Steve Kenney:
Now about the show. This was the first appearance of Journey since 1981,
so you can imagine the anticipation that we had. I can say with-out a
doubt that all my fears of a new Journey line-up were answered by the
end of Worlds Apart. The set lists was the same as previous ones.
Dean and Steve are great additions to the group and never missed a beat
all night long. Steve played to the crowd, as did all the members. The
auditorium seats 2500 and I would guess that about 1800 attended. Ross,
Neal and Jonathan were as amazing as always. My favorite of the evening
had to be Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'. Neal has to be the most underrated
guitarist in the business. He can do things with a guitar that just
amaze you.
In one part of the show a group down front had spelled out Journey #1
with a letter on each shirt. A stage hand took them backstage and
brought them out on stage. What luck. My only disappointment was we
didn't get the second encore. I wished they could have gone on all
night.
Anyone has any doubts about the new line-up, please attend the next show
that comes within driving distance. Heck, if they don't come anywhere
close, buy a plane ticket and go see them. You will not be disappointed.
May the Journey Continue Forever!!
Adam Epstein:
Like my predecessor in Merrillville, Indiana wrote, I too was eager to write a review of the Knoxville, Tennessee Journey concert but I wanted to let it sink in first before I wrote simply on emotion. (Knoxville, of course, is home of the University of Tennessee-the #1 football team in the country at present).
Having spent my formative high school years listening to Journey and other great 80s bands, I was excited to finally see the band that I proclaimed to be my favorite of that era. Though I knew that Steve Perry would not be on the lead vocals, I was more interested in the music, the passion, the feeling so to speak that 90's bands so often lack.
I had never seen the bands I speak so highly of (the Van Halens, Def Leppards, etc.) in person as a teenager, and here was my chance to finally meet face to face with the men of Journey whose songs have greatly influenced my musical persuasion and persona during a time when the most important issues to me were who actually had a computer, who had the highest score on Pong, and when was the next high school dance. (Of course now I have to lead a responsible life and I made the mad dash through downtown traffic and construction after work
to get to the venue at the Civic Auditorium, a two level comfortable indoor setting of about 2,500 people and probably more suited for high school graduations and musicals, having wood-lined walls). It was not a sell out, but it was close.
The crowd gathered. Some Nascar fans showed their loyalty to their respective drivers and teams, others were definitely just coming from work, others probably overdressed expecting some opera and such. 80s hair abounded. The fans were generally older (25+), and an exciting anticipation rang through the air. People were happy.
What would it sound like? Who is this new guy? Do these guys really care anymore or are they simply on tour to raise capital to pay for their
lifestyles? Was there a passion? I was about to find out, being a bit
ambiguous about what to expect, though excited....the lights dimmed.....no warm up band....good....I anticipated that "Separate Ways" would open the night having spent the last 3 weeks reading these reviews....I was right....POWER....the concert hall rang out with the venerable synthesized intro by J. Cain and the crowd literally jumped out of its feet....The
pounding of Castronovo on drums, Schon on guitar, Vallory, intense, on
bass.....out of the darkness jumps Augeri.....time stands still, worries are over, they're back!
Though I did not keep a list of the songs played, the playlist was similar to all of the other lists on the net.....The stage was simple. The lighting was definitely 80s (purple haze and such)....the crowd was close to the stage....there was no trouble, only happy faces....Steve Augeri took several signs (literally) from the crowd and held them high ("We Never Stopped Believin'", for example) Neil apparently broke a guitar string during a solo, but played it off well, and a Roadie instantaneously rose to the occasion and exchanged the guitar without a beat....the stage hands were relaxed yet effective. The band invited several fans on stage who wore shirts spelling out "JOURNEY IS #1" Journey only had one encore, but the two songs they played
(Faithfully and Don't Stop Believin') sent us into the cold, clear, meteoric night with a smile and an uplifting sense.
All in all, the concert was great. Jonathan Cain clearly is a leader of the band. Neil Schon still plays with passion and it shows....Ross Vallory at times looked almost too intense relative to the other members of the band, but can we blame him? The drummer was definitely on, yes, Castronovo, I know, and his drum solo was spectacular. It was good to hear a band that can actually play music with passion rather than jump and shout wearing black, instigating with fighting words, crying about the perils of society, and yelling at people to "fight the power" and all that crap. Augeri was great, particularly on "Remember Me", which makes sense, but occasionally his powerful-yes powerful voice-was drowned out by the acoustics. One of the best intros was to "Wheel in the Sky" in which Cain and Schon play a slow, yet powerful mysterious intro.....almost space-like music.....leading to "Winter is here, again, oh no...."
I had several of my friends, including my brother who worked security for over 30 concerts, come up to me and say that this was either the best or second best concert they have ever seen. I still feel great from the experience even though the adrenaline has now settled down, a bit. Journey fans out there will not be disappointed. It was definitely worth the money.
And as I wake up now, tired, older, responsible (reluctantly), and write this review, I think of the days when life was simple, the music was big, and Journey was there for me. It will be there for you, too.
