JOURNEY’s first ever tour of Australia, with Deep Purple

[Don]

Setlist from the NZ show, really surprised with the three ballads in a row, especially when opening for Deep Purple. Thought they'd go for Edge Of The Blade and a few other uptempo numbers.
Starting off with a guitar solo? Wonder what it was?

Complaints about Journey's sound again (seems like this an annual problem).

"The sound quality during Journey’s set left something to be desired as well…it was very muddy and boomy…at least where I sat.
Fortunately Deep Purple’s sound man knew what he was doing and they sounded crystal clear."

"I enjoyed Journey immensely and my only gripe was the mix wasn’t the best which is a shame"

"Journey…ho.hum. repetitious droning and poor sound quality."

"Anyone going to do something about sound system? Soon?"


Isn't this why they do sound checks?

Also what was up with Deep Purple's Setlist? No Highway Star, Woman From Tokyo or Knockin’ At Your Back Door?


Journey set list:

Guitar Solo
Rubicon
Ask The Lonely
Only The Young
Stone In Love
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
Keep On Runnin’
Faithfully
Lights
Open Arms
Dead Or Alive
Who’s Crying Now
Any Way You Want It
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Wheel In The Sky
Don’t Stop Believin’

Deep Purple set list:

Fireball
Into The Fire
Hard Lovin’ Man
Maybe I’m A Leo
Strange Kind Of Woman
The Battle Rages On
Guitar Solo
Wasted Sunsets
The Mule
Lazy
No One Came
Keyboard Solo
Perfect Strangers
Space Truckin’
Smoke On The Water
Green Onions/Hush
Bass solo/Black Night

[Don]

Brisbane setlist.
Other than swapping out Rubicon for Escape, pretty much the same as NZ.
One of the earlier tweets mentioned "Pinoy Perry", that's an apt description.
No ROR tunes the last few shows either, granted BGTY is the only one they play with any regularity.

Any Way You Want It
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Ask The Lonely
Who’s Crying Now
Only The Young
Stone In Love
Keep On Running
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
Faithfully
Lights
Open Arms
Escape
Dead Or Alive
Wheel In The Sky
Don’t Stop Believin’

[Eric]

Neal has done his most memorable work when he is constrained by the likes of Cain and Perry....

Allowed to run unrestrained we get the 64th note shredding gibberish solo crap...

The other end of the spectrum would be to drag him along, not seek his full 33% - and end up with Raised on Radio. Such a delicate balance with these egos.

They have to make new music, though. The negative things the critics say about being a karaoke band will be true then. They HAVE to move forward somewhat. Can't forget where you came from - but you can't fucking live there either.

[Eric]

Setlist from the NZ show, really surprised with the three ballads in a row, especially when opening for Deep Purple. Thought they'd go for Edge Of The Blade and a few other uptempo numbers.
Starting off with a guitar solo? Wonder what it was?

Complaints about Journey's sound again (seems like this an annual problem).

"The sound quality during Journey’s set left something to be desired as well…it was very muddy and boomy…at least where I sat.
Fortunately Deep Purple’s sound man knew what he was doing and they sounded crystal clear."

"I enjoyed Journey immensely and my only gripe was the mix wasn’t the best which is a shame"

"Journey…ho.hum. repetitious droning and poor sound quality."

"Anyone going to do something about sound system? Soon?"


Isn't this why they do sound checks?

The sound issues are unacceptable. This is a veteran band. And 3 straight ballads and DEAD OR ALIVE??? You have a new album full of rock tracks if you want to play something unknown!

[portland]

Neal has done his most memorable work when he is constrained by the likes of Cain and Perry....

Allowed to run unrestrained we get the 64th note shredding gibberish solo crap...

The other end of the spectrum would be to drag him along, not seek his full 33% - and end up with Raised on Radio. Such a delicate balance with these egos.

They have to make new music, though. The negative things the critics say about being a karaoke band will be true then. They HAVE to move forward somewhat. Can't forget where you came from - but you can't fucking live there either.

If you look at that set list they have built a masion on the hill and are living in the past....just sayin

[Don]

Since Journey was never that big in Australia (Perry's "Oh Sherrie" is the best known song by any member of the band) I am surprised they aren't making a fresh start of it and mixing in tunes from Arrival, Rev and Eclipse. Let "Pinoy Perry" be Pinoy Pineda while you have the opportunity in a new market. As they're opening for Deep Purple, a few of the heavier tracks wouldn't hurt, would it?

