Concerns/Hopes For Summer Tour

[RumTumJM]

Well, most of us have seen the video of the guys with Rascal Flatts from last night. (Interesting that they returned to the ORIGINAL key!) While there were some issues with Arnel's singing, I thought, overall, it was a great performance all around.

Considering that the next time we see/hear from the guys will be on tour, where do we all stand at this point? What are people's concerns & hopes for this tour, given the last tour & CMT Awards performance.

I know everyone on here has STRONG OPINIONS & I was wondering what we are all thinking as the tour start rapidly approaches?


Personally, I just hope that Arnel works on his diction a bit, & maybe, reels in the changes to the melodies. Also, I hope that Neal reels in the guitar noodling, like he did last summer. (Yet, being realistic, I think there is a better chance Neal will improve than Arnel. I doubt he's gonna meet with a vocal coach, now, if he hasn't already.)

[The_Noble_Cause]

I want some surprises in the set. Give me Winds of March. Give me Suzanne. The only song last summer that made my ears perk up was La Do Da. The rest was a snooze.

[Don]

Unless you are a HUGE fan of Pat Benatar, show up 2 hours late so you won't be bored.

[Don]

Well, most of us have seen the video of the guys with Rascal Flatts from last night. (Interesting that they returned to the ORIGINAL key!)

It was a one off collaboration, not to mention an audience full of musicians. The song was already butchered with the editing.

[Aaron]

I want the original key and souring vocals going past what was recorded by SP. I missed them last year due to detuning and if they aren't in the original key this year I will skip them again. I'll go see Hugo or Jeremey instead. I'm still dumbfounded why they detune for a replacement singer.

[slucero]

I want the original key and souring vocals going past what was recorded by SP. I missed them last year due to detuning and if they aren't in the original key this year I will skip them again. I'll go see Hugo or Jeremey instead. I'm still dumbfounded why they detune for a replacement singer.

It's obvious... AP is not a counter-tenor... nor is he 30 years old... Perry is (was) both when he was singing those songs 100+ dates a year...

Perry was:

28 years of age when he made his debut
29 for Infinity (1978)
30 for Evolution (1979)
31 for Departure (1980)
32 for Escape (1981)
33 for Frontiers (1983)
37 for Raised on Radio (1986)
47 for Trial By Fire (1996)


AP's simply not capable of singing the songs on a long term basis at 45 years of age, especially considering Perry sang them at 32 and 33 years of age, in the original key. with a voice much better suited to that key...

[Eric]

Unless you are a HUGE fan of Pat Benatar, show up 2 hours late so you won't be bored.

I wanna see Loverboy, though. But you're right.

[Eric]

Well, most of us have seen the video of the guys with Rascal Flatts from last night. (Interesting that they returned to the ORIGINAL key!) While there were some issues with Arnel's singing, I thought, overall, it was a great performance all around.

Considering that the next time we see/hear from the guys will be on tour, where do we all stand at this point? What are people's concerns & hopes for this tour, given the last tour & CMT Awards performance.

I know everyone on here has STRONG OPINIONS & I was wondering what we are all thinking as the tour start rapidly approaches?


Personally, I just hope that Arnel works on his diction a bit, & maybe, reels in the changes to the melodies. Also, I hope that Neal reels in the guitar noodling, like he did last summer. (Yet, being realistic, I think there is a better chance Neal will improve than Arnel. I doubt he's gonna meet with a vocal coach, now, if he hasn't already.)

I'm already disappointed its a 3 band show, but I'll go with TNC and say gimme a couple of surprises.

I want good energy.

Even though I didn't experience sound issues at the show I attended last year, I don't want to read about them all summer from all people..so I hope that's fixed.

And while I'm not musically intelligent enough to hear the detuning that some of you dislike, even I do hear it on Faithfully so do something with that song so it doesn't sound so bad this time around.

[Deb]

Unless you are a HUGE fan of Pat Benatar, show up 2 hours late so you won't be bored.

Pat Benatar is probably the only one in that line up that I'd pay to see. Journey doesn't do it for me anymore and Loverboy, uggg don't even get me started. Don't know if it is cuz I'm a Canuck and it was total over saturation for me but, never really been a fan of theirs. Mike Reno doesn't do a thing for me...zilch, zero, nadda.

