Just back from the London show......

[Matthew]

...and you've got to hand it to Journey...they went down a storm again here tonight. There was a real celebratory atmosphere at the Hammersmith Apollo and we even had dancing in tne aisles. The band looked much more comfortable and relaxed than they have done on previous tours. Jonathan Cain in particular is a changed man. In 20O6 he pretty much stayed behind The Whale looking like thunder...and last year he seemed a bit unsure of himself whilst JSS was larging it around the place.

This year though he was moving around the stage like a young gazelle....and it was pretty much rhythm guitar all the way. He barely played "the Faz" ( the replacement for the Whale) which was stage left...and I couldn't help wishing that he'd put the damn guitar away and treat us to some proper 80s synths like he does on the new album.

Arnel? Well his voice is even better than it is on the album and in terms of his stage performance he's come a long way since those formal shows in hotel lobbies we saw on You Tube last year. He's also incredibly likeable and is clearly the golden boy in the eyes of Schon and especially Cain. Arnel and Cain even left the stage at the end arm in arm...not in a gay way..more like father and son. The band love him and the crowd immediately accepted him. I really think Arnel is going to win a lot of people over on the American tour.

The set list? Change For The Better was the best received of the new songs...although they all went down well...and they played five or six of those. It was good to see Journey properly promoting a new album.

BUT....the downsides....well, partly because there were so many new songs the rest of the setlist was as safe as it could possibly be. Again - no-one seemed to mind and it was crowd-pleasers all the way - but to be honest I felt a bit bored at times. With such an incredible back catalogue I still dont get why they don't go a bit deeper and surprise us with a couple of forgotten gems.

This was the first thing I missed about the show in comparison with the utterly brilliant London concert with JSS last year. JSS tried to address this problem about the setlist and we got Opened The Door and I'll Be Alright Without You and Mystery Mountain on the UK tour. It's frustrating because UK fans will cheer at literally any Journey song.....

The second thing I missed was the heavy rock/prog edge that Journey had last year. JSS helped to give the band a real bite and you could see he was pushing all the old dogs in the band out of their comfort zone. Too much so...as it turned out.

With Arnel - for all his gifts - the band are very much feeling all cosy again - and I'd say that this is a much blander group that it was this time last year. It' seemed at times like a Broadway musical version of Journey...with none of the melancholy and angst Perry brought nor the darker edge JSS brought. A huge step up from Augeri on all fronts I have to say but still....like Revelation I enjoyed it without it ever really hitting the spot.

But although I personally didn't enjoy it as much at last year...I reckon this line-up are going to clean up in the States this year.

By the way...someone will post the setlist no doubt...but it was pretty much the same as the Madrid show I think...except they played Escape in the encore.

[DrFU]

Really thoughtful review, thanks.

You might consider also posting it on the official site if you haven't already; Neal definitely reads those threads; we seeing him logged in on a regular basis. Can't hurt and might help the setlist issue.

[Carlitto H@kk]

Really thoughtful review, thanks.

You might consider also posting it on the official site if you haven't already; Neal definitely reads those threads; we seeing him logged in on a regular basis. Can't hurt and might help the setlist issue.

I'm sure Neal and the boys are "peeking" in here too

Nice review, Matty.
Pretty surprising coming from a Loon like you

I totally agree, as do most, with the thoughts on the band
digging into the "Deep Tracks" every once in awhile.
They make comments on how those tracks drive fans to the
beer tents and shitters...

WHO CARES?!?!?!?!

You already got them in the venue!
And I'm sure for every terd that takes an "odd" song
as a cue to piss, there's another person
absolutely LOVING that "odd" song!

Did I ever mention that they need to pull
DIXIE-FUCKING-HIGHWAY out of
retirement???? Then we could REALY
see how well Cain can play that Hammond tone

[Tito]

I totally agree, as do most, with the thoughts on the band
digging into the "Deep Tracks" every once in awhile.
They make comments on how those tracks drive fans to the
beer tents and shitters...

But they want those fans to come back in the future. I agree as a long time fan I would love to hear old songs, but they can't do it (especially in 90 minutes).
However, they should do a 15-20 city tour in small venues, rape us by charging at least $200, and play rare stuff and advertise it as such. Deep cuts and new tracks with only a dirty half dozen.

