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THE JOURNEY ZONE
http://www.journey-zone.com
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THE REVIEWS
August, 2002
Clearfield County Fair
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
August 02, 2002
Reviewer: Lunchbreak
August 2, 2002, in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, was extremely hot and sunny. You could just stand still and perspire. But it didn't deter me from what I had to do - spend the day/evening with Journey!
In the afternoon, I met up with two fans, Bobbie and Mikkimoose, those very industrious Street Teamers who had worked very hard to promote this show. After a bit I went over to the fairgrounds, hoping to get a bit of the sound check. That's what I got - a bit - before we were asked to leave, but I was able to see and hear most of it through the fence. The "infield" area behind the stage, where the band busses and trucks were parked, was very accessible, however, and in fact they were parking cars back there. Myself and another fan, Shell, were able to meet and talk with Deen after soundcheck. He's wonderful, a really sweet guy. When I told him what the Street Team had done in Clearfield, he got me four drumheads which he signed, and said, get the other guys to sign these and then give them to those Street Teamers. So now I had a project to do! Suffice it to say that even a miserable burly security guard could not stop me and after a while I had the signatures of all five band members on all four drum heads. That's an hour or so of my life I'll never forget!
When I met back up with Bobbie, her daughter Nikki and Mikkimoose and told them what I had for them, they were ecstatic. All their hard work had been recognized, and I felt a great deal of satisfaction being the middleman! We entered the track area and after finding our seats, I headed to the merchandise table where I picked up a large handful of Red 13 promo cards and passed them all out. By that time it was 8 o'clock and I took my seat for the ride of my life!
The band opened with State of Grace. When I first read that they were opening the show with a brand new song, I wondered how it would "go over," but when I heard it, I knew, it was a perfect show starter. It's quite different from Journey's usual style but I really like it. The crowd didn't really get into it, though. Next came Separate Ways, for which most of the crowd stood and cheered. After Steve made a nice compliment about "The Great State of Pennsylvania," (more cheering!), they played Ask The Lonely. Next came Neal's absolutely stirring Star Spangled Banner, which of course brought the entire crowd to its feet. People then stayed standing for Stone in Love and Only the Young (during which Ross was making hysterical faces!). The band then did Send Her My Love which the crowd seemed to like, but they did sit back down and stayed seated for several songs. I can't imagine why... Next was Lights, followed by Jon's wonderful piano solo into Open Arms, and the crowd did cheer wildly for this one. Jon then explained that they were going to back, way back, to play something from Infinity. They played Feelin' That Way which the crowd really seemed to love, followed of course by Anytime, during which Steve was clowning around on the cymbals with Deen. Then during I'll Be Alright Without You, I could see Deen's son Kyle off stage with drumsticks, drumming his heart out on two stools. Steve talked a bit while Kyle and his son Adam helped set up for the acoustic set. The guys played Trial by Fire and Liberty, and during some of the instrumental parts Steve sipped on tea. A flag had appeared on his mike stand that read "God Bless America." Next came Higher Place, which they played with a great deal of energy. After this came a new song from Red 13, The Time. The crowd didn't seem to get into this one much although I liked it. Ross then introduced Don't Stop Believing and everyone jumped up. Neal introduced La Raza Del Sol, on which I might add that Deen was absolutely awesome. This was followed by Faithfully and one of my personal favorites, Escape, during which Deen had a great solo. Then Neal did an absolutely haunting solo intro into Wheel in the Sky. Finally, they ended up with Be Good to Yourself. They lined up on stage and said goodnight, but the fans brought them back out for an encore of Any Way You Want It and Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'.
At Clearfield, I felt that the band was completely "on," that's the only way I can describe it. It was boiling hot, I'm sure they were tired, and when I met Jon earlier in the day, he seemed down in the dumps, but on stage they gave their all, and somehow for those two and a half hours, five men fit their musical talent together so intricately that it seemed they were one.
I wish I could be so complimentary to the venue, but unfortunately I cannot. The one good thing I can say is that it was a sellout crowd, even though at times they didn't seem very interested. You could pick out the pockets of real fans by the small groups of people who were standing and dancing/cheering here and there. Some of the fans who were standing at their front row seats were asked to sit down by security. I don't get that at all! It's rock and roll! Journey likes to see the crowd stand and I think they have to let the security people know that beforehand.
Meadowbrook Farm
Gilford, New Hampshire
August 03, 2002
Reviewer: JRNY02
Four months had passed since I first began planning to celebrate Journey's arrival in the Granite State, on August the third, 2002.
Under a scorching summer sun, nearly 40 of Journey's most devoted came together as one to celebrate our heroes performance at Meadowbrook Farm.
It was to be the party most dream about, only this was very real indeed. A gathering in mid-summer that few will ever forget.
We began our pre-show event at 2:00pm, on a very hot summer afternoon. A meal fit for a king was prepared for the entire group, as all enjoyed watching the Journey 2001 dvd, shown on a
special "tent" conceived by my partner in collaboration, Waboritas, aka., John Lorusso. This group of die-hards ate, drank, danced, and sang all afternoon, in preparation for the nites
performance by Journey. Excitement was everywhere, at a fever pitch. A lot of the group were at the show in Mohegan Sun, just three days prior, and couldn't wait for more.
The wait was just about over.
