Is It Safe to Assume at This Point....

[JRNYMAN]

Was browsing the 2012 tour swag and saw the t-shirts have the tour schedule emblazoned on the back. That being the case, is it safe to assume at this point no more cities are going to be added? Still struggling to get my head around them not playing Phoenix this tour.... One of the things I've been most proud of about this majorly fucked up state is the fact that when Journey comes to Phoenix or Tucson, they always sell out or come damn close to it.

[steveo777]

Was browsing the 2012 tour swag and saw the t-shirts have the tour schedule emblazoned on the back. That being the case, is it safe to assume at this point no more cities are going to be added? Still struggling to get my head around them not playing Phoenix this tour.... One of the things I've been most proud of about this majorly fucked up state is the fact that when Journey comes to Phoenix or Tucson, they always sell out or come damn close to it.

You ran em off. LOL
I was surprised too. Mom lives in Tucson. Keep your fingers crossed or meet me in Vegas in December.

[marco17]

They may have wisely decided to keep the tour shorter and lessen the wear and tear on Arnel. While there's been some die-hards demanding it, I can't imagine Deen's singing a couple songs here and there just so Neal appeases those fans desires.

[fightingilliniJRNY]

They may have wisely decided to keep the tour shorter and lessen the wear and tear on Arnel. While there's been some die-hards demanding it, I can't imagine Deen's singing a couple songs here and there just so Neal appeases those fans desires.

That might have been the intention - but the tour is up around 70 dates the last I checked. It IS hitting "secondary markets" this year, so that is why there is no Phoenix. There's no Chicago, either (Moline instead), St. Louis or New Orleans (Lafayette instead), to name a few. Same model as the difference between the 2008 and 2009 tours.

[SF-Dano]

No home town dates???? I guess since Friga has moved to TN, SF isn't that important anymore? Heck, not even a large shed anywhere in Northern California. I understand about trying to save Pineda's voice, but as mentioned, this is not that short a tour anyway. Miss the days when they would add a Journey only show to the end of the tours, such as in Reno or the now closed down Konocti Harbor. Those were some fun shows.

[JRNYMAN]

They may have wisely decided to keep the tour shorter and lessen the wear and tear on Arnel. While there's been some die-hards demanding it, I can't imagine Deen's singing a couple songs here and there just so Neal appeases those fans desires.

That might have been the intention - but the tour is up around 70 dates the last I checked. It IS hitting "secondary markets" this year, so that is why there is no Phoenix. There's no Chicago, either (Moline instead), St. Louis or New Orleans (Lafayette instead), to name a few. Same model as the difference between the 2008 and 2009 tours.

If you're Journey, touring is a money making machine. And knowing what we know about how much Neal and mgmt. is driven by $$, I can't see how/why they would pass on playing the bigger stops. The venue they almost always play when they come to PHX seats just shy of 16,000 people outdoors and as I mentioned in my original post, they nearly always sell out that venue - and for the past few tours they've played here in JULY or early AUGUST!!! (For those of you living in a cage or basement handcuffed to a radiator or pole who are unfamiliar with Phoenix, AZ.... it tends to get uncomfortably warm at that time of year with literally weeks on end of temps reaching at least 110 degrees. Selling out a venue that size at that time of year in these kinds of conditions speaks volumes about the kind of fans that live here.) That's a pretty big payday they chose to avoid which will inevitably be viewed by the fans here as Journey not giving a shit about their Arizona fan base.

[Gideon]

Freedom Hall in Louisville sits about 19,000 if I recall and it was sold out. Great crowd.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =3&theater

[Arkansas]

They just added LR on 10/9.
Did it make the shirt?


later~

[JRNYMAN]

They just added LR on 10/9.
Did it make the shirt?


later~

Yup it's listed.
Click the link then mouse-over the shirt's back to enlarge it and you'll be able to read all the cities that made the cut.
http://journey.shop.musictoday.com/Prod ... c=2YCTJY65

[livin2do]

I'm in Phoenix, too. They were just here last year, and it rained like crazy! Concerts in AZ in the middle of the summer months are always a dicey proposition for me - you've got the monsoon season, the blazing temperatures to deal with - I don't know that I would pay to see them in those conditions every year. Wish they could wise up and do an indoor date mid-summer in AZ like Rush did last year. That was an awesome show that was even better with the air conditioning!

