Neal gets his two cents in

[fightingilliniJRNY]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

[artist4perry]

I always love the extra solos. I always feel uplifted by the music.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

I always love the extra solos. I always feel uplifted by the music.

Agreed. Neal Schon is worth the price of admission alone. Give him as many solos as he wants.

[weatherman90]

Go Neal. Can't imagine why anyone would be disappointed at hearing new twists on the songs.

[Blueskies]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

I totally agree with him. If it gets boring to listen to the same exact thing in concert after concert it's got to become incredibly boring to play the music the exact same way night after night, year after year. Diversity is the spice of life.

[RossValoryRocks]

The changes they added ROCKED.

The break out in Separate Ways is worth the price of admission to hear. It makes a GREAT song...BETTER.

The changes to Wheel in the Sky are kick ass as well.

So like Neal says, if you like the album versions...go listen to the album and enjoy!

[JRNYFan]

Who in the devil is saying they don't like the "additions" ? Let's pounce on them! You just can't satisfy 'casual' Journey fans!

[artist4perry]

Who in the devil is saying they don't like the "additions" ? Let's pounce on them! You just can't satisfy 'casual' Journey fans!

It is the same nerds who say.............Journey, Don't they play that "Wheel in the something song?" I actually heard that in line when I was camped out for tickets for ROR.

[steveo777]

Who in the devil is saying they don't like the "additions" ? Let's pounce on them! You just can't satisfy 'casual' Journey fans!

This guy maybe? This is an actual review taken off the Journey official site.

Confused
Friday, August 21, 2009 - 6:56 am - stash
This was my third Journey show, each with a different lead singer. This show was a little different. High energy, hard rocking, almost a too hard for ancient Journey fan wanting to hear the powerful vocal ballads the band is famous for. Arnel, well your a great singer. I've followed your progress from You-Tube to the Ellen show. The band has it's Steve Perry sound-alike. Arnel has an endless amount of energy and the ability to work an audience. But, 35 jumps per song? I thought I was watching David Lee Roth? Also, it was disappointing that Neal and Jon have taken many of the Journey balleds and turned them into guitar riffs reminiscent of Egar Winters Frankinstein synthesizer solos.

However, Journey did rock the house. The crowd sat patiently through the long riffs and intros to hear the classics they have learned to love. Faithfully, Open Arms, Only the Young, and of course Don't Stop are more powerful than ever. Arnel hits every note right on. The new material was great, even though most of the crowd had never heard these song before. For a true Journey fan, the show was different than expected, but the music was great.

Heart was awsome. Ann Wilson's vocals had me mesmerized from opening to encore. Their songs are as strong as ever. The Wilson sisters have hit it. They ROCK!!! As I left the show and walked to my car I heard a young girl of maybe 14 say "mommy, I think Heart is better than Journey".

To both bands..thanks for coming to Youngstown. It was a night to remember.

Right...can't please the casual fans.

[Jana]

It has to be a few on Journey forum that are saying it to him maybe, like that one review. He's amazing this year and so is the whole band, and I, for, one, love the change-ups. Keep it up, Neal. You rock. In fact, please, please play What I Needed again. The change in the song with your extended playing takes that song to a whole new level. Simply amazing.

[T-Bone]

I am one of the people who like to hear the music and solo's played at least "close" to original. I don't always expect note-for-note, but close is good. If the guitar player extends the solo past what the original was, than thats fine with me also. I just don't like when a guitarist plays something COMPLETELY different and it doesn't fit at all.

[Chubby321]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

And playing for REAL it is and what it should be. I love Neal's solo and the extended version makes the song interesting and fresh.

[steveo777]

It has to be a few on Journey forum that are saying it to him maybe, like that one review. He's amazing this year and so is the whole band, and I, for, one, love the change-ups. Keep it up, Neal. You rock. In fact, please, please play What I Needed again. The change in the song with your extended playing takes that song to a whole new level. Simply amazing.

Sure feels, looks and sounds like a band that has just clicked together very well. I have to believe they guys are very comfortable together at this point. It helps that Arnel has not and probably will never develope LSD. And I agree on What I Needed. Very powerful song, even better in the extended version.

[JRNYFan]

I, for one, love them trying to make the DD (songs that we've heard thousands of times) seem fresh. It's gotten to the point that when I'm listening to 'Separate Ways' I expect that little extra bridge that they've been doing. The extra solo that Neal has been doing on 'Open Arms' actually makes me want to hear that song now too.

Neal, if you're reading this, don't let a few boring casual fans ruin it for everyone else.

[Jana]

I, for one, love them trying to make the DD (songs that we've heard thousands of times) seem fresh. It's gotten to the point that when I'm listening to 'Separate Ways' I expect that little extra bridge that they've been doing. The extra solo that Neal has been doing on 'Open Arms' actually makes me want to hear that song now too.

Neal, if you're reading this, don't let a few boring casual fans ruin it for everyone else.

I agree also on the Open Arms. WITS and SW is a given that the extended versions are fantastic, but I actually on OA now enjoy hearing it again with the change.

[Rick]

I always love the extra solos. I always feel uplifted by the music.

Agreed. Neal Schon is worth the price of admission alone. Give him as many solos as he wants.

Man I couldn't agree more.

