know of several people who like JSS or Augeri more than Perry. I may not agree with that, but they are not an idiot because of it. It is their tastes. I think Perry is the "Voice of Rock" The best singer ever in Rock. But I like Augeri better. Is he a better singer than Perry (NO way!!) I have been looking for a certain boot with Augeri for someone (which I ave not been able to fine), and took a week to listen to some of my old Perry lead ones. Blown away all over again by the man. But still a Augeri fan too.
I think Deen brings more to the table for Journey, Augeri made the band more human again and reachable, down to earth, had has a good voice to boot. That is my opinion, and my concept of reality is good, maybe better than yours, because I know there are people who don't agree with me, and that doesn't mean they are an idiot or have no grasp of what is going on-ERIC

[mriesenb]

Steve

[Vladan]

I for one know of several people who like JSS or Augeri more than Perry. I may not agree with that, but they are not an idiot because of it

That is a taste thing, but it doesn't make them right does it. So, sure they are just "mentally challenged" people then, that's fine.

I think Deen brings more to the table for Journey

Baking a meatloaf, and laying out the knives and forks doesn't count.

That is my opinion, and my concept of reality is good, maybe better than yours

Well, obviously. There's always Arrival, and Generations.

[Vladan]

And if I may say so, Deen looks like he has AIDS.

Haha, wow. He does look thin yes.