http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=156126
9/10/2009
Heart and Journey team up for concert in Reading
By Tracy Rasmussen
Reading Eagle Correspondent
Guitar Heroes and guitar legends Ann and Nancy Wilson are as red-hot today as they were back in the '70s and '80s when they regularly charted hits.
Heart, known for iconic hits such as "Barracuda" and "Crazy on You," will appear at the Sovereign Center with its contemporaries now and then, Journey, tonight at 7:30 p.m.
In addition to sharing the stage tonight, Heart and Journey will be sharing the musical spotlight in 2010 when they both plan to release new albums. A less auspicious connection is that, although eligible, neither band has been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Luckily, the Wilson sisters were honored with the Founders Award at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards and also earned 2008's top package honors in Billboard's Touring Awards.
The ASCAP award named Ann and Nancy Wilson as songwriters who have pioneered contributions to rock music both by inspiring and influencing other songwriters.
After decades during which lesser music has come and gone, Heart's music continues to be played by fans and covered by other bands. Three of their songs appear in Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games, and the sisters appeared on "American Idol" earlier this year performing "Barracuda" with Fergie.
Similarly, Journey was named one of the top grossing touring bands last year, too.
The shows that the bands have done together and separately this year have been met with sellout crowds and critical acclaim.
Both bands came to prominence in the 1970s and spent time together and apart during the past 35-plus years. While Nancy and Ann Wilson continue to be the heart of Heart, Journey has gone through several personnel changes, relying on the power of the music to bring them successfully into the 21st century.
Journey is currently fronted by lead singer Arnel Pineda, who was discovered thanks to some videos of him singing Journey's music on YouTube. Pineda, who is a successful recording artist in Asia, debuted as Journey's lead singer in early 2008. The band's most recent album, "Revelation," was certified platinum last year, too, joining 10 of the band's previous albums to sell more that 1 million copies.
Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" was cited as the most downloaded song on iTunes earlier this summer.
Founding members lead guitarist Neal Schon and bass player Ross Valory continue to tour, bridging the past to the future.
Other hits the band charted and are likely to be included in the show include "Faithfully," "Open Arms" and "Anyway You Want It."
Heart will also spend time on tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Dog & Butterfly," their double platinum album that found its way onto the charts via the title track and "Straight On."
Next year's album is being produced by Ben Mink, who also produced Ann Wilson's solo effort, "Hope & Glory," in 2007, and is slated for release early in the year. At the ASCAP awards, "Sand," a song for the upcoming album that remembers the passing of Alice in Chains singer Layne Staley, was debuted.
The sisters are also branching out next year, with the publication of a children's book, "Dog & Butterfly," written to honor the 30th anniversary of that album.
E-mail Tracy Rasmussen:
weekend@readingeagle.com.