[Jana]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

Where did you get that? I see on the Journey Forum Neal is on there right now.

[ttango1]

[steveo777]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

Where did you get that? I see on the Journey Forum Neal is on there right now.

Neal blogged it. Please comment back on it there to show your support. I'm sure he appreciates the positive feedback.

[TRAGChick]

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up....

Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.

I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real

Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

+1

THESE are points that I am in agreement with! ROCK ON! \~/

[Don]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

I thought that was why they stepped the songs down
and split the dates further apart
and have Deen sing a few songs on occasion.

What steps will they add for next year's shows, run tape during the bridges?

[steveo777]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

I thought that was why they stepped the songs down
and split the dates further apart
and have Deen sing a few songs on occasion.

What steps will they add for next year's shows, run tape during the bridges?

So, do you like the extra riffs and solos or not?

[Don]

RE: the people who bitch about the rearrangements "not sounding like the records." It pisses me off to hear people say that, and I'm glad he said this. The whole point of seeing a band live is to see something different. Damn right, Neal. Keep it up.

I would like the people that are writing there are to many solos to put your self in my (our) shoes and try playing the same thing every-night since the late 70's and keep it up.... Just tryin to spice things up AND give Arnel a little break vocally. Sorry but if you want to hear everything exactly like the record, then please by all means , listen to the record.
I am a very old schooled musician weened on Zep , Hendrix , Who, Cream and blues. To stay interested I need to stretch and take some chances live. It's called playing for real
Thanks for hearing me out.
Neal

I thought that was why they stepped the songs down
and split the dates further apart
and have Deen sing a few songs on occasion.

What steps will they add for next year's shows, run tape during the bridges?

So, do you like the extra riffs and solos or not?

Wheel In The Sky are AWYWI are good for that type of thing.They've always done something with WITS vocally and instrumental wise. Open Arms should just go away all together, and that extended version of DSB sounds like they're trying to compete with the Jonas Bros.
Separate ways is fine. The more the song rocks, the better the solo fits in.

[Jana]

I always love the extra solos. I always feel uplifted by the music.

Agreed. Neal Schon is worth the price of admission alone. Give him as many solos as he wants.

Man I couldn't agree more.

You know it's a big amen for me.

[PDiddy75]

I always love the extra solos. I always feel uplifted by the music.

Agreed. Neal Schon is worth the price of admission alone. Give him as many solos as he wants.

Man I couldn't agree more.

I 2nd that statement Rick! Havent been to a show yet this year, but change is good! Im really looking foward to the one I get to go this year...and Neal can sing to me anyday of the week!! Cant even believe theres people out there <b>bitchin</b>! They are listening to JOURNEY <i>live</i> for cryin out loud!!

[steveo777]

I was just at the Journey site and Neal has blogged again and is still online.

[YoungJRNY]

About time. I agree 100%, Neal. I'd pay front row admission just to listen to that S.O.B belt out whatever he damn well pleases. The fresh notes to the end of the classics are a joy and pleasure to hear, and not the same old same old. Go listen to the records if you don't approve. Out of all people, Neal should know he can't please every fan in the seats. I like this shoutout.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

About time. I agree 100%, Neal. I'd pay front row admission just to listen to that S.O.B belt out whatever he damn well pleases. The fresh notes to the end of the classics are a joy and pleasure to hear, and not the same old same old. Go listen to the records if you don't approve. Out of all people, Neal should know he can't please every fan in the seats. I like this shoutout.

Amen. I stood 10 feet from him last night in Louisville and I was memorized. He is a true guitar legend. I think he's gotta be happy with the direction Journey has gone on this tour. Huge crowds, the band's kicking ass, he's branching out a little bit. Man, it's a good time to be a Journey fan. Can't wait to see what the future has in store.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

I 2nd that statement Rick! Havent been to a show yet this year, but change is good! Im really looking foward to the one I get to go this year...and Neal can sing to me anyday of the week!! Cant even believe theres people out there <b>bitchin</b>! They are listening to JOURNEY <i>live</i> for cryin out loud!!

I saw one review on Ticketmaster that was for the Indianapolis show, and I kid you not - it gave the band a one-star rating and said "the band played all new stuff except Don't Stop Believin'." I know for every 10,000 fans at a show there's only 2 of those people, but it made me want to shoot someone. Having an issue with a show is one thing, but that was just unbelievable.

[PDiddy75]

I 2nd that statement Rick! Havent been to a show yet this year, but change is good! Im really looking foward to the one I get to go this year...and Neal can sing to me anyday of the week!! Cant even believe theres people out there <b>bitchin</b>! They are listening to JOURNEY <i>live</i> for cryin out loud!!

I saw one review on Ticketmaster that was for the Indianapolis show, and I kid you not - it gave the band a one-star rating and said "the band played all new stuff except Don't Stop Believin'." I know for every 10,000 fans at a show there's only 2 of those people, but it made me want to shoot someone. Having an issue with a show is one thing, but that was just unbelievable.

I know! I cant begin to understand how they have the nerve to bitch about things when it comes to Journey playing <i>live</i>! Its live, which means they should hold a different rating of thier "standards" because anything you hear live is going to sound different! It just urks me!
This <i>is</i> Journey...so I dont care if they had an "off" night....its still gonna rock your socks, without a doubt!!