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Journey : Pechanga - Temecula, CA - 06/11/04
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Sarah Hunt along with Digital Bits' editor, Bill Hunt, attended Journey's kick-off opener in Temecula, CA on assignment. The show was performed at Pechanga Resort on June 11, 2004.
The present lineup, which has been together for a few years, is largely made up of familiar faces and talents but is also graced with two new faces that highly complement the band's signature show.
This show represents a summer tour known as Summer Detour and will run through September 18. Be sure to catch them on one of their shows in a location near you.
With the trademark red piano and scarab-adorned drum kit on stage, the lights were dimmed and the crowd came to their feet. Most never left them again for the next two and a half hours. That’s how it went down as Journey kicked off their 2004 Summer Detour tour on June 11, 2004 in
Temecula
,
California
.
As anyone who’s followed Journey over the years knows, they’ve been through many personnel changes (and vacations) since then, the most notable of which was the departure of lead singer Steve Perry. That alone is enough to give any fan cause for concern. In my opinion, Journey sounds just as good today as they ever have… if not better. Much of that, of course, is thanks to the continued presence of long-time band members Neal Schon, Ross Valory and Jonathan Cain. All are consistently great musicians, and you’d expect nothing less that solid performances out of them. During the Friday show, Neal gave the crowd all the swagger and guitar solos it wanted, wearing his shades all the way. Ross, always the ham, made faces at the crowd and squirted them with water, all without breaking his stride on bass. Cain too gave an excellent show, giving his piano and various keyboards a workout, and even taking a turn as vocalist on one song. Neal even broke out on lead vocals for a song.
Hmmmm…Notice that I haven't said anything yet about the band’s last additions, Steve Augeri and Deen Castronovo, yet? Keep reading.
So many of the classic bands from the 70s and 80s that are on tour these days come limping out on stage a pale shadow of what they once were, and their voices just aren’t there anymore. That’s where Augeri and Castronovo come in. Let me tell you, Journey scored BIG when they brought these two into the fold. Both know how to work a crowd, and are talented and energetic performers.
Steve Augeri and Ross Valory
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Augeri’s voice sounds just enough like Perry’s to make all the classic songs you’re dying to hear satisfying, and yet it’s unique enough to give the band’s music a welcome new twist and energy. I remember the first time I heard the band’s new lineup at the Greek Theatre in
L.A.
a few years back. Augeri came out and floored everyone. The vocal fit is perfect. If you’re interested, you might want to check out Steve in his previous gig with a band called Tall Stories (their CD is out of print, but you can still find copies on Amazon.com). That band was often favorably compared to Journey, and when you hear Augeri sing, you’ll know why. On Friday night’s show he nailed every song, just as he’s done in past shows.
Castronovo is a powerhouse drummer. You might have heard him playing with the likes of Bad English, Steve Vai and Ozzy Ozbourne before joining up with Journey. He actually turns in one of the biggest surprises of the current tour… the boy can sing as well as he drums. Did you say sing? That’s right and I’m not just talking backing vocals here. Deen steps into the lead vocal role for a few classic songs in the current show – Suzanne, Keep on Runnin’ and Mother,Father, and darned if he doesn’t nail ‘em too! He and Augeri take turns on a few others, they actually have a great deal fun with this, and you’ll enjoy watching (and listening) to them. The only drawback to this arrangement - if I had to mention one - is the lack of visual focus on the songs that Deen solos on lead vocals. It tough to see him behind the drumset, but he sounds so good that you quickly get over it.
The whole band seems to really enjoy what they are doing on stage. On Friday night, the band sang not only all their hits, but also dove a little deeper into their catalog, to dust off a few tracks that haven't been performed live in years. Some of the songs you’re likely to hear include Be Good to Yourself, Stone in Love, Only the Young, Wheel in the Sky, Faithfully, Open Arms, Mother,Father, Rubicon, Edge of the Blade, Chain Reaction, Keep on Runnin', Escape, Suzanne, Don't Stop Believin', Separate Ways, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', Just the Same Way, Send Her My Love, Happy to Give, Higher Place, Kiss Me Softly, Lights, Escape, The Party's Over and more.
By the way, if Higher Place and Kiss Me Softly are unknown to you, that’s because you’ll find them on the band’s last CD, Arrival, which was released in 2001. It’s an underrated album that should have received more radio play than it did (sadly, it was downed out by all of the bubble-gum teen and hip-hop music that seems to dominate the airwaves these days). The album is Journey’s first to feature Augeri and Castronovo in the lineup, so if you’re curious as to how the band sounds with them onboard, you can easily check them out now before you see them live. I think you won’t be disappointed. Some of the songs on this album are classic 80’s Journey through and through, and there isn’t a “skipper” in the bunch. Better still, if you like Arrival, the band has also released a new EP, Red 13, featuring still more new material (four tracks in all).
If you’ve ever found yourself singing along with Journey on the radio (come on, admit it… you know you have), then you really owe it to yourself to take in a show on their current tour. The tickets aren’t going to break your bank account, and you’ll enjoy a couple hours worth of great rock music and ballads that you probably all know by heart. Visit the band’s website - www.journeymusic.com - for all the latest news and tour dates.
Bottom line… Journey still rocks. Catch 'em if you can.
