TUCSON WEEKLY BY JON HOBSON: WHO NEEDS STEVE PERRY, ANYWAY?

[oakley_reef]

PUBLISHED ON JULY 24, 2008:

Live

By JON HOBSON


Journey


Journey
AVA At Casino Del Sol, Saturday, July 19
When Journey released their classic hit "Don't Stop Believing" in 1981, they had no idea that it would be a metaphor for their sold-out performance Saturday night at Casino del Sol's AVA.

Hours before Journey took the stage, there was a feeling in the air that this would truly be a unique night. For instance, Casino del Sol ran out of parking spaces by the time the crowd was allowed into the venue. Next, the majority of fans in lower reserved seating crammed their way onto the security railing as if they were at a general-admission show at the Rialto Theatre for openers Cheap Trick.

And this all happened before the storm hit.

Journey took the stage with their new single "Never Walk Away," kicking off one of Tucson's most memorable recent concerts. New singer Arnel Pineda, who was discovered by singing Journey songs on YouTube, surpassed all expectations while singing the band's hits as made famous by Steve Perry. Similar to Mark Wahlberg's character from the movie Rock Star, Pineda was like a kid in a candy store, performing some of classic rock's most recognizable songs.

During "Stone in Love," Tucson's infamous monsoon weather kicked into high gear, even drenching the fans who were covered by the roof. While the band performed another new song, "After All These Years," Journey's road crew frantically raced to cover the group's equipment as the storm picked up.

Following a guitar solo from Neal Schon, the band was pulled from the stage as lightning strikes hit close to the amphitheater. One of Journey's roadies informed the crowd that the show would be paused while the storm passed, reassuring the crowd that the band would wait as long as the crowd would to take the stage again.

An hour later, Journey returned to the stage to play a shortened six-song greatest-hits set. Cold and wet, the crowd rocked out harder than ever, with fists pounding into the air, singing every word to the remaining songs.

"Faithfully," the closing ballad, proved to be an odd, if bittersweet, end to the circumstances both the band and crowd endured during the previous two hours.

Who needs Steve Perry, anyway?

[Since 78]

[Rhiannon]

Hey Jon Hobson! You know who needs Steve Perry?


















....Your mom.

[Since 78]

Hey Jon Hobson! You know who needs Steve Perry?


















....Your mom.

Hey!!! Rhi,

Thats my line!!!

[scarygirl]

Might I suggest a body guard?

[donnaplease]

Maybe "Hobson" is Friga's middle name...

[Rick]

The review was great, until the last line. Screwed the whole pooch in the arse with that one friggin line.

[AlienC]

Mother Nature jammed along.
Although I'll never forget the way the sky let loose that night at the NYState Fair. That wasn't good. Like a rape shower.

[Saint John]

The review was great, until the last line. Screwed the whole pooch in the arse with that one friggin line.

Agreed!!! Took all of the legitimacy out of the review.

[Don]

Hey Mr. Hobson, Steve says keep it up. He's working on some hot Stuff, and when " Throwing Kittens Against The Wall" hits the shelves Summer, 2012 , We'll see who has the last laugh.

[Rick]

Hey Mr. Hobson, Steve says keep it up. He's working on some hot Stuff, and when " Throwing Kittens Against The Wall" hits the shelves Summer, 2012 , We'll see who has the last laugh.

[WIX]

Hey asslick writer,

I need Steve Perry,there isn't a day that goes by that Steve Perry doesn't cross my mind or his image from the Patiently Video with the long straight streaming hair doesn't vividly pop into my mind. Mr Writer take your last line, with your straw in hand and stick it in my toilet and snort last nights remains of Del Taco. Yes, that was a chunk of pork with green sauce.

[Since 78]

The review was great, until the last line. Screwed the whole pooch in the arse with that one friggin line.

Unfortunately, this is probably going to be seen a lot more from people who haven't followed Journey through the years. It sounds like Journey to them! So we better get used to it. Not saying that I agree!! But, isn't this what certain people have said Journey was trying to do?