At precisely 8:15 pm., OUR band took the stage, berry lights perforating the night air, and stage of black. The music began, the crowd rose as one. And so it began. The band ripped into "State of Grace" with a fervor seldom seen in previous shows. This show was to be like no other before it. The Gilford crowd was whipped into a frenzy instantly, and never let up, the whole evening. As the first piano intro to "Separate Ways" was heard, one had to pinch themselves to make sure it was all not a dream. A raucous audience picked this band up, and the band responded, and soared into the stratosphere, with a performance this author had never witnessed before. I'd seen the Mohegan show, from the front row, 3 nites before, and there were going to be no comparisons made to it on this nite.
The band got even better as the show wore on. Neal Schon absolutely tore into the S.S.B., with a seguay seldom seen by anyone. His rendition just lit this crowd into absolute an absolute frenzy. A long, standing ovation was to follow, and did not go un-noticed by the band. You could see the band digging on this crowds genuine enthusiasm, and admiration. I have seen this wonderous band perform live 38 times over the last 26 years, including 11 shows of the "Escape" tour. I had been judging their performances by last years Tweeter Center show in Mansfield, MA. Up until now, that show was the finest I'd ever witnessed them do. Neal, obviously pleased with the New Hampshire faithful, asked the crowd, "Have we ever played here before?"...A resounding series of NO's followed, and Neal responded in kind by saying, "Well God dammit, we're coming back here !", to a thunderous roar.
The acoustic "set" was beautifully performed, giving the hoarse, and sweat drenched crowd time to gulp on their libations of choice. At this point in the show, I, myself had to do a "gut check",
as I had already exhausted myself, and was drenched from head to foot. A very good sign of things yet to come.
The set list was the same as Mohegan Sun, and most other shows, so I'll spare it here.
As the band tore into "Only The Young", I choked back tears, (unsuccessfully) , as this song just rips my heart out every time I hear it, least we all not remember Behind The Music . It's always
been one of my favorites, since the first time I heard it on the soundtrack of "Visionquest", and before "Kenny" passed away.
Song after song, hit after hit, Journey blistered the night air with a performance I'll NEVER forget. This show is one that EVERY Journey fan should have on D.V.D., it was that good.
Jonathan Cain constantly dueled with Neal, side by side, much to the frenzied crowds delight. Neal was a monster on this nite, moving all over the huge stage, back and forth, to and fro. Ross
Valory had a mile wide smile the whole nite. The entire band was totally onto this set, perhaps knowing a week off was just about two hours away.
If I had any personal "buts", or "if's" with the set, it would only be that I think "Faithfully" should be showcased more, and not muddled into the second third of the set. Small complaint, not worth
mentioning further, as this show was a gem.
Journey ended the nite performing a very extended "Lovin', Touchin", Squeezin'", in which Neal went absolutely ballistic, shredding his guitar, blistering the night air with a solo I'll remember
forever.
As the band left the exstatic crowd gasping for breath after a 2 hour and twenty minute set, Deen came over stage right, and handed a girl his autographed "Crash" symbol, much to her delight.
Two days have passed since I witnessed this marvelous show, and it has left me wanting more. Much, much, more.
The tired band that had taken the stage just three nites before in Ct., had just played like it was their last concert ever.
I met a lot of friends at Meadowbrook Farm, the other day. I am most proud that my friend, jrnydv, was by my side for both the Mohegan Sun show, and this gem at Meadowbrook Farm. This,
people, WAS the performance of a lifetime. Rating:A++
Iowa State Fair
Des Moines, Iowa
August 09, 2002
Reviewer: Jody Crossman, Staff Writer, Des Moines Register
With all the rap, R&B and pop phenoms hogging the charts, it's nice to see that
Iowans still have a warm little place in their hearts for "80s rock band Journey.
A rambunctious crowd of 7,841 adoring fans roared their appreciation for the band
at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Friday night, proving that they're forever fans "Faithfully."
But through the constant roar of this two-hour-plus show, something seemed a little
different about the band, which has been rocking since 1973. Maybe it was the lead
singer. He looked like former Journey frontman Steve Perry, sounded like Perry,
even wooed the crowd like Perry was known to do, so certainly it must have been
Perry himself, right?
Wrong.
Journey's latest addition, lead vocalist Steve Augeri, infuses a new kind of energy
and spirit into this once sizzling-hot, chart-topping group, crooning tunes as Perry did
before leaving the band in 1996.
Even without him, let the record state that Journey still puts on one heck of a show.
Augeri and longtime Journey-men Neal Schon on guitar, Jonathan Cain on
keyboards and Ross Valory on bass, plus newcomer drummer Deen Castronovo,
played a crowd-pleasing set of older tunes such as "Only the Young," "Open Arms"
and Don't Stop Believin"," mingled with a few new tunes.
Journey's latest effort, "Red 13," released in late July, proves that the group still has
the oomph it did almost 30 years ago with tunes such as "State of Grace," which
opened the show to a wildly eager audience.
Still, where this group remains the strongest is in the old favorites, the tunes
audience members of many ages can remember played at high school dances. And
Augeri, barefoot and microphone-loving on stage, ably does them justice.
Following the rousing opening number, the band kicked into high gear, playing
longtime radio hits such as "Separate Ways" that had fans on their feet quickly.