In that genre, I always preferred Haywire over LB. Like his voice and he had way more stage charisma than Mike did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhAK0WYsELI

[Don]

Unless you are a HUGE fan of Pat Benatar, show up 2 hours late so you won't be bored.

Pat Benatar is probably the only one in that line up that I'd pay to see. Journey doesn't do it for me anymore and Loverboy, uggg don't even get me started. Don't know if it is cuz I'm a Canuck and it was total over saturation for me but, never really been a fan of theirs. Mike Reno doesn't do a thing for me...zilch, zero, nadda.

In that genre, I always preferred Haywire over LB. Like his voice and he had way more stage charisma than Mike did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhAK0WYsELI

I love Pat, saw her back in the day when she was still playing colleges and clubs and have seen her a ton of times since. Her style doesn't mesh with Journey though. If she was the first opener that might be fine but for her coming on in the middle it just doesn't work. Last time I saw her (two or three years ago), she had Berlin and Scandal opening for her. Those are the groups she is more compatible with. Being the the middle act of the upcoming bill just doesn't seem promising.

[Don]

Well, most of us have seen the video of the guys with Rascal Flatts from last night. (Interesting that they returned to the ORIGINAL key!) While there were some issues with Arnel's singing, I thought, overall, it was a great performance all around.

Considering that the next time we see/hear from the guys will be on tour, where do we all stand at this point? What are people's concerns & hopes for this tour, given the last tour & CMT Awards performance.

I know everyone on here has STRONG OPINIONS & I was wondering what we are all thinking as the tour start rapidly approaches?


Personally, I just hope that Arnel works on his diction a bit, & maybe, reels in the changes to the melodies. Also, I hope that Neal reels in the guitar noodling, like he did last summer. (Yet, being realistic, I think there is a better chance Neal will improve than Arnel. I doubt he's gonna meet with a vocal coach, now, if he hasn't already.)

I'm already disappointed its a 3 band show, but I'll go with TNC and say gimme a couple of surprises.

I want good energy.

Even though I didn't experience sound issues at the show I attended last year, I don't want to read about them all summer from all people..so I hope that's fixed.

And while I'm not musically intelligent enough to hear the detuning that some of you dislike, even I do hear it on Faithfully so do something with that song so it doesn't sound so bad this time around.

I ended up seeing them last year because I thought they would pull something new out of the hat but they didn't. It was the end of the tour and AIP had been on the A/C charts for six weeks, I figured they would finally play it live but nope; same old, same old. There was a fire works show at the end of the concert but I would have rather had AIP or something else that was at least written after 1986.

[The Sushi Hunter]

I want the original key and souring vocals going past what was recorded by SP. I missed them last year due to detuning and if they aren't in the original key this year I will skip them again. I'll go see Hugo or Jeremey instead. I'm still dumbfounded why they detune for a replacement singer.

It's obvious... AP is not a counter-tenor... nor is he 30 years old... Perry is (was) both when he was singing those songs 100+ dates a year...

Perry was:

28 years of age when he made his debut
29 for Infinity (1978)
30 for Evolution (1979)
31 for Departure (1980)
32 for Escape (1981)
33 for Frontiers (1983)
37 for Raised on Radio (1986)
47 for Trial By Fire (1996)


AP's simply not capable of singing the songs on a long term basis at 45 years of age, especially considering Perry sang them at 32 and 33 years of age, in the original key. with a voice much better suited to that key...

I agree. This is also the reason I wish that the band would just start playing only Arnel era songs, so he no longer has to be compared to SP who was damn near but not quite half his age when he sang the songs that Arnel is now singing. I really don't know of any other band who continues to play the same songs from 30 years ago. I would agree that it was nice in the very beginning when introducing Arnel as the new singer in demonstrating how well he is able to sing thoughs songs. But I'd say they're far past that point now. First six months to a year fine. But we're now what four years into it? If I were Arnel I'd be wanting to have the band move on from those old classics and start pushing the new ones only. Maybe do a good ol' classic every so often just for shits and giggles, but move on.

[slucero]

I want the original key and souring vocals going past what was recorded by SP. I missed them last year due to detuning and if they aren't in the original key this year I will skip them again. I'll go see Hugo or Jeremey instead. I'm still dumbfounded why they detune for a replacement singer.

