I got VIP suite tickets thru work, so I went. Just a quick review of last night's show in GSO: Loverboy - good, clean fun. They played well, Mike sounded good and seemed happy to be there. Piped backing vocals, par for the course I suppose. No new songs. Solid...not a lot else to say. The crowd sang along enthusiastically. Pat Benatar - I want to be Pat Benatar when I grow up! The woman is a flat out badass! Straight, 4-piece Rock all live. The only "canned" bit was the "We Belong" synth loop and Neil at least led into that with piano and started it himself. Neil Geraldo is awesome, their interaction on stage was fluid and comfortable and Pat was amazing vocally. She sang with such guts and passion! When she came in with the "whoa-whoa-whoa WE ARE STRONG!" I got chills! Deen came out and played drums on "Hit Me With Your Best Shot". I would love to see a full headline set from her. She owned the crowd and there was so much sing-along with her that you would have thought she was the headliner...she acted like she was. Flawless. Journey - well executed, well rehearsed. Not a lot of passion. Deen always acts like he's having fun. Arnel was like a caffiene-overdosed chihuahua running all over. Backing vocals obviously canned (more voices than people singing). Cool nuggets (for me) in the set. Hearing BGTY and KOR was pretty awesome. The opened w/ FITH which was also cool. I enjoyed hearing NWA live too. Deen sounded great on KOR and MF. Arnel's voice was strong and clear. But, up until last night I could never quite put my finger on why I don't like him. Now I know. He has not a single ounce of Rock And Roll charisma in his body. Perry, Augeri, Soto - all 3 had rock swagger and soul to go with their voices. Arnel has none. He's very talented, has a strong voice and a big range...I also have no doubt that he's a super nice guy. But all that does not replace swagger/charisma. He has no rhythm (no rhyme or reason to his movements) and sings very mechanically...hitting the notes without making me feel them. Also, there's things about his phrasing in some songs I just don't like (personal nitpick, I know). He barely said 3 words to the crowd all night, and didn't speak at all until like 9 songs in (could be precautionary, I know). Also, the band just looks disjointed. Arnel bounces around like crazy like he's the only one on stage...Ross & Jon move very little and act very business-like...Neal & Deen try to look/act very "rock star"...there's no connection...nothing tying them together. All that said, the songs were the stars and all the songs I mentioned already plus "ESC4P3" were all highlights...so just hearing the songs was cool enough...even thought it did not feel like it was actually Journey playing them. Overall, an enjoyable evening w/ Pat Benatar being the main highlight for me. She just kicked all kinds of ass. I think at this point, I am done w/ Journey. I just can't get into this line up. I'll always have the Perry/Augeri eras but, barring a reunion with one of them, last night marks my final Journey show. Side note - the crowd during Journey's set was disappointing. Way too many people SAT DOWN during lesser known songs (including Anytime, Mother Father, Keep On Running, Never Walk Away, Be Good To Yourself)...SAT DOWN like they did not know the songs. But of course, stood/danced during Lights, LTS, AWYWI, Open Arms, etc. Then, of course, the entire place lost it's collective sanity when DSB finally came around. But how do you sit down during Anytime or Be Good To Yourself? Sheesh...http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914096#msg-914096Thu, 23 May 2013 15:46:18 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914279#msg-914279 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914279#msg-914279 SEAN1 NoticeboardSat, 06 Oct 2012 01:30:13 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914243#msg-914243 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914243#msg-914243
Never got to see them with SP, but flew to the US twice to see them with SA and have subsequently seen them at about a dozen UK and Europe shows. SA gave them a classy edge and really connected with the audience. These were some of the best shows I've ever been to and hold many fond memories.

Saw them again with Jeff and have to say that I was quite surprised to find the shows so good. Jeff gave them a slightly menacing edge - much more of a 'rock' band. I though they showed fantastic potential for the future together...but we all know where that went.

With Arnel, close your eyes and they sound fantastic, but it just goes to show that having the vocal chops is not the be all and end all to being a great front man. I really like the guy but something doesn't quite gel and I think some of the above post hit the nail on the head.

I've seen then about a half dozen times with Arnel and am not that inclined to see them again unless they did a completely different approach, say 'an evening with' where more obscure cuts would be played. Even the stage set/lighting looked tired and predictable on the last UK tour. Foreigners simpler lighting was far more effective.

Cheers

Mark H]]> SecurityMark NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 23:30:37 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914238#msg-914238 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914238#msg-914238
I saw Benatar in NYC at radio city music hall years ago and she was awesome. Met her and she was even more awesome!a very nice person.

I totally agree with you on Journey. Saw them do a song At cmt awards a few months ago. It was sad to see rascal flatts with more soul. I thought the whole thing was light.

I started seeing journey live(I was 12 first time I saw journey) when Dunbar played drums and Greg Rollie sang leads. Love everything ever done with Perry. Always thought Hugo was a better fit for them....

