It seems like a long time ago since management announced the first tour dates and finally the time has arrived. Journey / Foreigner will play their first performance tonight in Hinckley, Minnesota. Tomorrow I am off to Chicago for Journeyfest, Kevin Chalfant, and Journey/Foreigner. I hope to get a chance to meet everyone at Journeyfest. I plan to have my review and pictures of the concert on my web site by Monday.
If you have any concert reviews, please fill in this form and I will post your review to my web page. Also, if you have any pictures (Journeyfest, Kevin Chalfant, Journey concerts), please let me know at sdlake@sympatico.ca.
June 5, 1999
I just got back from Chicago while celebrating JourneyFest, plus watching Journey, Foreigner, and Kevin Chalfant perform live. All were outstanding shows and experiences. It was a really awesome three days traveling around Illinois. I hope to post my reviews, stories, and tons of pictures (which actually developed better than usual) to the web site in a few days.
Here is the set list of the first show in Hinckley, Minnesota. Thanks to Paul. I think the list is similar to the performance in Chicago.
Separate Ways (World's Apart), Stone In Love, Ask The Lonely, Having a Good
Time (NEW SONG!), Girl Can't Help It, Lights, Open Arms, Just The Same Way, Anytime, World Gone Wild (NEW SONG), Escape, Wheel In The Sky, Be Good To Yourself, Any Way You Want It, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', ENCORE #1: Don't Stop Believin', Faithfully, ENCORE #2: Only The Young, and Chain Reaction
June 11, 1999
Here is my review and stories from Chicago:
JourneyFest: First off I would like to thank Moni for putting together a very successful JourneyFest. It's amazing how far fans travelled to attend the events. There were fans from Canada (okay...well...only Rob and myself), England, Japan, and spread out through out the USA including Florida, California, and New Mexico.
During the events I felt really special when everyone came up to me and thanked me for maintaining this web page. I'm always surprised how this site has impacted the lives of Journey fans. I'm glad most of you got a chance to finally meet me in person. I would also like to thank those who I enjoyed meeting (some for a second time): Rob, Jason, Moni, Bill & Stacey (thanks again for lunch), Carol, Pam, Valorie, Bob, Rahul, and those whose name I can't remember at the moment.
Kevin Chalfant: Before maintaining this web page (in 1995) I never even heard of Kevin Chalfant and The Storm. It was actually Ron Wikso (Storm's second drummer) who filled me on The Storm's history, Kevin, and the new CD Eye Of The Storm. I of course immediately obtained both CDs and I was also lucky enough to even receive Kevin's solo CD Running With the Wind as a gift from Steve Smith several months ago. The show was excellent, even though Kevin was suffering from the flu. The show took place in a small biker bar(?) in the middle of nowhere, but by 9 p.m. the bar filled up with Journey/Storm fans from around the world. At the start of the show Kevin was joined on stage by Jim Peterik (of Survivor) and they played two Survivor songs and a new song called "The Sum Of Our Heart" written specifically for The Rainbow Foundation. Kevin then performed songs from both Storm CDs, plus some Journey songs and even one Foreigner song. Finally he played the title track from his solo CD, Running With The Wind. Another special treat, Kevin asked Jason (of Journey tribute band Escape) to join him on stage and they both performed Lovin Touchin Squeezin. My only disappointment with the show is that he only played the one song from his solo material. At the end of the show Jim Peterik pulled lucky winners from the Rainbow Foundation draw. The prizes includes a cool, hand-drawn jean jacket and an autographed guitar by all six members of The Storm. And...I won the guitar. Cool, eh? I laughed (and the crowd clapped/cheered) when he asked if this is the same guy who maintains the Journey web site.
It was a very exiting night.