Shortly afterward, guitarist Schon played a heated solo version of the national anthem while bathed in the red, white and blue of the stage lights.
It didn't stop there.
"Stone in Love," "Feelin' That Way" and "Any Way You Want It" had the audience applauding the band's hard-rocking style. And ballads such as "I'll Be All Right
Without You" and "Faithfully" made this show a real treat for longtime fans.
Unfortunately, intermittent sound glitches and a fuzzy sound system took away from the purity of some of the songs. Many in the audience didn't seem to mind,
however, as the dancing, screaming and rowdiness ensued until the end of the set.
A two-song encore wrapped up the night, followed by a fireworks show that seemed to finally drown out the screams of these colorful fans.
Review of Under the Radar--Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Illinois, August 10, 2002 (by Nick Rogers, The State Journal-Register)
Illinois State Fair
Springfield, Illinois
August 10, 2002
Reviewer: JRNYVAL
Well, finally the day had arrived! It was time to go meet several of the Forum members from BackTalk on the official Journey site! What a very good lunch we had at Cheddar's. It was so awesome to meet Chrissy, Mel, Tanya and Andy. It was one of the highlights of my day.
When we got to the fairgrounds, we had to walk all the way from the farthest gate to get to where we were going to meet Cat for the Pre-show Meet & Greet, but we finally found it. While standing in front of the Grandstand, we saw several other Street Team t-shirts and lots of different Journey shirts. I can't remember all of the names of the people that we met. It was just so overwhelming to finally meet you all in person.
After sound check had started, albeit late, we were able to go watch the greatest rock band in the world jam. How honored I felt! The only thing that really broke my heart was when Steve Augeri came on stage to tell everybody that he was skipping sound check to go get a corndog and a massage. He was there and gone so quickly that I never thought to get a picture of him when he was standing there. But when they started jamming and Neal was shredding the chords on his guitar, I didn't seem to mind at all!
Then, when the tractors started bringing the pallets to set up for the SRO people, and we kept getting pushed back farther and farther, and we finally got kicked out of sound check by the Illinois State Police, my world turned upside down, because I knew that, after 25 years of waiting to meet this band, I still wasn't going to meet them at the meet and greet I was invited to. I am certain that I will meet this band someday; "on my heart it's written!"
Before the concert, my husband and I went around the Fair grounds handing out Red 13 promo cards and talking to people about the band and the EP. It was GREAT! I talked to some really neat people that were very anxious to hear the EP, and that made me so happy and honored to be a part of the Street Team and be a fan of Journey. Finally, it was time to go to our seats before the concert. By this time I was so excited I could hardly sit still! My poor husband--he just doesn't know what he is in for every time he takes me to see my favorite band in the world!
They opened with "State Of Grace"--what a rocker that is! They followed with the classic, better known songs, and people were jamming, although not very much where I was sitting way up in the Grandstand. Those people seemed quite lame and they were actually making me mad that they weren't up there rocking with the band. That's why we are there, right, to have a great time and jam with Journey? I still had a great time rocking and rolling. There were some technical difficulties, but I think that is to be expected, isn't it? Not every show is perfect, but this show was by far the best show I have seen yet. These guys get better and better with every show. Steve had a good time with the video camera that he talked the cameraman out of! It was funny to watch him go around the stage filming the guys! That's the first time I had seen him do that, and it was great!
It was also the very first time I had heard "I'll Be Alright Without You" performed live, and I was so happy about that. Everything was fantastic, right down to the very last note of the very last song.
There you have it, my Journey concert review and short story. I didn't write down the set list, but I can tell you that it was fantastic and pretty much the same set they have been doing all tour. I love the acoustic versions of "Trial By Fire" and "Liberty." I am so glad they decided to add those to the setlist this tour. Thank you, JOURNEY, for everything you do for us fans. I am very proud to call myself a fan of you guys!
West Virginia State Fair
Lewisburg, West Virginia
August 12, 2002
Reviewer: Melissa Mayhew
Well let me tell you, Journey hasn't changed since the last time I saw them (last year). They opened the concert up with "State of Grace"; it was OK, but I'm still hooked on Arrival. Steve had on tie-dyed pants, a white shirt, and no shoes. He had a blast! He was dancing on the speakers and Helping Deen with the drums. Everyone went wild, which encouraged them to explode into song after song after song. They also played "The Time" from Red 13 and "Higher Place" from Arrival. But the rest of the concert was all the older ones, which was great. Jonathan cain Did great with his piano playing, singing, and guitar, and of course everyone went absolutely wild when Neal did his rendition of the National Anthem--it was awesome...it gave me goose bumps. All his solos were great. He is one of a kind. They way he makes his fingers fly over that guitar is something to see. One thing that really amazes me is...how does Deen go on and on without his arms hurting or cramping or something. He puts everything into those drums. Ross was his same ol' silly self. It is really refreshing to see him on stage with his sense of humor. One thing is for sure--that group enjoys their job!!! It shows in everything they do on stage.
Oh, by the way, they were only 5 minutes shy of playing for two and a half hours!
We did not receive an original review from the August 16 show at Morton, Minnesota, the August 17 show at Escanaba, Michigan, or the August 18 show at Omaha, Nebraska.