It's obvious... AP is not a counter-tenor... nor is he 30 years old... Perry is (was) both when he was singing those songs 100+ dates a year...

Perry was:

28 years of age when he made his debut
29 for Infinity (1978)
30 for Evolution (1979)
31 for Departure (1980)
32 for Escape (1981)
33 for Frontiers (1983)
37 for Raised on Radio (1986)
47 for Trial By Fire (1996)


AP's simply not capable of singing the songs on a long term basis at 45 years of age, especially considering Perry sang them at 32 and 33 years of age, in the original key. with a voice much better suited to that key...

I agree. This is also the reason I wish that the band would just start playing only Arnel era songs, so he no longer has to be compared to SP who was damn near but not quite half his age when he sang the songs that Arnel is now singing. I really don't know of any other band who continues to play the same songs from 30 years ago. I would agree that it was nice in the very beginning when introducing Arnel as the new singer in demonstrating how well he is able to sing thoughs songs. But I'd say they're far past that point now. First six months to a year fine. But we're now what four years into it? If I were Arnel I'd be wanting to have the band move on from those old classics and start pushing the new ones only. Maybe do a good ol' classic every so often just for shits and giggles, but move on.

Honestly I think Neal should have looked for a younger voice... someone 25 - 30 year old. There's more wiggle room with the voice at that age... it's just more forgiving...

As gifted as Arnel is physically.. his vocal range will not last singing these songs... he sings almost exclusively in chest voice.. and his base range is lower to begin with than Perry's... so singing those songs in the original key, at a lower starting point range-wise, will spell Augeri level wear at some point.

IMHO even the songs he has on Eclipse and Revelation will wear his voice out... JC and Neal are still writing as if someone with Perry's voice is singing... and that hasn't happen since 1996.

[Don]

I want the original key and souring vocals going past what was recorded by SP. I missed them last year due to detuning and if they aren't in the original key this year I will skip them again. I'll go see Hugo or Jeremey instead. I'm still dumbfounded why they detune for a replacement singer.

It's obvious... AP is not a counter-tenor... nor is he 30 years old... Perry is (was) both when he was singing those songs 100+ dates a year...

Perry was:

28 years of age when he made his debut
29 for Infinity (1978)
30 for Evolution (1979)
31 for Departure (1980)
32 for Escape (1981)
33 for Frontiers (1983)
37 for Raised on Radio (1986)
47 for Trial By Fire (1996)


AP's simply not capable of singing the songs on a long term basis at 45 years of age, especially considering Perry sang them at 32 and 33 years of age, in the original key. with a voice much better suited to that key...

I agree. This is also the reason I wish that the band would just start playing only Arnel era songs, so he no longer has to be compared to SP who was damn near but not quite half his age when he sang the songs that Arnel is now singing. I really don't know of any other band who continues to play the same songs from 30 years ago. I would agree that it was nice in the very beginning when introducing Arnel as the new singer in demonstrating how well he is able to sing thoughs songs. But I'd say they're far past that point now. First six months to a year fine. But we're now what four years into it? If I were Arnel I'd be wanting to have the band move on from those old classics and start pushing the new ones only. Maybe do a good ol' classic every so often just for shits and giggles, but move on.

Honestly I think Neal should have looked for a younger voice... someone 25 - 30 year old. There's more wiggle room with the voice at that age... it's just more forgiving...

As gifted as Arnel is physically.. his vocal range will not last singing these songs... he sings almost exclusively in chest voice.. and his base range is lower to begin with than Perry's... so singing those songs in the original key, at a lower starting point range-wise, will spell Augeri level wear at some point.

IMHO even the songs he has on Eclipse and Revelation will wear his voice out... JC and Neal are still writing as if someone with Perry's voice is singing... and that hasn't happen since 1996.

It's been pretty much hinted at that Journey will be retired after 2017. That leaves probably four more tours, maybe a self released album and possibly a live one.
I'm sure that even if Arnel's voice goes into rapid decline he'll still be good enough for that stretch.

[stevebuk1]

.i came over from england in march to see pat benatar in new york.trust me......you wont be disappointed.!!!
great set.she may be 59 now.......but her voice is as good as ever
dont miss her !!!!
.