[Eric]

Since Journey was never that big in Australia (Perry's "Oh Sherrie" is the best known song by any member of the band) I am surprised they aren't making a fresh start of it and mixing in tunes from Arrival, Rev and Eclipse. Let "Pinoy Perry" be Pinoy Pineda while you have the opportunity in a new market. As they're opening for Deep Purple, a few of the heavier tracks wouldn't hurt, would it?

That's exactly right. Especially as the opener to a hard rock band. I don't understand at all.

[Gideon]

Since Journey was never that big in Australia (Perry's "Oh Sherrie" is the best known song by any member of the band) I am surprised they aren't making a fresh start of it and mixing in tunes from Arrival, Rev and Eclipse. Let "Pinoy Perry" be Pinoy Pineda while you have the opportunity in a new market. As they're opening for Deep Purple, a few of the heavier tracks wouldn't hurt, would it?

That's exactly right. Especially as the opener to a hard rock band. I don't understand at all.

It's pretty easy to grasp when you realize Journey consists of five musically talented retards.

[Andrew]

Shows an absolute lack of desire or drive to change up anything. The band seems to be on auto pilot. They needed to rock it up for the headliner crowd and also for the fact Aussies love to rock.

[Gideon]

Shows an absolute lack of desire or drive to change up anything. The band seems to be on auto pilot. They needed to rock it up for the headliner crowd and also for the fact Aussies love to rock.

Perhaps you should have an enlightening word with them? Express our displeasure and convey our desire to see them snap outta this funk.

And slap Neal in the back of the head.

[Don]

Neal got to wank on Eclipse, then two solo albums and soon a new Santana album. Yet, when he is on the road with a heavy metal band, he gives you Open Arms, Faithfully and Lights all in a row. Strange cat. Even on his solo tour, instead of giving a sample from all of his work, he preferred doing cover songs for half the setlist. Hmm.

[portland]

Since Journey was never that big in Australia (Perry's "Oh Sherrie" is the best known song by any member of the band) I am surprised they aren't making a fresh start of it and mixing in tunes from Arrival, Rev and Eclipse. Let "Pinoy Perry" be Pinoy Pineda while you have the opportunity in a new market. As they're opening for Deep Purple, a few of the heavier tracks wouldn't hurt, would it?

That's exactly right. Especially as the opener to a hard rock band. I don't understand at all.

It's pretty easy to grasp when you realize Journey consists of five musically talented retards.

Giddy! Now we know why Perry "never really felt like part of the band" you are more brilliant that I gave you credit for!

[Gideon]

Strange cat.

Is that an anagram for retard?

[Don]

Arnel's not a retard, he's just got this subservient, colonial mentality. So gracious for his opportunity that he is shackled with a meek servitude persona instead of appearing to be an active participant in the decision making regarding what songs are going to be played every night.

[brywool]

And yet if they popped in City Of Hope MR woulda crucified them. The sound problems are amazing, can't believe that's still an issue. Jeez drop in After the Fall instead of Doa or Keep On Runnin. Sounds like someone is feeding them info that Escape was the big album there and they need to stick with it. They need to drop in Never Walk Away, Be Good To Yourself, Just the Same Way, and so many more. They should make a medly of the slow tunes so it cuts three tunes down to the length of one longer slow tune. I mean they're playing with DP! A lot of the new stuff might fly too.

[Gideon]

Arnel's not a retard, he's just got this subservient, colonial mentality. So gracious for his opportunity that he is shackled with a meek servitude persona instead of appearing to be an active participant in the decision making regarding what songs are going to be played every night.

That's true. I exempt Arnel from such blanket statements.

[G.I.Jim]

Shows an absolute lack of desire or drive to change up anything. The band seems to be on auto pilot. They needed to rock it up for the headliner crowd and also for the fact Aussies love the cock.

Damn Andrew... try to control yourself will you???

[The_Noble_Cause]

Shows an absolute lack of desire or drive to change up anything. The band seems to be on auto pilot. They needed to rock it up for the headliner crowd and also for the fact Aussies love to rock.

Yup. Been that way for awhile now. The CMT Crossroads Concert was a case in point. Musically, these guys just have no fire.

[Rick]

Shows an absolute lack of desire or drive to change up anything. The band seems to be on auto pilot. They needed to rock it up for the headliner crowd and also for the fact Aussies love the cock.

Damn Andrew... try to control yourself will you???

