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

[NealIsGod]

Glad to be of service, Moon Unit.

[brywool]

...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.

Nice review. But didn't you feel guilty cuz Perry wasn't there and you were giving Journey money????

Just yankin ya

[E5C4P3 4 U]

Setlist:

Majestic
Never walk away
Separate ways
Stone in love
Ask the lonely
Change for the better
Lights
Where did i lose your love
Journey revelation
After all these years
Who's cryin now
Wildest dreams
Openarms
Faithfully
Chain reaction
Edge of the blade
Don't stop believin
Keep on runnin
Mother father

Encore:
Escape
Any way you want it

[Marabelle]

nice review!

[stevew2]

Thanks dude,good reveiw

[MartyMoffatt]

Actually the setlist was in this order...

Intro
Never Walk Away
Separate Ways
Only the Young
Stone in Love
Keep on Runnin’ (Deen vox)
Ask the Lonely
Who’s Cryin’ Now
Change for the Better
Lights
After All These Years
Mother Father (Deen vox)
Open Arms
Wheel in the Sky
Where did I lose your Love
Chain Reaction
Wildest Dreams
Edge of the Blade
Faithfully
Don’t Stop Believin’

Encore:
Escape
Anyway You Want It

[Saint John]

Actually the setlist was in this order...

Intro
Never Walk Away
Separate Ways
Only the Young
Stone in Love
Keep on Runnin’ (Deen vox)
Ask the Lonely
Who’s Cryin’ Now
Change for the Better
Lights
After All These Years
Mother Father (Deen vox)
Open Arms
Wheel in the Sky
Where did I lose your Love
Chain Reaction
Wildest Dreams
Edge of the Blade
Faithfully
Don’t Stop Believin’

Encore:
Escape
Anyway You Want It

That's a pretty fucking solid set list.

[Rhiannon]

Never Walk Away

Change for the Better

After All These Years

Where did I lose your Love

Wildest Dreams

Five... not bad at all. Thanks, Marty.

[edcha]

...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.

Great job, Matthew! I'm relatively new in this forum, and sometimes I feel a little "suffocated" by the one-sided comments of some people here---often peppered with 4-letter words. Your review was like "A BREATH OF FRESH AIR"!

[grimlocked]

Did Arnel survive that jump without damaging his vertebra and his vocal chords?

[Duncan]

Lights, After All These Years, Mother Father and Open Arms. That's a pretty downbeat middle section to the gig. I like the set list, but perhaps stick one of the tracks from the top of the set in the middle.

[conversationpc]

Lights, After All These Years, Mother Father and Open Arms. That's a pretty downbeat middle section to the gig. I like the set list, but perhaps stick one of the tracks from the top of the set in the middle.

"Mother, Father", except for the intro, really rocks, though.

[Duncan]

Lights, After All These Years, Mother Father and Open Arms. That's a pretty downbeat middle section to the gig. I like the set list, but perhaps stick one of the tracks from the top of the set in the middle.

"Mother, Father", except for the intro, really rocks, though.

I guess your right but I don't find it an uplifting fist pumping kind of song.

[Moon Beam]

Hmmmm, so no The Journey(Revelation) huh?

[journeypower]

Did Arnel survive that jump without damaging his vertebra and his vocal chords?

actually he did a backflip and landed his head on a woman's hooters.

[Duncan]

Did Arnel survive that jump without damaging his vertebra and his vocal chords?

actually he did a backflip and landed his head on a woman's hooters.

No, that was Neal's man boobs.

[WalrusOct9]

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.

That's exactly how I've felt watching all the videos and listening to the new album. They're comfortable, but there's definitely not a spark...Jeff kicked everyone in the ass, musically and energy-wise onstage. Arnel is doing the best he can, but he's just not that kind of frontman. There's just something missing in his vocals...for me there's a lot more to it than just singing the notes correctly...the pipes are there but the soul is missing.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

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.

That's exactly how I've felt watching all the videos and listening to the new album. They're comfortable, but there's definitely not a spark...Jeff kicked everyone in the ass, musically and energy-wise onstage. Arnel is doing the best he can, but he's just not that kind of frontman. There's just something missing in his vocals...for me there's a lot more to it than just singing the notes correctly...the pipes are there but the soul is missing.

