MR

OK, I had previously posted my concerns (and optimism) about Arnel on one of the Chile posts. That said, my wife and I were somewhat reluctant when we went to last night's show. Not anymore. One word to describe Arnel...AMAZING!!! This guy was on fire!! He was comfortable and loose. He really fits the band. He knew how to sing the songs in a way that worked best for him, while satisfying the "Journey" sound and tradition. Outstanding. There were a couple of minor flubs here and there (by the whole band, not just Arnel), but very minor. The set list obviously leaned towards the "dirty dozen" greatest hits as they were filming for a DVD. I ran into Kevin Shirely, who was a very nice/humble guy. It's good to see him involved. The band played three new songs, which all were amazing. They had an energy and freshness that surprised me in a very good way. Incredible. The band seemed to be having alot of fun and all seemed to support Arnel. Even Jonathan seemed much more at ease than he appeared in Chile. They played the follwing songs, though not in oreder....

Lights
Wheel In The Sky
Anyway You Want It
Don't Stop Believing
Stone In Love
Who's Cryin' Now
Escape (Arnel had a small timing problem with parts of this)
Mother, Father (Deen Vocals)
Open Arms
Separate Ways
After The Fall (Deen Vocals)
Faithfully
Only The Young
Ask The Lonely
Be Good To Yourself
Faith In The Heartland
Wildest Dreams
Walk Away(not sure of the title)
Through The Years (Again, not sure of the title. Killer ballad though)

They came out and re-did one song for the DVD, But I left before they played it...and no "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', which was fine by me....

I read that they came back out a few times and played Be Good to Yourself and Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'.

I was in Japan Center with my woman and another couple last night. We ate dinner and then went out to see a movie. During dinner, I swear I saw a middle aged guy wearing a Cal-Jam t-shirt. Freaked me out a bit. All night however I was just thinking about what was going on over in Vegas last night. I was thinking at that moment Journey is performing and Arnel is up on stage doing his best. Few memories from the past ran through my mind as I reflected back to the 80's when I was in similar situations when AMO Band was not around and I was in the Philippines. Back then I would pause to think about what they were doing at that very moment and such. So last night I began to completely regret not going to Vegas to see the show. I didn't even make an attempt, which I sort of wish I would have. But in due time I will get the opportunity to do so. I know that if Journey goes to Japan for a concert, I will definitely fly over for it. I've done it before with other bands, I'll do it to see Journey there.

hgwy407 wrote:OK, I had previously posted my concerns (and optimism) about Arnel on one of the Chile posts. That said, my wife and I were somewhat reluctant when we went to last night's show. Not anymore. One word to describe Arnel...AMAZING!!! This guy was on fire!! He was comfortable and loose. He really fits the band. He knew how to sing the songs in a way that worked best for him, while satisfying the "Journey" sound and tradition. Outstanding. There were a couple of minor flubs here and there (by the whole band, not just Arnel), but very minor. The set list obviously leaned towards the "dirty dozen" greatest hits as they were filming for a DVD. I ran into Kevin Shirely, who was a very nice/humble guy. It's good to see him involved. The band played three new songs, which all were amazing. They had an energy and freshness that surprised me in a very good way. Incredible. The band seemed to be having alot of fun and all seemed to support Arnel. Even Jonathan seemed much more at ease than he appeared in Chile. They played the follwing songs, though not in oreder....

Lights
Wheel In The Sky
Anyway You Want It
Don't Stop Believing
Stone In Love
Who's Cryin' Now
Escape (Arnel had a small timing problem with parts of this)
Mother, Father (Deen Vocals)
Open Arms
Separate Ways
After The Fall (Deen Vocals)
Faithfully
Only The Young
Ask The Lonely
Be Good To Yourself
Faith In The Heartland
Wildest Dreams
Walk Away(not sure of the title)
Through The Years (Again, not sure of the title. Killer ballad though)

They came out and re-did one song for the DVD, But I left before they played it...and no "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', which was fine by me....

New song (Wildest Dreams) sounds like "Arrival part deux" to me. Not bad, though...

And good for them for keeping FAITH in the set! I always loved that song...

Without trying to seem like a cheerleader because I was at the show, I just want to point out that the new ballad was amazing. MUCH better than Wildest Dreams (which was pretty fucking good!!!). I will guarantee that these guys get radio play of some sort. The songs are fresh, yet signature Journey. Castronovo's drumming at the end of Widest Dreams is sick...nothing short of incredible. People were fucking jacked up for the show.

PS They are NOT opening for Heart.

Having a version of FITH on dvd is great news indeed.

I've changed my mind and will be buying the dvd. After hearing almost the full songs of After The Fall and Mother Father from last night, Deen was amazing! Gayle, you rock darlin! I love that song After The Fall and Deen just smoked on it and I'll get the dvd for even that alone!

Rip, good to see you'll be easy to spot in your black and gold! So glad everybody had such a great time!