[JRNYMAN]

I'm in Phoenix, too. They were just here last year, and it rained like crazy! Concerts in AZ in the middle of the summer months are always a dicey proposition for me - you've got the monsoon season, the blazing temperatures to deal with - I don't know that I would pay to see them in those conditions every year. Wish they could wise up and do an indoor date mid-summer in AZ like Rush did last year. That was an awesome show that was even better with the air conditioning!

Yay!!! Another Desert Sweller! First time I've seen anyone else from AZ on here. Cool!
Absolutely agree with you on the choice of venue. Ever since the Jobing.com arena was built, it seems like hardly anyone plays Desert Sky... er , I mean Cricket.... umm, I mean Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavillion Sheesh! Leave the name alone will ya?! For those of us who have been in the valley for a long time, it will always be Desert Sky! From a mgmt. perspective, it makes sense to book a show at Desert Sky rather than either of the 2 new arenas because it's much cheaper to begin with, and it's exponentially cheaper in the summer months when nobody is booking the venue for the reasons you listed.
Last year's show was pretty cool considering the heat and the threat of a haboob (nobody but you and I are going to get that one. ) looming as the sun started to set. But that didn't faze the crowd - especially those of us on the lawn. As soon as that storm hit - which, if you remember, was during Wheel in the Sky - it absolutely unloaded on us - torrentially! I was positive the lawn people were going to be scrambling for the exits but to my surprise, no one even flinched. They just cheered and sang even louder.
The thing that sucked balls about last year's show was that insane traffic mess that had 83rd and McDowell in grid lock and no one could move an inch for over 2 hours. I sat on the 83rd ave. off-ramp while the M&G I was supposed to be at was going on. Ridiculous.

[Arkansas]

Btw, all the ads for the LR show are the current lineup. No Perry. Now then, daily radio still plays the Perry lineup songs, probably like anywhere else, but the concert ads are all Arnel Pineda clips. That's probably a good thing.


later~

[yulog]

I'm in Phoenix, too. They were just here last year, and it rained like crazy! Concerts in AZ in the middle of the summer months are always a dicey proposition for me - you've got the monsoon season, the blazing temperatures to deal with - I don't know that I would pay to see them in those conditions every year. Wish they could wise up and do an indoor date mid-summer in AZ like Rush did last year. That was an awesome show that was even better with the air conditioning!

How about just playing there in the winter, Phoenix is perfect for winter concerts (outdoor) but they hardly ever have concerts during that time of the year.

[JRNYMAN]

I'm in Phoenix, too. They were just here last year, and it rained like crazy! Concerts in AZ in the middle of the summer months are always a dicey proposition for me - you've got the monsoon season, the blazing temperatures to deal with - I don't know that I would pay to see them in those conditions every year. Wish they could wise up and do an indoor date mid-summer in AZ like Rush did last year. That was an awesome show that was even better with the air conditioning!

How about just playing there in the winter, Phoenix is perfect for winter concerts (outdoor) but they hardly ever have concerts during that time of the year.

