Reaching For Long Beach 12-31-86

[zino]

First let me say that I am a huge fan if this band and will continue to support them as long as they continue to play.
This week I was digging through some old boots and started to give some another listen. Its kindda fun to think back at what was going on in the band, now that we see where the band is now and all that has taken place in the last 30+ years

So I put in this boot today and a few thoughts came to mind

1) Perry sounded a bit sauced ( drunk) he asked the crowd.." Are you as torked as we are" Kindda funny
2) While singing BGTY Perry adds an extra Long to the verse" Long Vacation" and says " Long, LOng vacatioin"..Little did we know..wasnt this one of the last shows played?
3) How did the band come to terms with playing OH Sherrie, Strung Out, JailHouse Rock, Stand By Me and Reach out. They had so many songs they could have played instead of thise five.
4) Perry sounded the best on the ROR and his Solo songs

Again not ripping the band just some thought almost 25 years later

Was anybody at this show? Was there ever any footage of a ROR show except the MTV videos

[Memorex]

I was there. It was great. I saw them 4 times that week (3 in LB and 1 in San Diego). I thought the New Years show was the best, but then the atmosphere was really cool. I also saw them at Calavaras at the start of that tour. I liked that show the best of all the times I've seen them, including the Escape and Frontiers shows. I personally didn't care for the Frontiers tour.

I'm a fan of ROR and TBF and all that. So that's where I'm coming from.

[Memorex]

PS - The boots from that era - to me - really don't sound nearly as good as it did being there. Not sure why.

[zino]

I have a few Boots from ROR and they all sound shitty. I have some older ones for 79 that both sound great.

Did Journey go on extra late that nigh to play past midnight ??

Thanks for the info

[Memorex]

I have a few Boots from ROR and they all sound shitty. I have some older ones for 79 that both sound great.

Did Journey go on extra late that nigh to play past midnight ??

Thanks for the info

Yep. They stopped just before 12 and then came back out. Did laser fireworks, confetti, etc. Then did the encore. It was fun. There were tables of hats and blowers and all that as you walked in.

[kgdjpubs]

3) How did the band come to terms with playing OH Sherrie, Strung Out, JailHouse Rock, Stand By Me and Reach out. They had so many songs they could have played instead of thise five.

well, they had been playing Oh Sherrie, Strung Out and Jailhouse Rock for most of the tour--the first two because there was no Street Talk solo tour for Perry, and the other for whatever reason. I would guess the others would just be the band having fun. Likely something they had been doing in soundcheck, and decided to throw it in the regular show. You could say the audience got something special, as I'm not sure they played the other two other than that one night.

Was there ever any footage of a ROR show except the MTV videos

Supposedly at least one full show was filmed.

[zino]

They did Stand By Me in The Meadowlands that year at the show I was at ( same day as Bill Buncker missed the groud ball) in 86.

[Rockindeano]

I was there as was Memorex. Remember that shitty barn they played Memorex, in Long Beach? I guess the Forum was being used by the Lakers or Kings, but Goddamned that place was a shithole. I do want to say Espee had a few pops in him, as he was really animated. It was a good thing too, as it was a special feeling show. I do agree that every boot from that tour sounds shitty. You can't really hear the guitar like you're accustomed to....this was especially weird to me, as Schon came out with his signature guitar that year. I for one liked the covers, as I always do. Covers show the bands strength in playing off the cuff and it also shows respect for the covered artist.

[zino]

The boots from that tour sure were off a bit..Gald to hear SP had a few belts in him!! He sounded like he was having a real good time. I usually like covers that bands do, just stuk me as a bit wierd that they did 3 covers and 2 SP solo songs which needed to be done. Im surprised Schon didnt try and get some of his solo work in to..
This tour will also be know for Cain's sweet coat, smock or whatever the hell else you want to call that. Randy Jackson in Spandex ...yikes

Was this show one of the last ?? They ended in Alaska correct? Seems kinda logical that they would go to Alaska after Cali

Just got done listening to a show from 78...great setlist and great quality for a boot.. Wish I would have been able to see Perry and Rollie

[Saint John]

I'm all for playing the Street Talk solo stuff, but not the covers. They have enough of their own songs to play. Covers are ok for specific tributes (like a death), but I think Joe Concertgoer would much rather hear music from the band he paid to hear perform.

[Don]

The boots from that tour sure were off a bit..Gald to hear SP had a few belts in him!! He sounded like he was having a real good time. I usually like covers that bands do, just stuk me as a bit wierd that they did 3 covers and 2 SP solo songs which needed to be done. Im surprised Schon didnt try and get some of his solo work in to..
This tour will also be know for Cain's sweet coat, smock or whatever the hell else you want to call that. Randy Jackson in Spandex ...yikes

Was this show one of the last ?? They ended in Alaska correct? Seems kinda logical that they would go to Alaska after Cali

Just got done listening to a show from 78...great setlist and great quality for a boot.. Wish I would have been able to see Perry and Rollie

On the the Frontiers tour, They played Don't Fight It and No More Lies during their shows at the Budokan.

[Saint John]

On the the Frontiers tour, They played Don't Fight It and No More Lies during their shows at the Budokan.

That's cool and it's band associated. I'd much rather hear Don't Fight It, but No More Lies is a pretty good song. Tito would have been the only asshole in the audience screaming, "Play something from Windy City Breakdown!!!"

[kgdjpubs]

I'm all for playing the Street Talk solo stuff, but not the covers. They have enough of their own songs to play. Covers are ok for specific tributes (like a death), but I think Joe Concertgoer would much rather hear music from the band he paid to hear perform.

