Rockindeano wrote:Hot humid, and 19,900 people strong was the setting at Mansfield, Massachussetts on Saturday night. Meet and greets, hellos and see you later's were all wrapped up, at 745P, Neal Schon walked out to The Who's
"We Won't Get Fooled Again." Self Indulgent to be sure, and rightfully earned I might add, that dude belted out America's song, and it was take off time from there.....
Cain, Deen, Ross and Soto appear and it was on. Soto busted out a Boston welcome and Stone in Love was started. The energy level was that of a Super Bowl, or Stanley Cup playoff game; infectious. Jeff literally took the band up with him. I have never seen Ross Valory so alive in my life. Same with Jonathan Cain. Deeno was sky high as always and Neal was ear to ear grins. Song after song, just right after one another, solid thumping, no notes missed, perfect vocals and I mean perfect as in Steve Perry perfect. In fact, Soto was better this night. Yes, he hit notes as high as perry has, and people in the crowd looked at each other with mouths agape. I didn't clap once this night. I was standing in astonishment. I was mesmerized at what I was seeing. Jeff asked the full house crowd to pull out their cell phones and wave em in the air, as Lights was started. Looking back and up at the audience, I couldn't tell if it was 1983 or 2006. The crowd was amazing, and I know more than a few Def Lippard fans were blown away. This was the best Journey concert I have ever witnessed. I have seen them over 20 times with Perry and 20 times with Augeri, and none of those were this good. I am not the only one who mentioned this either. People close to the band said the exact same thing. The band knew they gave an A+ performance too. Those guys played their collective asses off. There is NO question jeff has resurrected them and is taking them to a new level.
Journey are poised to make music's greatest comebacks. If you choose not to believe me, fine, but don't say I didn't tell you so. Those are my words but those exact words were echoed by a certain band member. The momentum they have now is phenominal, and they plan on riding it to new heights.
The best thing to happen to Journey happened this year, and I for one could not be more jacked up. This is the best lineup ever for Journey, and those with open minds who will give them a chance and see them will see what I am saying.
The only problem I have with Jeff is him wearing basketball jerseys during encores. I need to get that guy some hockey jerseys instead!
And he certainly can't, and didn't, hit notes as high as Perry. If I'm not mistaken he didn't even attempt some of them...Deen did a lot of the high notes...just as he does for Arnel from time to time. Actually, I think he just finished the high notes for Soto. He may have even said that before. I can't remember because he's usually yelling at me about something.
