I'm still not done reading this long review by some Dennis from New York (my apologies to him for pasting it here)...
by Dennis:
This is an expensive and hopefully not so long review. Would really try to make it short but no promises. I'm just clickin on my laptop and remembering what happened. I initially said expensive because I'm not a Filipino but have several Filipino classmates in Manhattan. They invited me to come over here since they know I love Journey and saw them at Jones Beach in Long Island, NY, last year. I have been a Journey fan for 10 years and I love AP's voice. I decided to fly to the Philippines out of whim and see AP perform in his home country. Philippines is awesome and not as hot and humid as I expected especially compared to NY on summers. Now on to the review....Will just put numbers so I won't forget.
1) My ticket was on the gold section and costed me about $63. The venue was well prepared/arranged and the ground was cobbled. We were told the gates would be opened at 6pm. It did at 6:10pm. I found it funny that the they had to separate the males from the females during entry. Since I was early, I got to choose the best (for me) seat, but on the right side, just behind the crane to be used for panning camera shots. I got to see the LCD display and saw what was being taken. I was concerned that the venue won't be filled but from my vantage point, i couldn't see any vacant seats at about 8pm.
2) There was a center podium for the main artery that controlled the lights/camera located just behind the platinum section. There were 4 high rise sets that seat the other cameras. There was a small crane camera on the stage. It must have been the best stage set I have seen comparing to concerts I have went to in the US. The backdrop was made to appear as curtain with "bubbled" look/appeal, that changed color with the lights. The center had a giant screen with a very clear projection. It was huge. There were 2 semi huge screens on both sides of the stage. There was a train camera at the back of the platinum section that takes shot like those seen on films where there are running; or scenes that you see during track and field finish (get the picture?). Kevin Shirley was early on the center podium. I guess he had to oversee everything since he mentioned in his blog he would be recording this event. Awesome!
3) At 8:20, an American ( I suppose) went out and greeted the audience and made an announcement that the night will be be shot for a special DVD to be released within the year. I was not clear as to when, where, and what will be its title. He made it very clear though that the audience was lucky since we will be a part of this special event and will be in the DVD (Hi mom and dad hehehehe). We were instructed to give a rousing welcome even before the concert started, which I suppose, would be the initial part of the DVD. I felt like I was in a movie shot.
4) The concert started with a shot from the backstage where the boys are huddled before they came out as in the US concerts. As they alighted from the back, the "The Journey-Revelation music was started by the band. I must comment on the sound. They were very high quality sound and very clear. I'm biased since I'm a bose user so you see where I'm going here. My only complaint was the subdued volume on AP's 1st 2 songs which were corrected on the 3rd since the volume from then on were so much improved. The audience gave a rousing response to AP's entry. Neal's hands were spot on. He owned the 1st "song".
5) "Never Walk Away" did not dissapoint except for the subdued volume. But I guess it was not on the 3rd but at the middle to the end of this song that the volume was adjusted. It has been one of my favorite from Album 1 and the vocals were strong, like in the album. Is AP doing some weighlifting? He's more buffed and seemed to have gained weight, which are good. He looked even younger now.
6) "Only the Young" came in 3rd. Another observation.....I think AP's vocal training has been paying off. This song is particularly high especially on the chorus "Only the young can say", particularly on the 3rd and 4th verse. Due to the HD of the sound I was able to hear him not having any difficulty reaching the end of the sentence on these 2 verses. I was pleased and more since his version here was flawless.
7) "Ask the Lonely". The lower pitched part of this song was sung beautifully by SP. What I liked with AP's version here was his vibrato on the 1st and 2nd verse. Starting from "You've been picked and it's over. What's the chip on your shoulder?--beautiful register on a male tenor since his voice became a "big" tenor on the register. Then going to the part "When you're feeling love's unfair. You just ask the lonely. When you're lost in deep despair. You just ask the lonely---his high tenor now soared. Beautiful. This is one of my favorite from the 2nd album due to the lower pitched vibrato of AP. His deep voice in this part in the concert was better than the recording. He must have prepared well indeed. He shouted "Proud to be Pinoy" in this part to the delight of the audience.
AP gave the floor to Deen who sang "Keep on Running". Obviously, the audience was not familiar with this song since for the 1st time almost everyone on our side sat down. But Deen was giving AP a run for his money. He has a superb tenor voice which was evidenced more from his 3rd song (see later).
9). After 5 rockin songs, the audience gave a rousing welcome to Journey's 1st balled, AATY. Apparently, this was the favorite of the Manila audience as far as reception and request for this song to be sung is concerned. He dedicated the song to the Filipino people before starting (I asked my seatmate what he just said). As what I'm going to say from hereon, this concert was sung much better compared to the Revelation album. This is not saying that my biases are getting on the way. It takes only a liking to Journey songs and knowing how it was sung during the recording can someone tell the difference, not to mention, a critical ear. To add beauty to this song's rendition in this concert was Pineda's inliction of his now famous palpable passion in how he sing (as evidenced by Cain's comment on how AP sings and him having goosebumps on Open Arms). AATY gave me the goosebumps.
10) "Change for the Better". Hearing Neal, Jon, and Ross on this song was pure bliss. Blame it on the HD sound and the great atmosphere here, again this song really delivered the message. It was supposedly written for Deen for him to get on with what was going on then with his life.
AP's register on these: "Down the lowest I can go With no one left to turn On the edge, I lose control Before I crash and burn Can I turn around Slow it down, oh" was my favorite. Loved this rendition. I heard him sing this in NY and he did not do well on the lower pitched verses. But this time, my ears were satisfied. What did he do with "And now then there is no hope. Until we are faced without. We can never fall in love. Until we learn to live without" was far better here compared to how I heard it in NY. The lower register was done with ease. As I have said, his vocal training is doing him much good.
