Journey Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, Michigan Review

[jrny84]

http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/gran ... ulfil.html

Review: Journey, Loverboy fulfill '80s dreams at Van Andel, even without Pat Benatar, Night Ranger
By Lorilee Craker | grentertainment@mlive.com The Grand Rapids Press
on February 10, 2013 at 8:15 AM

REVIEW: 3 1/2 OUT OF 4 STARS
Journey with Loverboy at Van Andel Arena

When: Saturday, Feb. 9
Highlight: “Open Arms,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Low Point: The absence of Pat Benatar.
Time onstage: Loverboy: 1 hour; Journey: 2 hours

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Monica Kott and Jackie Keen, of Kaleva and Onsted, respectively, have been long distance best friends since they met 30 years ago in Manistee. Saturday night at Van Andel Arena was a reunion for them, as the two rocked and rolled to the hits they used to crank back in the day in Monica’s Jeep.

Tunes such as Loverboy’s “Turn Me Loose,” "The Kid is Hot Tonight,” and “Hot Girls in Love” were appetizers for the '80s-hungry crowd and the two pals. Later, Journey’s “Wheel in the Sky,” "Open Arms” and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” satisfied the ecstatic crowd even more.

Keen and Kott were having a ball, but they did admit something was missing: Pat Benatar. The rocker, who was supposed to be the second act on a ticket of three, couldn’t make the date rescheduled from November due to Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda's illness. (Night Ranger was on deck to pinch hit, but they, too, succumbed to illness and canceled the day before.)

“We are extremely disappointed,” said the pair, who bought floor seats for $200 a pop on Stub Hub after the show sold out. “We love Pat Benatar.”

Still, what could have been a gaping hole in the show wasn’t that noticeable. Both Loverboy and Journey beefed up their sets to make up the time.

Besides, Journey was mesmerizing, and this crowd so ready to party like it was 1984, all was mostly forgiven about the time they dove into “Any Way You Want It.”

This was my first time seeing lead singer Arnel Pineda perform, and he pretty much lived up to all the hype I’ve been hearing for the last few years. He’s more than a Steve Perry soundalike. Now, Steve Perry was phenomenal, to be sure, but so is Pineda. He brings so much respect to the music, yet he owns every note completely. Though his voice wavered slightly on some of the skyscraper notes, overall he dazzled with his range and power.

Pineda’s also a masterful front man, zigzagging all over the stage like a laser beam yet forging a friendly connection with audience members. Whether he was flying like a rocket on choruses (“Any Way You Want It,” “Don’t Stop Believin',” “Wheel in the Sky” and on and on), or floating a swoon-y ballad like “Open Arms,” Pineda’s voice was a wonder. He knew exactly how to get the crowd to light up the night for “Lights,” and shape-shift into one giant swaying organism on the “na na na na na nas” in “Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'.”

Speaking of marvels, Neal Schon, an original member of the five-piece outfit, is, as my husband kept saying, a stinking machine. A Journey show without his maestro guitar work and especially his piping hot solos would be unthinkable.

The other members, Jonathan Cain on keyboards, Deen Castronovo on drums, and Ross Valory on bass, were also ace craftsmen on their instruments and vocals. I loved Cain’s blue haze of a harmonica solo in the midst of “Wheel in the Sky.”

Loverboy’s opening set was a taste of things to come. The boys from Calgary banged out a fun, hour-long offering of pure rock candy. The crowd was all in, belting out the lyrics to such hook-laden treats as “The Kid is Hot Tonight,” “Turn Me Loose” (one of the universe’s best-ever roller skating songs), and “Working for the Weekend.”

“Everybody’s going off the deep end”? Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. Did we miss Pat Benatar? Absolutely. But was a good time had by one and all anyway? Yep. For one night, we were willingly, blissfully frozen in 1980s amber, in a time machine that only music can unlock.

[Seven Wishes2]

1984 was a shitty year for Journey. Wasn't that when Perry fired Ross and Steve?