[BARON BLOOD]

i have my ticket for Pat Benatar , Loverboy and Journey and they are three acts i like a whole lot so its perfect for me !

[The Sushi Hunter]

2012 is damn near half over now and did I read that correct that they could do four more tours in a little over four years, really? I was under the assumption that they tour right after releasing albums and such. Seems that would mean they would be on one long four year tour.

One thing though, Arnel looks very young for his age and that is a possitive for him since I'm sure he'd be wanting to be active for more then just five more years of his life. Five years he'll be 50 years old. He will look a lot younger than any 50 year olds I've ever met in my life that's for sure.

I want the original key and souring vocals going past what was recorded by SP. I missed them last year due to detuning and if they aren't in the original key this year I will skip them again. I'll go see Hugo or Jeremey instead. I'm still dumbfounded why they detune for a replacement singer.

It's obvious... AP is not a counter-tenor... nor is he 30 years old... Perry is (was) both when he was singing those songs 100+ dates a year...

Perry was:

28 years of age when he made his debut
29 for Infinity (1978)
30 for Evolution (1979)
31 for Departure (1980)
32 for Escape (1981)
33 for Frontiers (1983)
37 for Raised on Radio (1986)
47 for Trial By Fire (1996)


AP's simply not capable of singing the songs on a long term basis at 45 years of age, especially considering Perry sang them at 32 and 33 years of age, in the original key. with a voice much better suited to that key...

I agree. This is also the reason I wish that the band would just start playing only Arnel era songs, so he no longer has to be compared to SP who was damn near but not quite half his age when he sang the songs that Arnel is now singing. I really don't know of any other band who continues to play the same songs from 30 years ago. I would agree that it was nice in the very beginning when introducing Arnel as the new singer in demonstrating how well he is able to sing thoughs songs. But I'd say they're far past that point now. First six months to a year fine. But we're now what four years into it? If I were Arnel I'd be wanting to have the band move on from those old classics and start pushing the new ones only. Maybe do a good ol' classic every so often just for shits and giggles, but move on.

Honestly I think Neal should have looked for a younger voice... someone 25 - 30 year old. There's more wiggle room with the voice at that age... it's just more forgiving...

As gifted as Arnel is physically.. his vocal range will not last singing these songs... he sings almost exclusively in chest voice.. and his base range is lower to begin with than Perry's... so singing those songs in the original key, at a lower starting point range-wise, will spell Augeri level wear at some point.

IMHO even the songs he has on Eclipse and Revelation will wear his voice out... JC and Neal are still writing as if someone with Perry's voice is singing... and that hasn't happen since 1996.

It's been pretty much hinted at that Journey will be retired after 2017. That leaves probably four more tours, maybe a self released album and possibly a live one.
I'm sure that even if Arnel's voice goes into rapid decline he'll still be good enough for that stretch.

[koberry]

My first concert back in 1982 was Journey + Loverboy at the Cow Palace in SF. Wow, what a show. I hope they add dates and come a little closer. I'd hate to have to travel to hear the dirty dozen... but I think I'll probably pony up the cash and go this year.

[Infinity Vocalist 2010]

I really doubt Journey will truly be retired after 2017. Arnel may leave, and maybe even Ross or Jon. But Neal will more than likely find a way. But this may just be wishful thinking.

[Don]

I really doubt Journey will truly be retired after 2017. Arnel may leave, and maybe even Ross or Jon. But Neal will more than likely find a way. But this may just be wishful thinking.

The artists won't be retiring, it would just be the band Journey. No one is buying new music from them anymore, all they can do now is tour, tour, tour. Playing the dirty dozen over and over again. You've got to put that to bed eventually and do some other stuff while you still can.

[Don]

Since Neil Giraldo is on this tour, would it be cool if Journey brought him out with them to perform Don't Fight It? Deen could do the Perry parts while Arnel covers the Loggins bits.

[Gideon]

The way Neal made it sound in a recent interview, he's made his peace with the fact that no one wants to hear the new stuff, so I doubt this will be anything other than a greatest hits tour.