[Carlitto H@kk]

I totally agree, as do most, with the thoughts on the band
digging into the "Deep Tracks" every once in awhile.
They make comments on how those tracks drive fans to the
beer tents and shitters...

But they want those fans to come back in the future. I agree as a long time fan I would love to hear old songs, but they can't do it (especially in 90 minutes).
However, they should do a 15-20 city tour in small venues, rape us by charging at least $200, and play rare stuff and advertise it as such. Deep cuts and new tracks with only a dirty half dozen.

Bullshit.
1 or 2 "deep tracks" a show wouldn't mean shit
to the average fan the next time the guys come to town.

If they play well and Arnel sounds good, they will come back
next time irregardless of the set-list.

[Tito]

But they can't do that now, with a new CD. Now you're asking them to play at least 3 new songs plus 1 or 2 deep cuts. That's at least 4 and as many as 6 rare songs. In a 90 minute set no less. If they didn't have a new CD, then maybe.

[G.I.Jim]

Thanks so much for taking the time for your post! It was very interesting, and good to hear. From everything I've seen and heard...I think you hit it spot on. I'm really excited that they're playing so many of the new tunes, although I'm convinced they're just testing the waters with them over there. They're probably seeing what works best for the crowd, and I'm sure they'll drop them down to 3 or so when they hit the States.

I wish they'd play more of the deep cuts too, but I'm sure they're just trying to please the most people.

Anyway, it was a great read and I enjoyed it. Thanks!

[Matthew]

But they want those fans to come back in the future. I agree as a long time fan I would love to hear old songs, but they can't do it (especially in 90 minutes).
.

Well, they've played Keep On Runnin' and Chain Reaction three times in a row on the UK tours. I really don't think anyone would mind if they played - say - I'll Be Alright Without You or Winds of March instead. These might be 'deeper' than the songs they usually play but they are still popular tracks on multi-million selling albums. It would really be hard for Journey to be difficult or obscure or underground in any way....

By the way,...I forgot to mention the twelve string mandolin/mini-guitar type thing Schon played tonight with Cain on harmonica. Brilliant stuff and it would be great for them to show off their versatility on the next album.

[Matthew]

Thanks so much for taking the time for your post! It was very interesting, and good to hear. From everything I've seen and heard...I think you hit it spot on. I'm really excited that they're playing so many of the new tunes, although I'm convinced they're just testing the waters with them over there. They're probably seeing what works best for the crowd, and I'm sure they'll drop them down to 3 or so when they hit the States.

I wish they'd play more of the deep cuts too, but I'm sure they're just trying to please the most people.

Anyway, it was a great read and I enjoyed it. Thanks!

Thanks Jim. Yes - I'd agree that this show was a kind of trial run for the US tour which is maybe why they didn't bother experimenting with the old songs - and again it's worth saying that except for the occasional complaining Journey nerd like me the crowd loved the set-list tonight.

Regarding the new songs...the only one that received a slightly muted response was Wildest Dreams....

[StoneCold]

The set list? Change For The Better was the best received of the new songs...although they all went down well...and they played five or six of those. It was good to see Journey properly promoting a new album.

Sounds like you enjoyed the new stuff more than the old?

[Matthew]

The set list? Change For The Better was the best received of the new songs...although they all went down well...and they played five or six of those. It was good to see Journey properly promoting a new album.

Sounds like you enjoyed the new stuff more than the old?

Funnily enough..I did....

[StoneCold]

The set list? Change For The Better was the best received of the new songs...although they all went down well...and they played five or six of those. It was good to see Journey properly promoting a new album.

Sounds like you enjoyed the new stuff more than the old?

Funnily enough..I did....

That's a good sign.

[RebornJrny]

...and you've got to hand it to Journey...they went down a storm again here tonight. There was a real celebratory atmosphere at the Hammersmith Apollo and we even had dancing in tne aisles. .....

Hey Matt, thanks to your review. Can you guess how much the capacity crowd on this venue? Was it sold out?

[Deb]

Thanks for the review Matty! Was curious what your opinion was going to be on this show.

[Andrew]

Thanks for the review Matthew.

Interestingly...JSS is in London right now too.

[ProgRocker53]

Thanks for the review Matthew.

Interestingly...JSS is in London right now too.