The_Noble_Cause wrote:Having a version of FITH on dvd is great news indeed.

Yep. PSYCHED their dusting that Generations monster back off.

Sure Deen is good, but I'd rather Journey stick to 1 lead vocalist. Arnel sounded awesome, but visually he's a little too energetic at times and comes off a little nervous or worse "fake". Loved the show, looking forward to the enhanced, error corrected, "fixed" dvd versions.

Yeah, Deen SMOKED 'Mother, Father.' Really sounded amazing.

For the record, the show ended, and people started walking out of the arena. Then the house lights flashed and a voice came over the intercom saying, "Because of the recording this evening, the band would like to redo one song. So if you would please return to your seats." BIG cheer.

Neals walks out on stage and says, "We wanta to do 'Wildest Dreams' again because we fucked it up."

So they play that again. And then leave. But this time no one leaves their seats. 30 seconds later, here they come again. Jonathan says, "Would you guys mind if we did 'Faithfully' again. We'd like another shot at that."

So they do that one again, and now I think they really ARE done, but I think now it's 'oh-what-the-hell' time. So Arnel says, "You guys wanna hear one more?" Well you know the answer to that. That's when they played LTS.


Bobby

texafana wrote:Sure Deen is good, but I'd rather Journey stick to 1 lead vocalist.

That's how Augeri and Perry ended up prematurely hanging up their leathers and tails once and for all.
Deen is great. Arnel is great.

Let 'em both have at it.

Rollie/Perry...


Castonovo/Pineda....


Ain't like Journey hasn't done it b4

The_Noble_Cause wrote:

texafana wrote:Sure Deen is good, but I'd rather Journey stick to 1 lead vocalist.

That's how Augeri and Perry ended up prematurely hanging up their leathers and tails once and for all.
Deen is great. Arnel is great.

Let 'em both have at it.

Agreed, TNC. Good to see you back around here.

RPC13 wrote:Yeah, Deen SMOKED 'Mother, Father.' Really sounded amazing.

And I missed it.

The_Noble_Cause wrote:[hanging up their leathers and tails.

,, leathers, tails, and baggys,

texafana wrote:Sure Deen is good, but I'd rather Journey stick to 1 lead vocalist.

I tend to agree.
Having another singer had nothing to do with the lifespan of the singers. Having too many consecutive dates and a way high catalog is what did them in.
But yeah, I can see where it'd be cool. They should use them both in songs ala rollie/perry (new songs)

Yeah, whoever was deep in pole smoke and ran their traps about Heart closing was high.

Journey closes entire tour.

Rockindeano wrote:Yeah, whoever was deep in pole smoke and ran their traps about Heart closing was high.

Journey closes entire tour.

it was Angie... BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHA..... oh that felt good...

hgwy407 wrote:They came out and re-did one song for the DVD, But I left before they played it...and no "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', which was fine by me....

They actually ended up redoing two of them -- "Wildest Dreams" (a new one), then "Faithfully". I actually heard a very strange speculation about the 2nd performance of "Faithfully" from another fan, but I brought it to Saint John and he shot it down pretty quick. Hmm... And I believe they closed w/"Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'". We had started to walk out when they came back and announced the redos, and when they mentioned it was for a DVD, the crowd went nuts! Several of us did get up and work our way down the aisles, and security was much more permissive this time of letting us stand closer, yet they still prevented us from passing the front of our section.

Deb wrote:Rip, good to see you'll be easy to spot in your black and gold! So glad everybody had such a great time!

Thanks! Well, I hope it shows up on the DVD, anyway. I was watching the Chile show on the plane on the way back and from my recollection, the audience shots were few and mostly quick pans when they appeared. Who knows? But at least I'll be able to tell people I was there!

texafana wrote:Sure Deen is good, but I'd rather Journey stick to 1 lead vocalist. Arnel sounded awesome, but visually he's a little too energetic at times and comes off a little nervous or worse "fake". Loved the show, looking forward to the enhanced, error corrected, "fixed" dvd versions.

You know what, dude? I've been one of your defenders here for quite a while -- maybe because you joined shortly after me, but I'm calling you out on the mat now. First, you never offer anything more than left-handed compliments on any topic -- there is a poison pill in any "positive" thing you say. 2nd, you have maintained this air of condescension towards the rest of us, or the board in general, but continue to show back up.

I personally tried to encourage you to at least stop by and say hello during the gig -- I mean, hell, what better opportunity, right, to get to know a few others and maybe be a regular guy? And you said you intended to find me, yet at the same time seemed to enjoy keeping things a "mystery" instead of offering simple contact info, or accepting any from me. You couldn't even bother to come and say a simple hi to the others on the board, and that speaks volumes to me...

You are either: 1) A fake -- another of someone else's split personalities, or 2) A classic troll, who only comes by to stir up shite or toss a little rain on someone else's parade. I'm DONE trying to help ya out...