Not true. there are plenty of concerts here in the winter but for some reason, Journey chooses to play here at the hottest time of the year - outdoors! There are two contributing factors to this and I'm not sure which weighs heavier in their decision to do so.
1. The stops on the tour path are follow a course across the country (for the most part) which avoids doubling back to play any particular city only to then have to double back again to get to where they were and continue on across the US.
2. The outdoor venues are dirt cheap here in the hottest months - with good reason.
There aren't very many bands who can fill an outdoor venue here in mid July or August. Journey is one of those bands. Oh sure, we'll bitch and moan about the choice of venue at that time of the year, but statistically, Phoenix AND Tucson have shown their appreciation and love for them by nearly always selling out. Earlier in this thread, I cited the venue here in PHX as holding nearly 16,000 people. After finding my review of last year's show here, I realized I was mistaken and the actual capacity at that venue is just under 20,000 - and the show was indeed sold out! Another example of PHX's appreciation for them is the Revelation tour. When they got to PHX, Heart had finished their portion of the tour and the show featured only Cheap Trick and Journey. They still sold out the venue. Those two examples speak volumes about the loyalty and love for the band's music that exists here. That's why I have such a hard time understanding why they seemingly are purposely not stopping here.
1. The venue is available at the time they will be in this region.
2. Using previous stops here as a reference, they can count on a full venue - or damned close to it which = $$

Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining about this - I've been to more than my share of Journey concerts. I'm just looking at it from a business standpoint. I don't get it.

[FamilyMan]

I saw Jon backstage at the Atlantic City gig. He said they may tour with Def Leppard next year. So don't get discouraged.

[Gideon]

I saw Jon backstage at the Atlantic City gig. He said they may tour with Def Leppard next year. So don't get discouraged.

Really? I thought Neal said they never wanted to be an opener again.

If they absolutely must do another triple bill, it needs to be Night Ranger/REO Speedwagon/Journey.

[steveo777]

I saw Jon backstage at the Atlantic City gig. He said they may tour with Def Leppard next year. So don't get discouraged.

Really? I thought Neal said they never wanted to be an opener again.

If they absolutely must do another triple bill, it needs to be Night Ranger/REO Speedwagon/Journey.

I normally agree with you............
Lets go back to a two bill deal with Latoya Jackson opening.

[FamilyMan]

I saw Jon backstage at the Atlantic City gig. He said they may tour with Def Leppard next year. So don't get discouraged.

Really? I thought Neal said they never wanted to be an opener again.

If they absolutely must do another triple bill, it needs to be Night Ranger/REO Speedwagon/Journey.

I normally agree with you............
Lets go back to a two bill deal with Latoya Jackson opening.

At this point, shouldn't DL open for Journey? I think Journey's profile is much higher these days.

[escapefan]

I'm in Phoenix, too. They were just here last year, and it rained like crazy! Concerts in AZ in the middle of the summer months are always a dicey proposition for me - you've got the monsoon season, the blazing temperatures to deal with - I don't know that I would pay to see them in those conditions every year. Wish they could wise up and do an indoor date mid-summer in AZ like Rush did last year. That was an awesome show that was even better with the air conditioning!

Yay!!! Another Desert Sweller! First time I've seen anyone else from AZ on here. Cool!
Absolutely agree with you on the choice of venue. Ever since the Jobing.com arena was built, it seems like hardly anyone plays Desert Sky... er , I mean Cricket.... umm, I mean Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavillion Sheesh! Leave the name alone will ya?! For those of us who have been in the valley for a long time, it will always be Desert Sky! From a mgmt. perspective, it makes sense to book a show at Desert Sky rather than either of the 2 new arenas because it's much cheaper to begin with, and it's exponentially cheaper in the summer months when nobody is booking the venue for the reasons you listed.
Last year's show was pretty cool considering the heat and the threat of a haboob (nobody but you and I are going to get that one. ) looming as the sun started to set. But that didn't faze the crowd - especially those of us on the lawn. As soon as that storm hit - which, if you remember, was during Wheel in the Sky - it absolutely unloaded on us - torrentially! I was positive the lawn people were going to be scrambling for the exits but to my surprise, no one even flinched. They just cheered and sang even louder.
The thing that sucked balls about last year's show was that insane traffic mess that had 83rd and McDowell in grid lock and no one could move an inch for over 2 hours. I sat on the 83rd ave. off-ramp while the M&G I was supposed to be at was going on. Ridiculous.

I'm in Tucson too. Wish they would do indoors..