My general thought on a concert setlist is do 95% of what you want to do in the main set. Leave the first part of the encore open for whatever comes to mind/audience request/cover, and then end with the other 5% of what you planned to play to get the audience on a high when they leave.

I can't speak for everybody, but I'm there for that magic moment where the artist and audience are clicking. The happy medium of hits to satisfy the random fan, and the new and/or deep songs to satisfy the diehards and band should be able to be found.

[Memorex]

I was there as was Memorex. Remember that shitty barn they played Memorex, in Long Beach? I guess the Forum was being used by the Lakers or Kings, but Goddamned that place was a shithole. I do want to say Espee had a few pops in him, as he was really animated. It was a good thing too, as it was a special feeling show. I do agree that every boot from that tour sounds shitty. You can't really hear the guitar like you're accustomed to....this was especially weird to me, as Schon came out with his signature guitar that year. I for one liked the covers, as I always do. Covers show the bands strength in playing off the cuff and it also shows respect for the covered artist.

Yea. Was a particularly bad time in my life and that week was a great diversion of shows. I also saw some other bands at that time, but can't remember who. Too bad I didn't know you then.

I remember Neal coming out in the middle of Glass Tiger's set (at their last show with Journey) and he couldn't get his guitar to work, so he just kind of faked it. And the other guys came out too and jumped around a little. Glass Tiger - never thought I'd be typing those words 24 years later.

Don;t forget me when I'm gone!

[annie89509]

The boots from that tour sure were off a bit..Gald to hear SP had a few belts in him!! He sounded like he was having a real good time. I usually like covers that bands do, just stuk me as a bit wierd that they did 3 covers and 2 SP solo songs which needed to be done. Im surprised Schon didnt try and get some of his solo work in to..
This tour will also be know for Cain's sweet coat, smock or whatever the hell else you want to call that. Randy Jackson in Spandex ...yikes

Was this show one of the last ?? They ended in Alaska correct? Seems kinda logical that they would go to Alaska after Cali

Just got done listening to a show from 78...great setlist and great quality for a boot.. Wish I would have been able to see Perry and Rollie

They ended in Alaska around the 1st of Feb. There were shows in Hawaii before going to Alaska.

[WalrusOct9]

ROR shows sound "off" because Steve Smith was replaced by an automatron. I'm sure Bob Glaub is a nice guy, but there was no groove or feel to those shows, at least from the recordings.

[Memorex]

ROR shows sound "off" because Steve Smith was replaced by an automatron. I'm sure Bob Glaub is a nice guy, but there was no groove or feel to those shows, at least from the recordings.

Michael Baird was the drummer on that tour. No Steve Smith (not even in the same realm), but a good player in his own right.

[sniper16]

i dont mind a cover song being played, but when youve got so many of your own more than one is too many for a regular tour show, dont fight it and no more lies was awesome because they are band member songs

[zino]

Have been listing to alot of boots latley...boy did they speed up the tempo on the Frontiers tour..was that an effort to save a little on the vocals of a huge tour, plus they could get an extra song or two. For the most part didnt sound too bad except on DSB

[Marzdog]

Yea. Was a particularly bad time in my life and that week was a great diversion of shows. I also saw some other bands at that time, but can't remember who. Too bad I didn't know you then.

I remember Neal coming out in the middle of Glass Tiger's set (at their last show with Journey) and he couldn't get his guitar to work, so he just kind of faked it. And the other guys came out too and jumped around a little. Glass Tiger - never thought I'd be typing those words 24 years later.

Don;t forget me when I'm gone!

Concrete Blonde opened the show, followed by GT, and then Journey. That was a "different" night to say the least.

[WykkedSensation]

Have been listing to alot of boots latley...boy did they speed up the tempo on the Frontiers tour..was that an effort to save a little on the vocals of a huge tour, plus they could get an extra song or two. For the most part didnt sound too bad except on DSB

They only sped the songs up for the US leg of the tour. The Jap shows that came first were absolutely freakin awesome, and the songs were played at the correct tempo.

[WalrusOct9]

ROR shows sound "off" because Steve Smith was replaced by an automatron. I'm sure Bob Glaub is a nice guy, but there was no groove or feel to those shows, at least from the recordings.

Michael Baird was the drummer on that tour. No Steve Smith (not even in the same realm), but a good player in his own right.

My mistake. I'm sure he's good, but there was no groove to his playing on the boots I've heard, and awful, AWFUL drum sounds (probably triggered) made it even worse.

[FamilyMan]

If memory serves, the band also played some solo Neal (Schon/Hammer) tunes on the ROR tour. Not positive, but pretty sure they did.

[Rockindeano]

If memory serves, the band also played some solo Neal (Schon/Hammer) tunes on the ROR tour. Not positive, but pretty sure they did.

No they didn't. They played that crap on the Frontiers tour.

[brywool]

ROR shows sound "off" because Steve Smith was replaced by an automatron. I'm sure Bob Glaub is a nice guy, but there was no groove or feel to those shows, at least from the recordings.

Michael Baird was the drummer on that tour. No Steve Smith (not even in the same realm), but a good player in his own right.

My mistake. I'm sure he's good, but there was no groove to his playing on the boots I've heard, and awful, AWFUL drum sounds (probably triggered) made it even worse.

He SUCKED. Worst drummer possible for Journey. Jackson had to be thinking "Dang! Who's this mofo???"

[Tracie555]

I was there too All I remember is that it was awesome, Perry was really nasty, which was totally working, hahaha!!! A few years ago someone was kind enough to send me a boot of the show. Honestly, all the songs were sooooo sped up that it was freakin painful to listen to without being there live Being in the moment live I guess made up for the lack of perfected sound.