Santa Ana Star Casino
Bernalillo, New Mexico
August 21, 2002
Reviewer: LAWoman
The venue in New Mexico was the Star Casino which is sort of in the middle of nowhere like a lot of casinos are. I was a little unsure about the place because the venue was on the small side and reminded me of somewhere you'd go to see a basketball game, not a concert. As it turned out, the place had nice acoustics, the show was sold out and the crowd was very, very enthusiastic. The crowd really got into the show after the first song or two and they were very noisy and on their feet.
The setlist was the normal one they have been pretty much sticking to on this tour, with "Chain Reaction" and the acoustic set. The boys played for around two hours, I think, although I lost track of time and they were the only band on the bill. The mandatory fashion statement is that Stevie wore black leather pants and a grayish-brown shiny shirt--with no shoes, of course.
The new things for me were that Neal played something he called "the guitar game" with the crowd. Neal plays a blues riff and the crowd has to sing it back. Of course Steve helped us because Neal got a little complicated toward the end, but the crowd was really into it and that little game adds such a cool touch to the show.
"Liberty" seems to be a lot longer now than last I heard it in Canada, as the instrumental section has been lengthened. Neal shows his versatility in that one. He can just switch between that amazing "Star-Spangled Banner" to an acoustic set to his searing, rocked-out sound on "State of Grace" and "The Time" with such ease. The classics seem to have some new twists to them. The intro to "Wheel in the Sky" is something I had not heard before--a sort of jazz-inspired drum sequence with some heavy, trippy guitar. Neal definitely continues to live up to his "rock god" status at every show.
Jonathan's piano solo had parts I not heard before either--very beautiful and inspiring. Steve seemed to be having fun and the audience loved him as usual. A few roses were exchanged to the delight of the crowd and he sang to some folks. Deen was also so amazing to watch and I had a really good view for a change. On "The Time" he is just unbelievable. That man has such energy.
So the boys turned out another amazing show at a little venue where a lot of people had probably not had a chance to see this line-up before. I'd say they won some new fans. For me they just maintained their status as the greatest rock and roll band on the planet.
Konocti Harbor Resort Ampitheatre
Kelseyville, California
August 23, 2002
Reviewer: LAWoman
If you've never been to Konocti, let me tell you it is at the end of a winding mountain road and it seems to take forever to get there--but it's worth it. Konocti has a quirky staff and quirky service, but great indoor and outdoor venues. Journey was playing the outdoor amphitheater and there really is not a bad seat in that house. The night of the show was a beautiful evening for northern California. The amphitheatre is right on the lake so behind the stage area you get glimpses of the lake and surrounding the whole venue are pine-covered mountains. It's a very beautiful setting in which to enjoy Journey and I still have the image in my mind of Neal playing one of his blazing solos with that pine-covered mountain rising up behind him.
The venue was nicely filled--probably nearly sold out. When Journey took the stage it was still light out and they played for over two and a half hours--working their butts off. There was a very short opening act and I cannot tell you a thing about them because they were so short that we missed them entirely. It seems that Konocti has a noise ordinance so shows are limited by a definite end time that I believe was around 10 p.m.
The high point of the entire evening (and maybe the entire tour, for me) was a little Santana set the boys threw in. It really left me speechless for awhile (if you can believe that!). Original Santana members Michael Carabello (congas) and Chepito Areas (timbales) along with Chepito's son, Adrian (timbales) came onto the stage and they went into "Black Magic Woman" with Neal singing. (Michael and Adrian currently play with the Gregg Rolie Band.) I cannot tell you how great it was hearing Neal play those familiar riffs from "Black Magic Woman." When Neal sings he can almost sound more like Gregg than Gregg. I managed to get a little preview of this set by peeking in during the sound check (thanks to a very nice security guard) and the first time I heard Neal launch into this song, I literally got choked up. It was like hearing from an old, beloved friend you hadn't heard from in years. For anybody who has never experienced a little bit of a sound check, I was also amazed at how much energy the band puts into it. They are playing flat out even while rehearsing.
Next they did "La Raza Del Sol," with Steve singing as usual, but the addition of all that percussion makes the song sound so much more full. The last song of the Santana set was "Everybody's Everything" with Jonathan singing. You may not recognize the name, but you would know the song if you heard it--a tremendous Santana song. That whole set sounded so fabulous with all that percussion going. The guys were so into jamming. It was just amazing. Words cannot really describe it appropriately.
All the boys were in top form that night. Steve sounded great as usual. Jonathan seemed more into everything than normal--he was very pumped for the jamming in particular. Deen was amazing and Ross was also very animated and totally into the jamming. I suppose it helped that most of the band had family members present. It was very cool to look over at the area where the family members were sitting and see how proud they all looked of the boys and how totally into the show they all seemed to be.
Another extreme high point was when Dennis Erokan, the founder of Bam Magazine and the Bay Area Music Awards (aka the Bammies) came out and gave us the news that Journey is going to be honored on the Walk of Fame in San Francisco next year on their 30th anniversary. The crowd just went wild! This honor came about from a lot of hard work from the Journey Past and Present (JPP) committee. A cool moment was when Dennis Erokan asked the pro football players in the front row to sit down so the JPP committee could be seen. There was a celebrity golf tournament going on at Konocti that weekend and a lot of celebrity football players were swarming around. They took up the front row center at the show and in my opinion they were not very well behaved, so I thought it was a nice touch to get their egos in check for five minutes.