All this time, I was looking at those crane shots since I was a few feet away from the LCD. I can't wait for the DVD since what they took were awesome. I kept on glancing on Kevin Shirley who was constantly on his laptop (although I was quite far away from where he sat). Am not sure if he was the one orchestrating the shots. Maybe not since he's the producer and musical director. I wonder who's the director of the show?
11) "Harmonica/Double Guitar(Jon,Neal)". I was a little bit dissapointed here by the audience's reaction, or non-reaction for that matter. This part was particularly interesting due to the concert's sound quality. Well, I guess this was not popular to many.
12) "Wheel in the Sky" immediately followed the "duet" of Jon,Neal. Again, what can I say. AP's really improving on his singing. There was not a sign of strain on those high notes (compared to before) and they were given to us with much gusto. This version so far is my favorite compared to the album and concerts I saw back in the US. AP's signature "Igorot (not sure)" dance on this song was well received.
13) "Still They Ride(Deen voc)". Again, not a very popular song among the audience. I was dissapointed with the reaction.
14) "Open Arms". I'm not sure if many Filipinos are watching the US concerts in YT but I noticed that not much knew that Jon's piano interlude precedes this most popular song of the night (judging from the audience's response). AP now owns this song by virtue of his soulful rendition. But the audience had a treat today. The latter part of the song was rearranged!!! Neal came in and I swear, his rendition of plucking those strings gave a saxophone like sound to the background. Beautiful! AP changed his black pants to red. I'm tempted to write this so now I did: Forget Revelation album. Most of the songs here especially OA is so much better in this concert. I hope the DVD comes out soon.
15) "Mother Father" What can I say, Deens soaring tenor here really deserves everyone's applause. The chorus part was awesome. The large screen showed the intensity of Deen on knacking this hard song. Beautiful!
16) "Wildest Dream". AP threw his red scarf to the delight of the audience. This is one of the most unpopular song (i think) of album 1. However, I particularly liked AP's rendition of this part: And on a bed of roses. Under the pale moonlight. I wait for sweet surrender. Until another night. This was delivered with much gusto and discernable lyrics compared to his US concert (in my opinion).
17) 3rd power ballad of the night is "When you love a Woman". Before singing this AP said "I like to dedicate this to all the women in the audience. To my wife, I love you". I heard the Sacramento version of this song where it was plucked from obscurity. I read so many tirades in YT regarding this song since it was sung by AP live and no one has yet heard SP sing this live. AP raised the bar more of this soaring ballad in this concert. I really love his vibrato on this version. Beautiful song and beautiful rendition. He did not do his signature bowing of the head which he started in the Sacramento version. I was waiting for it. Instead , he raised both of his arms.
18) "Separate Ways". He was first known I guess in the US singing this song in the "Ellen Degeners Show". I have to write this, but I did not like his rendition in the EDS. However, he made me a new fan of this in this concert. Flawless rendition. An added treat to us was the new arrangement!! Neal gave his magic touch and I never thought that this Journey's old song can still be touched. But this new arrangement gave a new breath to Separate Ways. I'm sure somebody have recorded this. Good luck in finding it, it's worth the search in YT.
19) "What I Needed". One of my favorites in album 1. I was waiting for the last verse that contained "Your love was what I needed
Hear me calling". The part where AP went to almost falsetto in "Hear me calling" was my favorite. Goosebumps here. He did not dissapoint in this part of the concert. I even felt that he prolonged his high notes here. I think Neal and Ross gave an extended accompaniment. I'm pretty sure they did. Beautiful.
20) "Escape". Again, I felt not so many people from the audience knows this song from Frontier. But God, what happened to AP's voice here? His high notes now resemble Deen's voice. I'm impressed on his rendition here since the high notes were non-restrained and it was not falsetto. Awesome! I did hope though that the audience could have given a better response to this song. Just my take.
21) "Faithfully". One of the more famous songs. Good response from the audience. Everybody was singing and raising their hands. Nothing more to add since AP now owns this song too.
22) "Don't Stop Believing". Holy Cow....new arrangement!! The added segment has a pop style feel in it. I love this arrangement. There's only one comment I can make here and I'm sure I'll get the axe from this. AP was a little bit flat in the high notes. This I don't understand. He can hit note after note on so many Journey songs which are way higher than the highs of DSB. For some reason tonight, or maybe it's just me, but just have to comment on it, he was slightly flat. It's forgivable though since this song was more already towards the end and his sweat was very palpable from the video. And he recovered at the end, which I was consciously awaiting. The last 2 highs of DSB were pitch perfect.
23) I forgot where he sang Lights. I just saw someone upload the video in YT. I guess I can forego of reviewing that song. There's one more that I missed that someone can just add.
24) "Anyway you Want it". No complaints here. Pitch perfect again. Awesome rendition
Encore:
Loving, Squeezin
Turn Down The World Tonight
Be Good To Yourself
These are the best encores I have heard and I particularly liked BGTY as the last song
This is a Journey concert but my take is that Journey went to Manila as a tribute to AP. This review, therefore, gave more emphasis on AP. At the end Arnel mentioned that this concert is the "culmination of his struggle as a Filipino and as a singer for the past 27 years". I do apologize if I have left out on some things from this show. I tried describing this concert from my vantage point and only from mine. I'm glad I have trekked this journey to the Philippines. To the Filipinos, your country is beautiful, but your people are far better scenery for the soul. Thank you for One evening of fun and very good music.
Wow, check out that 1 minute mark! 
