Cardiff International Arena 24/06/08- Review

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Those familiar with Wales and its heritage often describe it as a hard place. It is a land known for rugged coal miners and even rougher rugby players, a people as tough as its folklore which is filled with fire breathing dragons and Celtic heroes.

If you are going to show up in town, you better be ready to prove that you are rough and raw enough to fit the mold- or at least bring along someone who can. And Journey brought one last night- in the form of its lead guitarist.

If you were to take someone who had never heard Journey live to its London Hammersmith show last week and ask them what stood out in their minds, it would be the performance of Arnel Pineda. However, the same person would likely deliver a vastly different verdict on the preceedings which took place in the Welsh capital - last night, undeniably, it was the Neal Schon show.

Early in the show we were treated to not only Neals’ talent on The Journey (Revelation) but also another stirring guitar solo. This very much set the tone for the remainder of the evening. Last night saw a Neal Schon much more animated, moving repeatedly off his normal stage left perch. Not only did he move more, there was a high level of interaction with the crowd, with Neal gesturing to the crowd throughout his guitar solo’s, even briefly interrupting his lengthened guitar bridge on Don’t Stop Believing to wave and encourage the crowd to life.

Neal was clearly leading last night, even becoming the set him self, a violet shirt matching the all pervasive violet lighting of the Revelation tour. If anyone was ever tempted to forget his presence, even for a moment, he was there to remind you of it, with yet another helping of guitar.

Neal was clearly happy, and so were the rest of the band. Jonathan Cain’s trade mark finger pointing and exuberant two footed leap off his rig near the end of the concert showed happiness (it certainly wasn’t an indication that he will be coming home and trying out to be to be America’s next Mary Lou Rhetton!) Midway through the concert one could see Ross, (who by the way is the only man on planet Earth these days who can tuck his t-shirt into his jeans and not look like a nerd ) and Neal exchanging words. With the caveat that I am not a professional lip reader I thought I saw Neal say, “crowds enjoying it!” and Ross say in return “massively”.

And indeed they did. The acoustics and atmosphere of Cardiff International Arena are not the greatest, nor do the spirits of rock legends lurk there the way they do in the Hammersmith Apollo. Its not always easy thrilling a crowd or sounding good here- but they did both. The only time the celebratory atmosphere was broken was with Deen Castronovo’s moving rendition of Mother, Father which hit the deepest string of hard rock melancholy, taking the concert to a completely different place.

Arnel for his part was clearly on form. Clearly the band were giving him more rest time than he had in Hammersmith. This is a good thing- there was a performance at the Wolverhampton Civic the night before, and no one should have to sing in that register for so long night after night.

With his constant enthusiasm, Arnel was a key ingredient to festive atmosphere, but tonight the man of the hour was Mr Neal Schon.

Set List (I m pretty sure I got it Right)
Never Walk Away
Separate Ways
The Journey (Revelation)
Only The Young
Neal Solo
Stone In Love
Keep On Runnin' (Deen vocals)
Ask The Lonely
Who's Crying Now
Change For The Better
Lights
After All These Years
Mother, Father (Deen vocals)
Cain Solo
Open Arms
Cain Harmonica/Neal Mandolin jam
Wheel In The Sky
Edge Of The Blade
Faithfully
Don't Stop Believin'
Escape
Any Way You Want It

[Saint John]

Great review. How did the crowd seem to like the new songs?

[conversationpc]

That's a good set, except for ending with "Any Way You Want It". It's never been one of my favorite Journey tunes.

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Great review. How did the crowd seem to like the new songs?

Heard a few poeple singing along with AATY. NWA well recieved. CFTB -a more subdued response

[Babyblue]

Your home land sounds so beautiful.I think Tom Jones was from there right or am i worng?He was hot back in the day.heehee

[Moon Beam]

Good reads Gin and Tonic Sky, thank ya muchly!

[youkeepmewaiting]

Your home land sounds so beautiful.I think Tom Jones was from there right or am i worng?He was hot back in the day.heehee

Indeed you are correct Miss Blue

[The_Noble_Cause]

Thanks for the review.
Decent set...wonder how soon until they dust off the Rolie/Perry duets.
Little surprised those classics got the shaft on Disc 2 of Revelation.
Arnel can prolly pull off Infinity-era Perry better than anyone.

[edcha]

Based on comments by concert-goers so far, it looks like they are getting better and better every concert. But to me, the best part is that they are showcasing the great talents of each member (solos of Neal & Jon, Deen's vocals)--while giving Arnel much-needed rest time. They're really 'changing for the better'!