If you were fortunate to be within the first 10 rows and standing next to an attractive woman, then I'd say your chances are great. If not, then much less so.

Stuff sounded good!!! I am STOKED about this new CD and DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Looks like you guys had a killer time-I wish I were there with you!!!

Lady Luck wrote:

RPC13 wrote:Yeah, Deen SMOKED 'Mother, Father.' Really sounded amazing.

And I missed it.

we'll have our show girlie... or we'll go to every FL show until you hear your tune.

Rip Rokken wrote:

texafana wrote:Sure Deen is good, but I'd rather Journey stick to 1 lead vocalist. Arnel sounded awesome, but visually he's a little too energetic at times and comes off a little nervous or worse "fake". Loved the show, looking forward to the enhanced, error corrected, "fixed" dvd versions.

You know what, dude? I've been one of your defenders here for quite a while -- maybe because you joined shortly after me, but I'm calling you out on the mat now. First, you never offer anything more than left-handed compliments on any topic -- there is a poison pill in any "positive" thing you say. 2nd, you have maintained this air of condescension towards the rest of us, or the board in general, but continue to show back up.

I personally tried to encourage you to at least stop by and say hello during the gig -- I mean, hell, what better opportunity, right, to get to know a few others and maybe be a regular guy? And you said you intended to find me, yet at the same time seemed to enjoy keeping things a "mystery" instead of offering simple contact info, or accepting any from me. You couldn't even bother to come and say a simple hi to the others on the board, and that speaks volumes to me...

You are either: 1) A fake -- another of someone else's split personalities, or 2) A classic troll, who only comes by to stir up shite or toss a little rain on someone else's parade. I'm DONE trying to help ya out...

Snnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnaaaapppp!!! Damn Rip, this board's bringing out another side of you! I wish I could've been hanging out with you guys out there! Unfortunately, just bad timing with work lately. Maybe another time though. Did anyone get any better footage last night than what we've heard from Youtube?

Ratgirl wrote:

Lady Luck wrote:

RPC13 wrote:Yeah, Deen SMOKED 'Mother, Father.' Really sounded amazing.

And I missed it.

we'll have our show girlie... or we'll go to every FL show until you hear your tune.

Damn skippy. I have a pillowcase I need signed!

G.I.Jim wrote:I wish I could've been hanging out with you guys out there! Unfortunately, just bad timing with work lately. Maybe another time though. Did anyone get any better footage last night than what we've heard from Youtube?

Wish you were there, too, bro! They were very tight about the cameras -- I tried to tell the wife we couldn't bring a camera to the show (MY camera, by the way), because the tickets said "NO CAMERAS/CAMCORDERS", but she insisted. We were lucky they didn't confiscate ours at the door, but we'd wrapped a shirt around it in a bag. Still, any time they saw someone pointing one, they were quick to tell them to quit -- except for at the very end, during the encores, and everyone seemed to be whipping out the cameras and they didn't seem to mind.

I tell ya what they did confiscate, though... her brand-new $4.00 bottle of water, which we'd just bought. She took a swig and tossed it in the trash. Once inside, I offered to go get her one from the concession stand, and they had this small bottles of water (maybe 8 oz.?) for the amazingly low price of -- $7.50! Whatever... haha! I had to impose the VETO on that one...

Rip Rokken wrote:I tell ya what they did confiscate, though... her brand-new $4.00 bottle of water, which we'd just bought. She took a swig and tossed it in the trash.

Even though the seal hadn't been broken, they still wouldn't let her in with it? In Pompano Beach, I had a bottle of water that I had opened before I got to the gate. They confiscated it because it was already open. If it was still sealed, they would've let me in with it.

Glad to hear it was a great show with some good performances. Thanks for the reports, folks, you have me looking forward to picking up the triple-pack this summer and hopefully catching the boys live in concert.

Lady Luck wrote:Even though the seal hadn't been broken, they still wouldn't let her in with it? In Pompano Beach, I had a bottle of water that I had opened before I got to the gate. They confiscated it because it was already open. If it was still sealed, they would've let me in with it.

I took it that it was because they only wanted people buying their own concessions (like a movie theater). Yes, it was unopened, and if I'd have had half a brain, I would have walked the 150 ft. back to the store we just bought it from and tried to return it -- I guess I assumed it had already been opened. Hey, that $3.00-$4.00 bottle of water crap gets old in a hurry out there... haha! Especially once we found a little store on the south end of the strip that was selling 10oz bottles of water for 53 cents! So trust me, when I saw a $7.50 price tag on a freaking 8 oz. bottle of water, I'd just had enough of the fleecing. I kid you not, we must have spent $100 on bottled waters and Mt. Dews for the Mrs. over a three day period, as well as at least $50 on Starbucks. But... she's worth every penny of it. Except for the $7.50 one... haha! And maybe the small gelato we got in the Forum Shops that the gigged us $13.75 for -- WTF?!? I thought they were a little high across the street at $4.75!