Somebody, quick, get me Cronin's whereabouts..

[Rick]

Thanks for the review Matthew.

Interestingly...JSS is in London right now too.

Somebody, quick, get me Cronin's whereabouts..

Looking for Richrath.

[ProgRocker53]

Thanks for the review Matthew.

Interestingly...JSS is in London right now too.

Somebody, quick, get me Cronin's whereabouts..

Looking for Richrath.

On a bench somewhere nursing a King Cobra covered in newspapers.

[RedWingFan]

Thanks for the review Matthew.

Interestingly...JSS is in London right now too.

Somebody, quick, get me Cronin's whereabouts..

Looking for Richrath.

Cronin's dumbass needs to be searching high and low for REO's balls (they're on Richrath)

[ProgRocker53]

Thanks for the review Matthew.

Interestingly...JSS is in London right now too.

Somebody, quick, get me Cronin's whereabouts..

Looking for Richrath.

Cronin's dumbass needs to be searching high and low for REO's balls (they're on Richrath)

He should be able to find them pretty soon then. Cronin's an expert at searching for balls.

[RedWingFan]

Thanks for the review Matthew.

Interestingly...JSS is in London right now too.

Somebody, quick, get me Cronin's whereabouts..

Looking for Richrath.

Cronin's dumbass needs to be searching high and low for REO's balls (they're on Richrath)

He should be able to find them pretty soon then. Cronin's an expert at searching for balls.

[Saint John]

Kevin Cronin is one cool motherfucker.

[Allied Forces]

...and you've got to hand it to Journey...they went down a storm again here tonight. There was a real celebratory atmosphere at the Hammersmith Apollo and we even had dancing in tne aisles. The band looked much more comfortable and relaxed than they have done on previous tours. Jonathan Cain in particular is a changed man. In 20O6 he pretty much stayed behind The Whale looking like thunder...and last year he seemed a bit unsure of himself whilst JSS was larging it around the place.

This year though he was moving around the stage like a young gazelle....and it was pretty much rhythm guitar all the way. He barely played "the Faz" ( the replacement for the Whale) which was stage left...and I couldn't help wishing that he'd put the damn guitar away and treat us to some proper 80s synths like he does on the new album.

Arnel? Well his voice is even better than it is on the album and in terms of his stage performance he's come a long way since those formal shows in hotel lobbies we saw on You Tube last year. He's also incredibly likeable and is clearly the golden boy in the eyes of Schon and especially Cain. Arnel and Cain even left the stage at the end arm in arm...not in a gay way..more like father and son. The band love him and the crowd immediately accepted him. I really think Arnel is going to win a lot of people over on the American tour.

The set list? Change For The Better was the best received of the new songs...although they all went down well...and they played five or six of those. It was good to see Journey properly promoting a new album.

BUT....the downsides....well, partly because there were so many new songs the rest of the setlist was as safe as it could possibly be. Again - no-one seemed to mind and it was crowd-pleasers all the way - but to be honest I felt a bit bored at times. With such an incredible back catalogue I still dont get why they don't go a bit deeper and surprise us with a couple of forgotten gems.

This was the first thing I missed about the show in comparison with the utterly brilliant London concert with JSS last year. JSS tried to address this problem about the setlist and we got Opened The Door and I'll Be Alright Without You and Mystery Mountain on the UK tour. It's frustrating because UK fans will cheer at literally any Journey song.....

The second thing I missed was the heavy rock/prog edge that Journey had last year. JSS helped to give the band a real bite and you could see he was pushing all the old dogs in the band out of their comfort zone. Too much so...as it turned out.

With Arnel - for all his gifts - the band are very much feeling all cosy again - and I'd say that this is a much blander group that it was this time last year. It' seemed at times like a Broadway musical version of Journey...with none of the melancholy and angst Perry brought nor the darker edge JSS brought. A huge step up from Augeri on all fronts I have to say but still....like Revelation I enjoyed it without it ever really hitting the spot.

But although I personally didn't enjoy it as much at last year...I reckon this line-up are going to clean up in the States this year.

By the way...someone will post the setlist no doubt...but it was pretty much the same as the Madrid show I think...except they played Escape in the encore.