All in all this was one absolutely amazing concert! It was a show of a lifetime and they will have trouble topping this one. They must have been exhausted at the end of it all because it was longer than any show I'd been to--over two and a half hours, perhaps closer to three, but again I lost track of time. When they came out to take their bows I saw Neal and Deen comparing their fingers--apparently each had some torn up fingers from all the playing. Now that is a show!
Setlist:
Red 13 Intro/State Of Grace
Separate Ways
Ask The Lonely
(A Neal Solo was here somewhere but it is not on the set list)
Stone In Love
Only The Young
Send Her My Love
Lights
(Piano Solo)
Open Arms
Feelin' That Way
Anytime
I'll Be Alright
Acoustic Set:
Trial By Fire
Liberty
Journey is joined by original Santana members Michael Carabello and Chepito Arias along with Chepito's son, Adrian, for the next 3 songs:
Black Magic Woman (Neal sings)
La Raza Del Sol (Steve sings)
Everybody's Everything (Jonathan sings)
The Time
Don't Stop Beliving
Faithfully
Escape
trippy Neal and Deen solo/intro
Wheel In The Sky
Be Good To Yourself
Encore:
Anyway You Want It
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
Antelope Valley Fair
Lancaster, California
August 24, 2002
Reviewer: LAWoman
Lancaster is my home turf now and for those who are unfamiliar with the area, it is about an hour outside of L.A., in L.A. county. The venue was at the annual Antelope Valley Fair. I have to admit I was worried about how the Lancaster crowd was going to react to Journey. Because I live in the area, I have been hearing about Journey coming to Lancaster all summer. Most people had never heard the current line-up, in fact a lot of people had no idea Perry was gone. But it became apparent pretty quickly that the crowd loved the boys. The venue was packed and appeared to me to be a sell-out--or nearly so. The venue holds around 10,000.
Security was a little strict and did do that annoying thing where they tell people to sit down, but eventually they relaxed and people were on their feet and very noisy. The sound system was better than I expected and I thought everyone sounded great. Near the end of the night Neal gestured for the crowd to come forward and then everyone pretty much went crazy. The crowd was so loud and enthusiastic it was a joy to see even though I was pretty much crushed up against the front barrier and I was thinking the whole thing might just tip over. The crowd loved Journey and Journey loved the crowd. That's the way a rock'n'roll crowd should be.
Let's start with the mandatory fashion statement--I believe those were some kind of purplish snake-skin print pants Stevie had on with a white shirt and, of course, no shoes. Fortunately the high desert cooled down by showtime so I don't think Stevie roasted his toes. The band seemed very energetic and rested even though I know they had just performed an exhausting show the night before (Konocti Harbor) and had a grueling bus ride that must have taken around eight hours.
They were back to the normal setlist--no Santana material as that would have been hard to do without all that fabulous extra percussion. Deen-O the magnificent was sounding incredible. My view of him was pretty much blocked, but fortunately there was a video screen. The video also let me see Jonathan during his beautiful piano solo and he seemed particularly dynamic. Jonathan was in top form and seemed to really be enjoying himself, too. Ross was fabulous as usual and he took the time to wish a happy birthday to one of the fans in the crowd, [the great twentieth-century actor] Vincent Price. Vincent was near me and I thought he might need medics after that one--he was totally on cloud nine thanks to that thoughtful acknowledgment by Ross.
As for Neal the rock god, let me just say that I am running out of words to describe Neal. One can only say "amazing" and "incredible" so many times. I tell you that lengthened acoustic "Liberty" still brings tears to my eyes. Neal is such a master. He can go from that softer acoustic set straight into the searing, rocked-out numbers and then into the most soulful blues. It appears to be like breathing for him--just so effortless. I will never tire of hearing and watching the magic of that man. The passion and emotion from that guitar is like nothing I hear in any other guitarist.
AND---Neal breaks a string in the intro to Wheel, so while sustaining a note, the guitar tech hands him another guitar. He proceeds to calmly, effortlessly build the intro back up again taking his time so if you had not been watching him, you would have never known he broke a string. He was not having the audience remember that broken string. Oh, no--you were going to remember his amazing playing if it killed him. Now if that is not the epitome of a rock god, I don't know what is. Over and over throughout the show I was just shaking my head in disbelief--how does he do it?
They played the "guitar game" again with the audience. I'd say the Lancaster crowd was better than Konocti, but I still think Bernalillo was the best. That is such a cool part of the set, along with a similar game Stevie plays with the audience.
And speaking of Stevie--the audience loved him. For many in this crowd it was the first time they were seeing Steve and they loved him. A particularly sweet thing was during "Send Her My Love" a fan gave Steve a rose with a picture of his wife, Lydia, with the rose. After the song Steve said he hadn't seen his wife for awhile and he got a tear in his eye seeing the picture. He was so obviously touched.
Once again, the Lancaster show was another awesome show by the legends. Every show has its own bit of magic and Lancaster was another very special night. Thank you, Journey.
New York State Fair
Syracuse, New York
August 27, 2002
Reviewer: By Mark Bialczak, Staff writer, from The Syracuse Post-Standard
With a steady stream of hits from the feel-good days of rock, Journey kept the State Fair Grandstand crowd feeling very good indeed Tuesday night. Lead singer Steve Augeri, guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain did their very best to make sure that every note was filled with the kind of energy that made Journey a ruler of rock radio in the late '70s and early '80s.