Journey Sound Check: June 4th was a fully day of events starting with the Journey sound check. There were about (Note: the T is silent) 150-200 fans packed around the first few rows. We were finally able to meet those fans who didn't attend the Chalfant show. Jonathan was the first on stage, but for technical reasons with The Whale. Soon after Neal appeared and started rippin long guitar solos. Eventually Jon, Deen, and Ross joined in and finally Steve. It was great, not only see the guys play and take pictures, but to see what actually happens during sound checks and pre-concert preparation. After the guys were warmed up and ready they played several songs including both new songs (Having a Good Time and World Gone Wild), Lights, I'll Be Alright Without You (which they told us they won't play in concert that night) and a few other songs. Prior to the sound check we all signed three JourneyFest T-shirts (one for the band, Moni, and Jasparina).
Foreigner / Journey: Foreigner opened the show and played their known hits (about 14 songs in total). Lou Gramm's voice was off, but understandable after undergoing brain surgery. The only real visual aspect of the show was watching Mick Jones (guitar) and the bass player strut and bounce around the stage. It seemed most people sang along with the band, but didn't look like they were really into the show.
After a forty minute break Journey opened with Separate ways and everyone was on their feet, joining right in with the band. You can tell most of the fans where there to see Journey. You could feel and see the energy in every fan during each song they played. Steve sounded even better than last year. Neal, Deen, Jon, and Ross were great as usual. Unfortunately because of my seats I couldn't see Deen at all, although I had a great view of Jon playing keyboards. My only disappointment with the show is that they didn't play Remember Me and that they ended with Chain Reaction.
June 13, 1999
Here are some links to other JourneyFest pictures:
Also, here is a news article about Kevin Chalfant. Some of this Kevin announced at the performance last week. Thanks to Matt Smith.
I guess the biggest news of the week would be the signing of the Two Fires
project featuring Kevin Chalfant and Josh Ramos (Both of The Storm and
numerous other bands) to Frontiers Records.
Their debut CD will be recorded during the months of July and August in
Chalfant's private studios and will feature a range of great AOR guest stars.
The album will also include a song written together with Jim Peterik called
The Sum Of Our Hearts.
That song is also available as a single via Kevin's Clique Records website.
The money raised from the song's proceeds go to the Rainbow Foundation of
Chicago.
Two Fires meanwhile is described as "Powerful AOR... imagine if Journey,
Survivor and Damn Yankees played all on the same record !!!".
At this stage the album is scheduled for release in the first part of the
year 2000, but plans are already set for the two musicians to appear in the
next GODS festival in November '99, where the band will showcase some of the
newly written songs along with The Storm's concert classics!!!
You can order the CD single "The Sum of Our Hearts" featuring Kevin Chalfant and Jim Peterik directly from Clique Records. The cost of the CD is $10 (US) or $15 for a limited edition personally autographed by Kevin and Jim. All proceeds go towards the Raleigh Crouch Foundation and The Rainbow Foundation of Chicago. YOu can also hear sounds samples of the song in RealPlayer and WAV formats by visiting the above link.
Here is some news on tickets for the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul on August 27th:
The tickets are on sale now by mail order only on a first come first serve bases. Starting on July 12th you can buy them over the phone, but most of the seats will be reserved for those who mail ordered the tickets. Thanks to Paul Lenzmeier.
June 19, 1999
You can now purchase Neal's latest blues CD, Piranha Blues, on-line at Shrapnel Records. "This recording evokes memories of classic Blues/Rock superstars like Jeff Beck Group, Jimi Hendrix Experience, and Cream yet retains the strong Neal Schon signature sound which has made him a guitar legend." I believe the CD will be available in stores in July. Thanks to Michael and Jerry.
You can now view some of the pictures taken by Moni at Journeyfest, Chicago sound check, Kevin Chalfant show, and Foreigner.
Journey will play at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds in Ohio on Sunday, September 5th. Tickets are now on sale and can only be ordered by calling the Fairgrounds at (419) 238-9270. Tickets are $25, $30 & $35. Thanks to Cindy.