[NealIsGod]

Thanks for the review.
Decent set...wonder how soon until they dust off the Rolie/Perry duets.
Little surprised those classics got the shaft on Disc 2 of Revelation.
Arnel can prolly pull off Infinity-era Perry better than anyone.

I love the Rolie-Perry duets, but those songs sound more dated to me than the other songs.

[Lula]

neal playing mandolin.... sounds wonderful!!

[Duncan]

I was also at Cardiff and agree with most of what G & TS has said. However, I thought the gig got off to very slow start due to the fact that for the first 3 songs the band sounded terrible. I didn't think NWA was well received at all due to the sound. Thankfully the sound guys eventually got it sorted.

I thought that Change for the Better was one of the best received songs of the night. Where I was everyone was singing ( and i use that term loosely) their hearts out.

Things went pear shaped during the encore and Ross' bass starting making a farting noise during Escape, which totally ruined the song.

One thing that also struck me was that the whole thing would have benefited from being louder. Anybody else think so - or am I deaf?

I also want to say what a bunch of wankers the security were. Nobody was allowed to go to the front of the stage or stand in the aisles. No doubt this is due "H & S"

[StoneCold]

Lights
After All These Years
Mother, Father (Deen vocals)
Cain Solo
Open Arms

Enjoyed the read, thanks.

Let's see, Lights, AATY, MF, Cain Solo and OA all back to back. 4 ballads and a solo to sleep by. They need to change that up.

Drop "TJ", pop WDILYL smack dab between the ballads and its all good.

[Manjushri]

Lights
After All These Years
Mother, Father (Deen vocals)
Cain Solo
Open Arms

Enjoyed the read, thanks.

Let's see, Lights, AATY, MF, Cain Solo and OA all back to back. 4 ballads and a solo to sleep by. They need to change that up.

Drop "TJ", pop WDILYL smack dab between the ballads and its all good.

Totally agree with that, WDILYL needs to be put in to the set it was one of the new songs that I really wanted to hear in Manchester last week, hopefully they will play it at Nottingham on Friday. As for the harmonica/Mandolin jam that's really good and for a moment..........you think they may launch into Preciuos Time doesn't happen though but still very good.

[Manjushri]

Lights
After All These Years
Mother, Father (Deen vocals)
Cain Solo
Open Arms

Enjoyed the read, thanks.

Let's see, Lights, AATY, MF, Cain Solo and OA all back to back. 4 ballads and a solo to sleep by. They need to change that up.

Drop "TJ", pop WDILYL smack dab between the ballads and its all good.

Totally agree with that, WDILYL needs to be put in to the set it was one of the new songs that I really wanted to hear in Manchester last week, hopefully they will play it at Nottingham on Friday. As for the harmonica/Mandolin jam that's really good and for a moment..........you think they may launch into Preciuos Time doesn't happen though but still very good.

oops....i meant Precious Time

[MartyMoffatt]

I think the sound problems were due to a few gremlins. Neal said afterwards that things were 'blowing up' all over the stage. The miracle is that they played through it with a smile and most people didn't notice the problems they were having.

Marty

[Gin and Tonic Sky]

Things went pear shaped during the encore and Ross' bass starting making a farting noise during Escape, which totally ruined the song.

:

Yes, heard heard that too...and guess what, my wife actually kicked me and asked me, "Why the hell do you have to fart everywhere you go, all the time".
Thanks alot Ross!


And you are right about the sound at the first part of the concert. I didnt discount that band for the sound issues at the start of the gig - thats the handicap you always seem to get in Cardiff. Hope the sound guys dont bollux it up when Im there seeing Thunder/Whitesnake / Def Leppard July 14. Hopefully the sound guys only mess up Thunder's gig.

By the way it was good to finally put a face to your name last night Duncan ! enjoyed meeting you.

[Babyblue]

Your home land sounds so beautiful.I think Tom Jones was from there right or am i worng?He was hot back in the day.heehee

Indeed you are correct Miss Blue

You have away with words my dear

[Gordon from Edinburgh]

Thanks for the review.
Decent set...wonder how soon until they dust off the Rolie/Perry duets.
Little surprised those classics got the shaft on Disc 2 of Revelation.
Arnel can prolly pull off Infinity-era Perry better than anyone.

I love the Rolie-Perry duets, but those songs sound more dated to me than the other songs.

All the more reason to give them a "sonic" update? My only gripe about the gig was that the band came out playing majestic and i wanted them to go into Where were You - but they didnt. Pity, i love the 70s stuff - it had a grittier edge - partly due to the times and partly due to the personnel. Captured is my 2nd fave live album of all time.