"Separate Ways" and "When You're Feeling Lonely" made sure everybody knew it was going to be a night of great memories.
And the ballads were even better. Augeri handles some of the best love songs from that period with every bit of grace as former Journey lead singer Steve Perry.
On "Open Arms" and "Faithfully," you'd think that when the Journey guys call him Steve, they're still referring to old mate Perry.
Schon gave goose pimples with a bluesy, gutsy version of "The Star-Spangled Banner." With Sept. 11 around the corner, the crowd paid great respect.
However, it didn't pay much attention to Journey's attempt to place some of its newer songs into the hit parade.
"Higher Place," from the last album, Arrival, and Red 13, from the upcoming album of the same name, were all noise and no feeling when compared with the old hits.
Fortunately, Journey won the crowd back immediately with "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Wheel in the Sky," both full of the intensity that makes a Journey concert a pleasure still these days.
Opener Peter Frampton took the stage to regal introductory music.
Then he showed that he's still one of the kings of guitar.
The British-born rocker showed that at age 52, he's still got all the vocal and guitar chops that made his "Frampton Comes Alive" album the biggest-selling concert record ever.
And those songs from the mid-'70s still sound great.
When Frampton came to the line about his friends and family in the song "Lines on My Face," somebody in the crowd wearing a "Frampton's Family of Friends" T-shirt jumped with joy.
Frampton seems like the kind of a rascal you'd like to down a pint with in a pub.
"I know you love new numbers. We'll do this one," he said.
Then he rolled his eyes. And went into the huge 1976 hit "Show Me the Way."
The acoustic "All I Want to Be (Is by Your Side)" got the crowd to sing along, and on the hit "Baby, I Love Your Way," Frampton played the Mitch Miller role, waving his arms and coaxing the crowd through the familiar lyrics.
A 15-minute version of his epic "Do You Feel Like We Do?" showed that his guitar work and vocals have withstood the test of time.
When he got to the part where he sings into a voice tube to synthesize his voice, Frampton sang, "Syracuse, New York...I feel frisky tonight."
So did the crowd. Frisky enough for a headline act.
A fiery version of the Beatles' classic "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was aged to perfection and had the crowd ready for Journey.
(c) 2002 The Post-Standard.
Allentown County Fair
Allentown, Pennsylvania
August 28, 2002
Reviewer: Lunchbreak
"Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink." Unless you tipped your head back and opened wide.
I have a very, very short list of bands that I will stand in the pouring rain for hours to see. So short that up until August 28, 2002, there was only one name on that list and it was the Allman Brothers.
Journey has now been placed on "The List of Bands that Jane Will Stand in The Rain For Hours To See."
For a summer that in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania has mainly consisted of a drought, it was ironic that the heavens opened up Wednesday night, but open up they did and since it was a rain-or-shine show, well I was going no matter what. But, typical for me, I was in denial all day. "It's not going to rain.it's going to go south of here.it will just sprinkle.it will be warm.etc., etc.," So also typical for me I was unprepared. At least I had an umbrella but it was JRNY4Me who came through for me with a rain poncho! Thanks, Mary!
Peter Frampton opened up for Journey, which was reminiscent of the 2001 tour. Now, I like Peter, but Journey was who I was there for, know what I mean? So I hummed and sang a bit, clapped now and then and waited "Patiently." When Peter was finished, the roadies stormed the stage and began the transformation. It happened rather quickly. Next thing I know, the lights go out and people start to cheer. I heard the first sounds of "State of Grace" and instantly forgot I was dripping wet and the adrenalin rush began.
As always, Journey did not disappoint, with the possible exception that it was a shorter set list than usual. Steve had a bit of trouble with his voice in the first half of the show. Perhaps the strain of this tour is showing a little bit. But he was ever the gentleman showman, encouraging us to ignore the raindrops and thanking us for braving them at the same time. Around midway his throat seemed to really warm up and from that point on he nailed it. A few trips to the tops of the speakers made things exciting! The guys all looked great last night, looking happy and having a good time. Ross came over in front of us a few times and made his famous faces, which was completely priceless. Neal's Star Spangled Banner had me in awe yet again.
The set list:
Red 13: Intro
State of Grace
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Ask the Lonely
Star Spangled Banner
Stone in Love
Only The Young
Lights
Jon's Solo
Open Arms
Feeling that Way/Anytime
Higher Place
The Time
Don't Stop Believin'
Faithfully
Escape
Neal Solo
Wheel in the Sky
Be Good to Yourself
Encore:
Any Way You Want It
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
I'm proud to be a member of an unofficial group which I affectionately call the "Hard Rock Cafe Gang," also known as "My Posse." We got together and purchased a gift for Steve--a Brooklyn Cyclones T-shirt, baseball cap and sweatshirt. Iluvjonathan (Stacey) packaged it all up nicely and she passed it to him on stage at the end of "Any Way You Want It." When he saw what was inside, he looked very pleased! In fact, he took out the T-shirt and started to walk off to the side of the stage while unbuttoning the white shirt he had on (with a sly look over his shoulder). I had quite the treat as I could see him take off the white shirt (be still my beating heart) and put on the T-shirt. He then came back on stage with his new Brooklyn Cyclones "T" on. While he was busy doing this the guys had started to play the intro to Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' and I think Steve missed his singing cue because Neal said into his mic, "I don't hear anything over there!" Much laughter ensued. He looked great and we were very happy that HE was happy!