I think there's a spark, its just a different spark. Perry was meaningful- he communicated to you what emotions you should be feeling in the song through his command and mastery- and there was no getting away from it unless you wanted to walk out of the place. Jeffs sytle made you feel the hard dark edge of the music, rock with a real purpose, you're on a rock mission with him.

Arnel is kind of the MC of a party, he'll dance around and shake your hand and make everyone feel good. Unlike Perry he wont be able to force particular emotions in you because hes just not that master a comunicator, and unlike Soto you wont get that edgy interpretation of the catalogue. An Arnel performance aint ever going to be "deep"- His stength though is that everyone will feel compelled to just feel good about the song, and see the whole thing as a good ole carefree time. Thats not good or bad, just different.

[Tito]

They're doing fine. They're not missing anybody right now.

[Eric]

That's a pretty fucking solid set list.

No shit...that may be the most impressive setlist I've seen!

[gordon]

just wondering what tour items were on sale and how much ?

[JohnH]

[quote="Matthewbut still....like Revelation I enjoyed it without it ever really hitting the spot.

.[/quote]

those are the words I need. I enjoy Revelation but it doesn't hit the spot other than the first few rockin songs. Generations hits the spot for me...Although I know people hate it and had mixed feelings, I don't.

John

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

just wondering what tour items were on sale and how much ?

dunno, I was guzzling beer in the pub right up to 7:30 so had to run in and take my seat and I bolted out the during Anyway you want it (the encore) so that I could get into the pub before the crowd. I choose beer over shopping anyday, even if it is Journey merchandise.

Might have a look in Cardiff though, Im driving!

[Rick]

That's a pretty fucking solid set list.

No shit...that may be the most impressive setlist I've seen!

Yeah, but why set about toasting your new singers voice. Why such a big setlist? The dude is 40 years old, he won't last the summer singing 18 songs a night. Give the opening act more time and have Arnel sing 14 tops. There was no opening act in Las Vegas and they did something like 14 songs and Deen did two of those, and that was plenty. I just don't get their logic.

[Saint John]

That's a pretty fucking solid set list.

No shit...that may be the most impressive setlist I've seen!

Yeah, but why set about toasting your new singers voice. Why such a big setlist? The dude is 40 years old, he won't last the summer singing 18 songs a night. Give the opening act more time and have Arnel sing 14 tops. There was no opening act in Las Vegas and they did something like 14 songs and Deen did two of those, and that was plenty. I just don't get their logic.

It helps that he might get to sing 5 of his own songs.

[texafana]

...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.

This year though he was moving around the stage like a young gazelle

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. 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 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.

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.

Sorry...not buying your points of view. Perhaps you're a larger JSS fan than you care to admit?

[Deb]

...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.

This year though he was moving around the stage like a young gazelle

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. 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 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.

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.

Sorry...not buying your points of view. Perhaps you're a larger JSS fan than you care to admit?

You don't have to buy it. It's "his" opinions of the show "he" saw.

[Matthew]

Nice review. But didn't you feel guilty cuz Perry wasn't there and you were giving Journey money????

Just yankin ya

I know Rhiannon will call me "emotionally deranged"...but yes...I did feel a bit guilty. It's like having an affair.

[DrFU]

Nice review. But didn't you feel guilty cuz Perry wasn't there and you were giving Journey money????

Just yankin ya

I know Rhiannon will call me "emotionally deranged"...but yes...I did feel a bit guilty. It's like having an affair.

It gets easier to deal with...some of us are cheating with our third guy...

[Rhiannon]

Nice review. But didn't you feel guilty cuz Perry wasn't there and you were giving Journey money????

Just yankin ya

I know Rhiannon will call me "emotionally deranged"...but yes...I did feel a bit guilty. It's like having an affair.

Hehehe. Naw, you're just silly.
But if you're having an affair... obviously your partner wasn't pleasing you. So you had to go looking for a little sum'in sum'in elsewhere... reow!