Reports that the July 16th in Jackson, TN, is cancelled and moved to Tulsa, OK, River Parks Amphitheater. Tickets go on sale today at Carson's Attractions. Thanks to Scott Fleig.
June 26, 1999
Rhonda now has part one of the new Jonathan Cain interview available for viewing. The interview took place during the first week of the tour and contains questions submitted by fans. Rhonda also has posted more photos from the Chicago performance.
Apparently Neal's new CD, Piranha Blues, is not actually available yet (even through Shrapnel Records), but you can pre-order it at Shrapnel Records. The CD will be released on July 27th. Thanks to Chuck and RJjrny.
Jaime Echerivel is a young vocalist trying to start his own Journey
tribute band. He is looking for a guitarist, bassist, drummer, and a
keyboarder. He would prefer that you be around the age of 15-22 and live
around the 4 corners area, Texas, or Oklahoma. If at all interested, you
can email him at lil_bruce@webtv.net.
JourneyFest: First off I would like to thank Moni for putting together a very successful JourneyFest. It's amazing how far fans travelled to attend the events. There were fans from Canada (okay...well...only Rob and myself), England, Japan, and spread out through out the USA including Florida, California, and New Mexico.
Kevin Chalfant: Before maintaining this web page (in 1995) I never even heard of Kevin Chalfant and The Storm. It was actually Ron Wikso (Storm's second drummer) who filled me on The Storm's history, Kevin, and the new CD Eye Of The Storm. I of course immediately obtained both CDs and I was also lucky enough to even receive Kevin's solo CD Running With the Wind as a gift from Steve Smith several months ago. The show was excellent, even though Kevin was suffering from the flu. The show took place in a small biker bar(?) in the middle of nowhere, but by 9 p.m. the bar filled up with Journey/Storm fans from around the world. At the start of the show Kevin was joined on stage by Jim Peterik (of Survivor) and they played two Survivor songs and a new song called "The Sum Of Our Heart" written specifically for The Rainbow Foundation. Kevin then performed songs from both Storm CDs, plus some Journey songs and even one Foreigner song. Finally he played the title track from his solo CD, Running With The Wind. Another special treat, Kevin asked Jason (of Journey tribute band Escape) to join him on stage and they both performed Lovin Touchin Squeezin. My only disappointment with the show is that he only played the one song from his solo material. At the end of the show Jim Peterik pulled lucky winners from the Rainbow Foundation draw. The prizes includes a cool, hand-drawn jean jacket and an autographed guitar by all six members of The Storm. And...I won the guitar. Cool, eh? I laughed (and the crowd clapped/cheered) when he asked if this is the same guy who maintains the Journey web site.
It was a very exiting night.
Journey Sound Check: June 4th was a fully day of events starting with the Journey sound check. There were about (Note: the T is silent) 150-200 fans packed around the first few rows. We were finally able to meet those fans who didn't attend the Chalfant show. Jonathan was the first on stage, but for technical reasons with The Whale. Soon after Neal appeared and started rippin long guitar solos. Eventually Jon, Deen, and Ross joined in and finally Steve. It was great, not only see the guys play and take pictures, but to see what actually happens during sound checks and pre-concert preparation. After the guys were warmed up and ready they played several songs including both new songs (Having a Good Time and World Gone Wild), Lights, I'll Be Alright Without You (which they told us they won't play in concert that night) and a few other songs. Prior to the sound check we all signed three JourneyFest T-shirts (one for the band, Moni, and Jasparina).
Foreigner / Journey: Foreigner opened the show and played their known hits (about 14 songs in total). Lou Gramm's voice was off, but understandable after undergoing brain surgery. The only real visual aspect of the show was watching Mick Jones (guitar) and the bass player strut and bounce around the stage. It seemed most people sang along with the band, but didn't look like they were really into the show.
You can now purchase Neal's latest blues CD, Piranha Blues, on-line at 