This was my first exposure to the sing-back-the-guitar-riff game and that was a lot of fun!
I hung with and met many great Journey fans too, which only enriched the experience!
The Allentown Fairgrounds grandstand is fairly large - we "guesstimated" 10,000 seats. It was very nearly filled except for the seats right behind the large support posts in the upper seating. It was a little difficult in the heavy-ish rain to judge the response of the crowd, but this particular night there was a lot of standing and dancing going on in much larger sections than the other shows I have been at. There seemed to be quite a bit of vocal response at least. The crowd really seemed to love the show.
Just another great Journey evening. And it ain't over yet.
Allentown County Fair (Alternate Review)
Allentown, Pennsylvania
August 28, 2002
Reviewer: GumOnMyShoe27
It was a crappy night, but it most definitely WASN'T a crappy concert! It's like Kevin Elson says in Frontiers and Beyond--"If the farmers want rain, they'll have a rock show"--and boy did it pour.
The guys ran out under the rain and enormous applause and broke into "State of Grace", which, was the best song off of Red13 they played that night. "Separate Ways" was crystalline too (took a moment during the song to call my friend at her dorm who couldn't come). "Ask The Lonely" was next and the harmonies sounded great. The second best part of the night was when Neal ripped out "The Star-Spangled Banner." Everyone stood up with their hands on their hearts (I couldn't resist singing to it) and that got a lot of applause also. They soared through "Stone in Love," "Only the Young," and "Lights." During Jon's solo, someone yelled "WE LOVE YOU JONATHAN!" from our row all the way in the back. "Open Arms" was definitely a favorite of the crowd (of course). Some lady behind us kept screaming for "Feeling that Way" and the guys must have heard her, cause they played it--with "Anytime." For "Higher Place" I had to rest my feet, but I still sang along. They played "The Time" from Red13 which rocked our socks. Then came "Don't Stop Believin," another crowd favorite. For "Faithfully" you can imagine all of those "faithful" fans in the rain singing along. Everyone got on their feet for "Escape" and stayed there for "Wheel" and "Be Good To Yourself." The band left for just a brief moment--but they couldn't leave us hanging! They came back and everyone screamed of course. During "Anyway You Want It" someone threw a bag of clothes and goodies onto the stage and Steve took out a yellow shirt, went behind stage and changed his shirt. He was climbing all over the speakers all night. I was afraid he was going to slip, because the rain had drenched the speakers.
But the best part of my night was "Lovin Touchin Squeezin." Neal played a little solo as the intro to it and then he said "I'm gonna play some blues riffs, and you guys sing back, OK?" Of course we all screamed them back. And during one of the "soft" parts of the song, my friends, two ladies in the row in front of us, and I all screamed "We love you Neal!" and he gave us a thumbs up! That made my night. Steve helped us out with the singing back. Neal joked around and played something real complicated so we couldn't sing back. The guys ended with an acapella "Na na na na na na," and we all filed out.
Champlain Valley Exposition
Essex Junction, Vermont
August 30, 2002
Reviewer: JRNY02
Reflections, Past, and Present:
A summer day, sandwiched between miserable cold, rain, and wind, allowed us to see Journey perform at Essex Junction, Vermont, without taking a Woodstock walk down memory lane. The weather was sunny, and 80 degrees in this beautiful mountain region of Vermont.
I wish I could say more favorable things about the venue, Champlain Valley Exposition (AKA Vermont State Fair).
The venue was pathetic, at best. A rented stage, set up in front of an old, dilapidated grandstand, and a freshly graded racetrack, full of sharp stones, made for a most uncomfortable evening. The "seats", if you will, were 20-year-old beat-up pieces of plastic, set up on this loose dirt and rock, and sunk into the ground 2 inches when you first sat down. [I decided then that this would be] my first and last time seeing any band perform in a "State Fair" type of venue. Little did I know, that the worst was yet to come, and would bring me to tears before the night was over.
This was to be my fortieth live performance of a band I've loved for the past twenty-seven years. It would alter my feelings considerably, about the way I feel this band is being managed, marketed, and handled in general. It will NOT change my feelings toward the band, however.
Taking my seat at about 6:20 pm, in plenty of time to see Peter Frampton yet again get caught up in his own guitar wizardry, I quickly noticed some of the usual Journey
"bottom-feeders" in attendance. Their camera bags all ready to go, despite their thinly veiled convictions to obey the very rules they set on their kindergarten forum, I reflected on the things I'd witnessed at Mohegan Sun, and the vicious negative campaign they concocted against a fine bunch of people in and around Gilford, New Hampshire. The customary taste of sour milk once again permeated my senses, and Journey hadn't yet hit the stage.
There were the repeated warnings about taking pictures during Journey's performance, and signs were EVERYWHERE, proclaiming the same. I chose to obey the rules once again, while the "bottom-feeders" went about their usual blatant disregard of the rules they're supposed to be following, set forth by the so-called "moderators" on the Back Talk forum.
So much for one set of rules. Talk about a double standard! All for one, but NONE for you!
I say Screw them, they aren't worth a grain of salt to begin with, and furthermore, I at the very least have a life that I am proud of, and proud to go home to.