[Don]

And yet if they popped in City Of Hope MR woulda crucified them. The sound problems are amazing, can't believe that's still an issue. Jeez drop in After the Fall instead of Doa or Keep On Runnin. Sounds like someone is feeding them info that Escape was the big album there and they need to stick with it. They need to drop in Never Walk Away, Be Good To Yourself, Just the Same Way, and so many more. They should make a medly of the slow tunes so it cuts three tunes down to the length of one longer slow tune. I mean they're playing with DP! A lot of the new stuff might fly too.

Why would they ever worry about what is said here?
Who ever would be feeding them info that Escape was their most successful album over their might need to rethink that. The only song from that album (albeit a cover version) or any Journey album for that matter which reached the charts was the Glee version of DSB which reached #5 in 2010. Unlike other countries, the original version still didn't take off even with the publicity from Glee and the Sopranos.
Beyond that, Perry's solo effort "Oh Sherrie" was #48th best selling single of 1984.
That's it. Journey's chart history in Australia in a nutshell (Courtesy of ARIA, the Australian equivalent to our own RIAA).

[Gaz]

I too am surprised that they aren’t giving a few newer numbers a run. If ever there was a tour where they could get away with leaving out the ‘standards’, this is it. As others have said, apart from me, my mate Paul and the poor Collingwood fan on this site, the only other Journey ‘fan’ I know of in these parts is Mr McNiece. Frankly I’m amazed, and extremely thankful, that they are making the trip at all.

Still, reading you guys whinge about them has made me chuckle over the years. I bought my first Journey record in 1986 and have loved them ever since, but sadly, like my other favourite bands Rush and Marillion, they’ve sold about half a dozen records here and never toured. Now they are coming, and while I’d love to see the classic line-up, that aint gonna happen, so I’m just absolutely stoked that they are draggin’ their sorry carcasses down here for a jaunt. 27 years of waiting, and now it's THREE SLEEPS TO GO!!! (and then I’m off to Adelaide to see ‘em again).

And, I’m also very pleased they are playing with Purple. To the Pie supporter I say, stick around and enjoy. I saw the Purps in 84 with Blackmore, but I prefer the Morse version. You will love watching him play – I’ve seen them twice with Steve Morse and both times I was extremely impressed with them. Ian Paice is a joy to watch as well.

[Don]

I too am surprised that they aren’t giving a few newer numbers a run. If ever there was a tour where they could get away with leaving out the ‘standards’, this is it. As others have said, apart from me, my mate Paul and the poor Collingwood fan on this site, the only other Journey ‘fan’ I know of in these parts is Mr McNiece. Frankly I’m amazed, and extremely thankful, that they are making the trip at all.

Still, reading you guys whinge about them has made me chuckle over the years. I bought my first Journey record in 1986 and have loved them ever since, but sadly, like my other favourite bands Rush and Marillion, they’ve sold about half a dozen records here and never toured. Now they are coming, and while I’d love to see the classic line-up, that aint gonna happen, so I’m just absolutely stoked that they are draggin’ their sorry carcasses down here for a jaunt. 27 years of waiting, and now it's THREE SLEEPS TO GO!!! (and then I’m off to Adelaide to see ‘em again).

And, I’m also very pleased they are playing with Purple. To the Pie supporter I say, stick around and enjoy. I saw the Purps in 84 with Blackmore, but I prefer the Morse version. You will love watching him play – I’ve seen them twice with Steve Morse and both times I was extremely impressed with them. Ian Paice is a joy to watch as well.

Does it irk you that DP aren't playing Highway Star, Woman From Tokyo or Knockin’ At Your Back Door or is the rest of their setlist good enough?

Deep Purple set list:

Fireball
Into The Fire
Hard Lovin’ Man
Maybe I’m A Leo
Strange Kind Of Woman
The Battle Rages On
Guitar Solo
Wasted Sunsets
The Mule
Lazy
No One Came
Keyboard Solo
Perfect Strangers
Space Truckin’
Smoke On The Water
Green Onions/Hush
Bass solo/Black Night

[Gaz]

Well done – you’ve nailed the three Mk II songs I would love to see, even down to ‘Knocking’ rather than the more plodding ‘Perfect Strangers’. I think Morse does a particularly good job with Tokyo. (Happy with Space Truckin though).
Having said that, the song I was most looking forward to is Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, a Morse-era track. Do you know it? If you haven’t already, check out the version from the 1999 Australian tour DVD. That man is all class!