[xflajrnylvr]

No concerns as I am not wasting my money on a dirty dozen tour again been there done that enough Got better things to spend my hard earned money on

[brywool]

No concerns as I am not wasting my money on a dirty dozen tour again been there done that enough Got better things to spend my hard earned money on

I agree. If the band's going to be doing the same old stuff, then I probably won't be going. I was jazzed to see the Eclipse tour cuz they were playing so much of it in Europe... then they got to the states and played 2 tunes. Really disappointing. Without radio or tv behind them, new stuff can't get any traction. People don't know it and are just too impatient to listen to anything they've not heard before. It's a crap time for live music. It's too bad as it forces the bands to keep doing the same shows over and over again. If the band quit playing the old stuff, they'd not be able to sustain a tour even with 5 bands on the bill. Journey fans wanna hear the old stuff for the most part. I don't cuz I've heard it all a million times. Styx does the same thing. Cheap Trick still releases new albums and plays new tracks, though not many. I wonder if Loverboy will do anything from their last album, which was really good. I bet they don't.

[Don]

No concerns as I am not wasting my money on a dirty dozen tour again been there done that enough Got better things to spend my hard earned money on

I agree. If the band's going to be doing the same old stuff, then I probably won't be going. I was jazzed to see the Eclipse tour cuz they were playing so much of it in Europe... then they got to the states and played 2 tunes. Really disappointing. Without radio or tv behind them, new stuff can't get any traction. People don't know it and are just too impatient to listen to anything they've not heard before. It's a crap time for live music. It's too bad as it forces the bands to keep doing the same shows over and over again. If the band quit playing the old stuff, they'd not be able to sustain a tour even with 5 bands on the bill. Journey fans wanna hear the old stuff for the most part. I don't cuz I've heard it all a million times. Styx does the same thing. Cheap Trick still releases new albums and plays new tracks, though not many. I wonder if Loverboy will do anything from their last album, which was really good. I bet they don't.

I ride the band as hard as anyone around here but I still gave in last year and went to see them in the hopes that they would at least play their one currently on the charts at that time (Anything Is Possible). Now, they could play the whole damn Eclipse album and that just wouldn't be enough for me to spend money on them again.
When I saw them on the Escape tour, they played six new songs. On the Frontiers tour, I heard six also. The Revelation tour, I got three songs and last year one.
I bought Journey's Greatest Hits 2 a few months back, that'll be my one Journey purchase for this year.

[AR]

Steve Augeri is playing a much more interesting setlist than what Journey does.

[Eric]

Steve Augeri is playing a much more interesting setlist than what Journey does.

THAT is not not true.....despite him not sounding great I'd love to catch one of his shows. I love the the same percentage of post-Perry catalog as I do the hits with Perry.

[AR]

Steve Augeri is playing a much more interesting setlist than what Journey does.

THAT is not not true.....despite him not sounding great I'd love to catch one of his shows. I love the the same percentage of post-Perry catalog as I do the hits with Perry.

Augeri sounds fine through loud amps in person as long as you are into rock and not one of the American Idol crooner crowd. "Remember ME" is in the set now. He played Higher Place when I saw him last year and had the pleasure of meeting TNC at the show.

[Eric]

Steve Augeri is playing a much more interesting setlist than what Journey does.

THAT is not not true.....despite him not sounding great I'd love to catch one of his shows. I love the the same percentage of post-Perry catalog as I do the hits with Perry.

Augeri sounds fine through loud amps in person as long as you are into rock and not one of the American Idol crooner crowd. "Remember ME" is in the set now. He played Higher Place when I saw him last year and had the pleasure of meeting TNC at the show.

I've only seen Remember Me once...October '98. Would love to hear that again. Did get the chance to hear Higher Place with Deen in '09...got a great setlist with Journey going solo.

[Yoda]

Steve Augeri is playing a much more interesting setlist than what Journey does.

THAT is not not true.....despite him not sounding great I'd love to catch one of his shows. I love the the same percentage of post-Perry catalog as I do the hits with Perry.

Augeri sounds fine through loud amps in person as long as you are into rock and not one of the American Idol crooner crowd. "Remember ME" is in the set now. He played Higher Place when I saw him last year and had the pleasure of meeting TNC at the show.

Wow! I'd LOVE to catch Augeri live, especially if he's including Remember Me and Higher Place! Two of my most favorite from the Augeri years!