Nice reviews though...thanks!]]> Jimmy Lawrence NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 23:09:14 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914228#msg-914228 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914228#msg-914228
Cheers

Mark H]]> SecurityMark NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 22:05:58 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914176#msg-914176 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914176#msg-914176 KAYAKER NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 13:16:02 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914175#msg-914175 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914175#msg-914175 PaulBonrud NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 12:22:46 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914164#msg-914164 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914164#msg-914164 Andy (London) NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 07:11:59 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914162#msg-914162 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914162#msg-914162 MSL NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 06:14:11 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914159#msg-914159 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914159#msg-914159 Pelata NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 04:51:08 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914157#msg-914157 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914157#msg-914157
First saw Journey with Jeff Scott Soto and thought they were amazing and then saw Steve Augeri at last year's Firefest and thought his voice waS so soulful in comparison to Arnel's. Unfortunately, no one is ever going to match the master that is Steve Perry.

I saw Loverboy a couple of times in the late eighties when they supported Def Leppard on the Hysteria tour. Shame they did not play any new material as it stands up well to the classics.

Living in the UK I have never been fortunate to see the Goddess that is Pat Benatar.]]> Rockingbear NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 04:20:49 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914119#msg-914119 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914119#msg-914119-------------------------------------------------------
> Wasn't that NEIL GIRALDO featuring Pat Benatar?

They are definitely equals on stage.]]> Pelata NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 00:58:41 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914113#msg-914113 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914113#msg-914113 Walk In The Shadows NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 00:49:18 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914106#msg-914106 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914106#msg-914106 SEAN1 NoticeboardFri, 05 Oct 2012 00:27:11 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914096#msg-914096 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,914096,914096#msg-914096
Just a quick review of last night's show in GSO:

Loverboy - good, clean fun. They played well, Mike sounded good and seemed happy to be there. Piped backing vocals, par for the course I suppose. No new songs. Solid...not a lot else to say. The crowd sang along enthusiastically.

Pat Benatar - I want to be Pat Benatar when I grow up! The woman is a flat out badass! Straight, 4-piece Rock all live. The only "canned" bit was the "We Belong" synth loop and Neil at least led into that with piano and started it himself. Neil Geraldo is awesome, their interaction on stage was fluid and comfortable and Pat was amazing vocally. She sang with such guts and passion! When she came in with the "whoa-whoa-whoa WE ARE STRONG!" I got chills! Deen came out and played drums on "Hit Me With Your Best Shot". I would love to see a full headline set from her. She owned the crowd and there was so much sing-along with her that you would have thought she was the headliner...she acted like she was. Flawless.

Journey - well executed, well rehearsed. Not a lot of passion. Deen always acts like he's having fun. Arnel was like a caffiene-overdosed chihuahua running all over. Backing vocals obviously canned (more voices than people singing). Cool nuggets (for me) in the set. Hearing BGTY and KOR was pretty awesome. The opened w/ FITH which was also cool. I enjoyed hearing NWA live too. Deen sounded great on KOR and MF.

Arnel's voice was strong and clear. But, up until last night I could never quite put my finger on why I don't like him. Now I know. He has not a single ounce of Rock And Roll charisma in his body. Perry, Augeri, Soto - all 3 had rock swagger and soul to go with their voices. Arnel has none. He's very talented, has a strong voice and a big range...I also have no doubt that he's a super nice guy. But all that does not replace swagger/charisma. He has no rhythm (no rhyme or reason to his movements) and sings very mechanically...hitting the notes without making me feel them. Also, there's things about his phrasing in some songs I just don't like (personal nitpick, I know). He barely said 3 words to the crowd all night, and didn't speak at all until like 9 songs in (could be precautionary, I know).

Also, the band just looks disjointed. Arnel bounces around like crazy like he's the only one on stage...Ross & Jon move very little and act very business-like...Neal & Deen try to look/act very "rock star"...there's no connection...nothing tying them together. All that said, the songs were the stars and all the songs I mentioned already plus "ESC4P3" were all highlights...so just hearing the songs was cool enough...even thought it did not feel like it was actually Journey playing them.

Overall, an enjoyable evening w/ Pat Benatar being the main highlight for me. She just kicked all kinds of ass. I think at this point, I am done w/ Journey. I just can't get into this line up. I'll always have the Perry/Augeri eras but, barring a reunion with one of them, last night marks my final Journey show.

Side note - the crowd during Journey's set was disappointing. Way too many people SAT DOWN during lesser known songs (including Anytime, Mother Father, Keep On Running, Never Walk Away, Be Good To Yourself)...SAT DOWN like they did not know the songs. But of course, stood/danced during Lights, LTS, AWYWI, Open Arms, etc. Then, of course, the entire place lost it's collective sanity when DSB finally came around. But how do you sit down during Anytime or Be Good To Yourself? Sheesh...]]> Pelata NoticeboardThu, 04 Oct 2012 23:56:34 +1000