[Don]

Well done – you’ve nailed the three Mk II songs I would love to see, even down to ‘Knocking’ rather than the more plodding ‘Perfect Strangers’. I think Morse does a particularly good job with Tokyo. (Happy with Space Truckin though).
Having said that, the song I was most looking forward to is Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, a Morse-era track. Do you know it? If you haven’t already, check out the version from the 1999 Australian tour DVD. That man is all class!

That's a great song, It has a real old school Blackmore vibe to it.

[G.I.Jim]

Shows an absolute lack of desire or drive to change up anything. The band seems to be on auto pilot. They needed to rock it up for the headliner crowd and also for the fact Aussies love the cock.

Damn Andrew... try to control yourself will you???

I guess he didn't find it funny.

[collingwood]

Only a few more hours... Can't wait

[collingwood]

Well I've just come back from the concert tonight and I thought Journey were great. From where I sat the sound was good and I couldn't really fault them in anyway.

I've taken some photos and videos which I will upload when I can find my camera cable

They were on too short, but I always knew that was going to be the case.

Deep Purple... what can I say about them. It was very strange, musically they were brilliant. I do have a few CD's of theirs, but I didn't really know most of the songs. Most of the way they played seemed like it was a massive jam session and although they were brilliant playing, I found I was bored shitless and waiting for a song I knew. Steve Morse was sensational on the guitar, but I just wanted some songs to rock out to and get into it. I figure because I didn't know what they were playing, it just didn't seem interesting. My wife didn't like it at all, so we left after an hour of their set, getting an early break on the crowd we could still here the last couple of songs. My wife hates Smoke on The Water, so it was no big deal missing it.

[jrny84]

Well I've just come back from the concert tonight and I thought Journey were great. From where I sat the sound was good and I couldn't really fault them in anyway.

I've taken some photos and videos which I will upload when I can find my camera cable

They were on too short, but I always knew that was going to be the case.

Deep Purple... what can I say about them. It was very strange, musically they were brilliant. I do have a few CD's of theirs, but I didn't really know most of the songs. Most of the way they played seemed like it was a massive jam session and although they were brilliant playing, I found I was bored shitless and waiting for a song I knew. Steve Morse was sensational on the guitar, but I just wanted some songs to rock out to and get into it. I figure because I didn't know what they were playing, it just didn't seem interesting. My wife didn't like it at all, so we left after an hour of their set, getting an early break on the crowd we could still here the last couple of songs. My wife hates Smoke on The Water, so it was no big deal missing it.

Thanks for the review collingwood. Any particular performance or songs that really stuck out in Journey's set? How about the crowd reception when Journey played? What was the attendance like there? I never really liked Deep Purple, the only song I ever hear on the radio here in the states is "Smoke on the Water". I will take Journey anyday.

[collingwood]

I was a bit disappointed with the crowd size to be honest. I think normally Rod Laver Arena holds around 12,000 for a pretty full concert. They closed off the top section and there were a few empty seats during Journey's gig it did seem to fill more when Deep Purple came on. At a rough guess I would say the crowd was somewhere around 8,000-10,000.

I think a fair chunk of the crowd didn't know most of the Journey songs, but I felt there was some appreciation there. The best reactions to songs were for Ask The Lonely, Faithfully, Escape, Wheel In The Sky, Open Arms and Don't Stop Believing.

I heard one lady say behind me, she never knew Journey but knew a few of their songs. She was impressed. Also on the way out a couple mentioned they thought Journey were better on the night.

Here are some pictures that I had taken, I'll post some videos later as they will take time to upload.

Journey











Deep Purple

[Don]

I was a bit disappointed with the crowd size to be honest. I think normally Rod Laver Arena holds around 12,000 for a pretty full concert. They closed off the top section and there were a few empty seats during Journey's gig it did seem to fill more when Deep Purple came on. At a rough guess I would say the crowd was somewhere around 8,000-10,000.

I think a fair chunk of the crowd didn't know most of the Journey songs, but I felt there was some appreciation there. The best reactions to songs were for Ask The Lonely, Faithfully, Escape, Wheel In The Sky, Open Arms and Don't Stop Believing.

I heard one lady say behind me, she never knew Journey but knew a few of their songs. She was impressed. Also on the way out a couple mentioned they thought Journey were better on the night.

Were the ticket prices inexpensive enough where people could actually blow off seeing the first act? The way things have gone the first three shows, I really can't see how Journey could justify going back unless they play just one show where they are the headliner. Probably why they were trying to get Barnes in as an opening act initially.