A Fellow Street Team member only confirmed my own thoughts, as that person has just about had it with the childish ways of the people running the show, if that's what it is to be called. Why, after working day and night for the past 5 months of my own life, to promote the Gilford show tirelessly, I too, was merely cast aside, and dropped faster than a bad habit by the "moderators" on Back Talk. I know the feeling well, and won't soon forget it. Lesson learned. They deserve what they've nurtured, chaos and confusion. Enough, and on to the show.
Peter Framptom hit the stage at precisely 7:00 pm. I actually enjoyed the first half of his set. The songs were well played, and the sound was good. That all ended quickly, just like last summer, when Pete got carried away with his own playing, and went off into his own solo land, song after song. If this author wants to see a God play guitar, he would gladly wait for Neal Schon, thank you. He left the stage to a surprising standing ovation from the crowd of about 9000. He was most appreciative of the ovation, as he left the stage, at 8:12 pm.
Journey came on at 8:45, and went right into "State of Grace," which drew respectable applause. I still feel they are missing the boat, opening with a new song, which very few know the words to. Last year's opener, "Message of Love," was just fabulous, and is remembered very fondly by this author.
The set list continued, in just about the same format as most shows. I must add here that Neal's rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," was most impressive on this night, as was his playing throughout this whole show. I did notice quickly that there was no video during the show. I also noticed quickly that Steve was straining to hit notes, and was already singing falsetto, and I knew it would be a long night ahead for the guy whom I've grown to love so much.
The show continued, and Steve even stumbled on words to a couple of songs, which I found most unusual. He also rambled on about Lake Champlain, asking the crowd to "forget about it for a minute," while he took them to the city by the bay. Nice, but you don't tell these people to forget about the place they all call home, and a place equally as pretty as San Francisco, though in a different way. Yes, I quickly forgave him for an obvious misstep, as we all make them. I'm just pointing this out to suggest that Steve may have been extremely tired. Jon Cain, who I also love on stage, appeared very weary, and to be merely "going through the motions" of this show, basically expressionless throughout. I'm comparing this performance to Gilford, a few weeks earlier, and also to the number of times I've had the pleasure of seeing him perform.
Could it be the fact that some tour wizard's decision to have our band on a bus may be the reason they're showing signs of wear and tear? That's another topic I won't get involved with, but I have my own thoughts on.
The band on this night left out the two song "acoustic set," that had become a crowd favorite, and it did not go un-noticed. Perhaps, with things being as they were, it was better that way?
As Steve's voice became more strained, the crew amped the living Hell out of the show, (an old trick in the rock'n'roll business), and even added reverb, to "fatten"
the sound. My past experience working for Lexicon, Inc. serves me well to this day, as they still make the finest sound equipment in the business.
As Journey went into "The Time", I was about to see something I would remember, though sadly, forever. The crowd was starting to walk out on our heroes. Yes, it's true. I
was pissed off. This band was trying very hard to own up to it's own code of the road, and it's fans were hitting the bricks...in droves. A shiver went up my spine, as legions of patrons left the venue. At least a third of the original patrons had left by 10:15 pm. My wife turned to me to see tears streaming down my face, and she quickly knew what I was feeling. Somebody tell me this was all just a bad dream! I had been sensing this all night, as I knew the band just didn't "have it" on this particular evening. But LEAVING? C'mon, that's just absurd at a Journey show. Nonetheless, it's true. I will never return to this venue for anything, as a bad taste is still in my mouth even today, two days later.
The band pushed on, and the sound was amped even further, pushing even Journey's music into virtual distortion.
I wanted, mercifully, for this show to end. I wanted it all to be all right. I wanted to make it better. But I could do none of the above.
The show ended with the customary "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'," with Steve jumping down, off stage, to shake hands with front row fans.
It was over at 10:40 pm. A two-hour show.
M.F.O., as Steven Tyler used to say. Medi-F***ing-Ocre, at best.
Every band will have an off night, and Journey is no different.
One only needs look at their schedule to wonder why they are holding up even this well. I mean, just look at the tour dates, and look at number of times they're backtracking.
And on a bus! To even the most casual fan, this has to be alarming to see.
Journey is a world class rock'n'roll band. Should they be forced to travel in a bus, for example, from Toronto, Canada, on Sept. 28, to Springfield Massachusetts, on Sept. 29?
This has just got to tire out even the most road-worthy. Considering that Steve Augeri has a voice that must be managed and rested, I question seriously whether this
tour is truly for the love of the fans, or just for the money. I'll leave it to you to make up your own minds. I definitely question the management tactics being deployed on this band I've
loved so passionately, and for so long. It hurts me greatly to see this taking place, while the "moderators" of their forum continue to gloss over the facts, and completely ignore any
constructive criticism from the remaining loyal fans. To drive fans away is not something I'd be doing right now, as this band struggles to survive and gain new fans along the way.
My own passion for Journey allows me to be objective about them, and to be honest in what I do say about them. I don't live in a fantasy world, and I realize all is not perfect. I owe it to you, the fans of this band, to report what I see onstage, and what I feel in my heart. I won't cheat myself, and I won't cheat you. May God Bless this very special band, and grant them the success they deserve. Thank you.
Last Updated 14 April, 2004 (JRNYDV)
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