Excellent review. You posted both the positives and negatives without being just a cheerleader or a naysayer as many here have become. Without having seen this tour yet, I always want to here pros and cons and then go judge for myself. Anything overly positive or overly negative I tend to dismiss. Thanks again for posting. I'm not sure I will be as objective when I see a certain Canadian trio soon.

[ProgRocker53]

...and you've got to hand it to Journey...they went down a storm again here tonight. There was a real celebratory atmosphere at the Hammersmith Apollo and we even had dancing in tne aisles. The band looked much more comfortable and relaxed than they have done on previous tours. Jonathan Cain in particular is a changed man. In 20O6 he pretty much stayed behind The Whale looking like thunder...and last year he seemed a bit unsure of himself whilst JSS was larging it around the place.

This year though he was moving around the stage like a young gazelle....and it was pretty much rhythm guitar all the way. He barely played "the Faz" ( the replacement for the Whale) which was stage left...and I couldn't help wishing that he'd put the damn guitar away and treat us to some proper 80s synths like he does on the new album.

Arnel? Well his voice is even better than it is on the album and in terms of his stage performance he's come a long way since those formal shows in hotel lobbies we saw on You Tube last year. He's also incredibly likeable and is clearly the golden boy in the eyes of Schon and especially Cain. Arnel and Cain even left the stage at the end arm in arm...not in a gay way..more like father and son. The band love him and the crowd immediately accepted him. I really think Arnel is going to win a lot of people over on the American tour.

The set list? Change For The Better was the best received of the new songs...although they all went down well...and they played five or six of those. It was good to see Journey properly promoting a new album.

BUT....the downsides....well, partly because there were so many new songs the rest of the setlist was as safe as it could possibly be. Again - no-one seemed to mind and it was crowd-pleasers all the way - but to be honest I felt a bit bored at times. With such an incredible back catalogue I still dont get why they don't go a bit deeper and surprise us with a couple of forgotten gems.

This was the first thing I missed about the show in comparison with the utterly brilliant London concert with JSS last year. JSS tried to address this problem about the setlist and we got Opened The Door and I'll Be Alright Without You and Mystery Mountain on the UK tour. It's frustrating because UK fans will cheer at literally any Journey song.....

The second thing I missed was the heavy rock/prog edge that Journey had last year. JSS helped to give the band a real bite and you could see he was pushing all the old dogs in the band out of their comfort zone. Too much so...as it turned out.

With Arnel - for all his gifts - the band are very much feeling all cosy again - and I'd say that this is a much blander group that it was this time last year. It' seemed at times like a Broadway musical version of Journey...with none of the melancholy and angst Perry brought nor the darker edge JSS brought. A huge step up from Augeri on all fronts I have to say but still....like Revelation I enjoyed it without it ever really hitting the spot.

But although I personally didn't enjoy it as much at last year...I reckon this line-up are going to clean up in the States this year.

By the way...someone will post the setlist no doubt...but it was pretty much the same as the Madrid show I think...except they played Escape in the encore.

Excellent review. You posted both the positives and negatives without being just a cheerleader or a naysayer as many here have become. Without having seen this tour yet, I always want to here pros and cons and then go judge for myself. Anything overly positive or overly negative I tend to dismiss. Thanks again for posting. I'm not sure I will be as objective when I see a certain Canadian trio soon.

Sweet so you're catching Leg Two of the Snakes & Arrows tour too?

[Allied Forces]

Sweet so you're catching Leg Two of the Snakes & Arrows tour too?

Actually I already did!!!!!!!!!!! Just saw Rush.

[ProgRocker53]

Sweet so you're catching Leg Two of the Snakes & Arrows tour too?

Actually I already did!!!!!!!!!!! Just saw Rush.

Allied Forces, you are a man of wealth and taste.

How'd it go bro?

[Deb]

Did I ever mention that they need to pull
DIXIE-FUCKING-HIGHWAY out of
retirement???? Then we could REALY
see how well Cain can play that Hammond tone

Yep! And I agree with ya every time! Love that one.............great stuff right there! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUvMrWaD ... re=related Thanks Rick.

[Arkansas]

"irregardless" Is that a word?

And what about "funnily"?


later~

[Rick]

"irregardless" Is that a word?

And what about "funnily"?


later~

irregardless No

funnily Yes

[tammy]

thanks, Matthew.