[tammy]

I need SP, thank ya very much..."thee original".

[oakley_reef]

Hey Jon Hobson! You know who needs Steve Perry?




LOL













....Your mom.

Hey!!! Rhi,

Thats my line!!!

[stevew2]

Who needs Friga ? that is the question

[Perrydise]

Who needs Friga ? that is the question

Not me and alot of others think that way too.

[stevew2]

Who needs Friga ? that is the question

Not me and alot of others think that way too.

Damn straight

[bluejeangirl76]

The review was great, until the last line. Screwed the whole pooch in the arse with that one friggin line.

Yep. Pretty much. What a dumbass thing to say.

There'd be nothing for you to review without Steve Perry, Mr. Smartass.

[finalfight]

Hey asslick writer,

I need Steve Perry,there isn't a day that goes by that Steve Perry doesn't cross my mind or his image from the Patiently Video with the long straight streaming hair doesn't vividly pop into my mind. Mr Writer take your last line, with your straw in hand and stick it in my toilet and snort last nights remains of Del Taco. Yes, that was a chunk of pork with green sauce.

[Saint John]

Hey asslick writer,

I need Steve Perry,there isn't a day that goes by that Steve Perry doesn't cross my mind or his image from the Patiently Video with the long straight streaming hair doesn't vividly pop into my mind. Mr Writer take your last line, with your straw in hand and stick it in my toilet and snort last nights remains of Del Taco. Yes, that was a chunk of pork with green sauce.

[Eric]

Mother Nature jammed along.
Although I'll never forget the way the sky let loose that night at the NYState Fair. That wasn't good. Like a rape shower.

That was brutal.....

[Michigan Girl]

Why isn't there an email addy for Mr. JON HOBSON ??
I hear the Corleone's would like to speak to him!!!

[Greg]

Why isn't there an email addy for Mr. JON HOBSON ??
I hear the Corleone's would like to speak to him!!!

Found it! jfrigacain@killperry.com

[bluejeangirl76]

Hey asslick writer,

I need Steve Perry,there isn't a day that goes by that Steve Perry doesn't cross my mind or his image from the Patiently Video with the long straight streaming hair doesn't vividly pop into my mind. Mr Writer take your last line, with your straw in hand and stick it in my toilet and snort last nights remains of Del Taco. Yes, that was a chunk of pork with green sauce.

God I miss Del Taco. I love their fries.

[Babyblue]

The review was great, until the last line. Screwed the whole pooch in the arse with that one friggin line.

Unfortunately, this is probably going to be seen a lot more from people who haven't followed Journey through the years. It sounds like Journey to them! So we better get used to it. Not saying that I agree!! But, isn't this what certain people have said Journey was trying to do?

I can't stand it at all but i hate to say that 78 is right on this. Most will not remember Mr P i find that so sad.But they wanted bndgheggje45t them and they got them.I will not ever go see them again.

[Babyblue]

Why isn't there an email addy for Mr. JON HOBSON ??
I hear the Corleone's would like to speak to him!!!

It would be good to have the assholes E-mail addy

[EightyRock]

This kind of ignorant excuse for journalism doesn't even bother me anymore. They used to same the same crap about Augeri....Perry clone....who needs Perry, etc. It's meaningless. If the dude spent one second thinking about how Perry STILL makes it possible for them to even tour on those songs, he wouldn't write stupid shit like that. It just make the writer look like an idiot.

[Art Vandelay]

It amazes me how people play the "forget about Perry" card. If a critic is going as far as to even mention his name, he's obviously not forgotten.

Seems to me that Augeri is the forgotten one.

[artist4perry]

Me! I need Steve Perry! I am glad the guys are doing O.K. out there, but that doesn't mean we can forget him in any way shape or form! Steve will always be loved, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Forget him my eye! Type his name on google and see what you get! Just type in images, and you will get more! He is remembered, blogged about, listened to, and has a great deal of devoted fans that even with no word from him in years, have not forgotten. Silly author of that topic, you must have your head up your butt if you think any of his fans forgot or will forget him! He is a classic act.