Journey Triumphantly Returns in Live Show

This tour is a dream match-up for some. Combining some of the biggest rock groups of the 70s/80s, you not only get to see Journey revitalized with new singer Arnel Pineda but also get treated to opening acts, Heart and Cheap Trick. Much more than a wave of nostalgia, they really brought a lot of energy for a packed venue that gave back just as much. Although I unfortunately missed Cheap Trick's performance and half of Heart's due to traffic, what I saw was amazing and showed that they can still put on a great performance.


I was really disappointed to have missed Cheap Trick's show, but I was glad to at least catch half of Heart's. I've mostly been a casual fan, only familiar with their major singles and popular songs. But sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson really put on a great performance that was all energy. They really rocked out but also slowed it down when they needed to. They even dedicated one of their biggest hits, "These Dreams" to new Journey singer, Arnel Pineda. I'm not sure how full the venue was during Cheap Trick's performance, but it was already packed by the time Heart arrived. The crowd was going crazy as they played song after song. One of the highlight had to have been their performance of "Alone" as well as finishing things off with the fast-paced "Barracuda". And with the crowd pleading for more, they came back onstage for a couple more songs. They officially ended their set with "Crazy on You", which was a nice way to round things out for a great rock set. The Wilson sisters are still going strong and are gaining new fans with songs featured in both Guitar Hero II and III. While I wasn't as excited as some of the others in the audience, it was still a very fun show.

Journey debuted new singer, Arnel Pineda during their February 2008 performance in Chile.

Since Journey recruited Arnel Pineda to the group and showed off their rejuvenated sound with their latest album, Revelation, it's the best they've been since Steve Perry parted ways with the group in 1998. Previous lead singers felt more like poor imitations rather than the next evolution of Journey, and now Arnel Pineda brings a classic feel with some new energy. Their show started off with their new instrumental track, "The Journey", quickly segueing into Revelation's opening track, "Never Walk Away". While most of their new songs didn't get as big of a reaction as the classic material, this one of the few that were received better from the crowd. As they went into "Only the Young", they only reminded you that guitarist Neal Schon can still shred with a mini-solo. "Stone In Love" further solidified this fact as he kept on bringing the heat. Perhaps one of the bigger highlights of their performance for me was one of my favorites, "Ask the Lonely". While it may not be one of their more popular songs, it's a nice song that builds with Neal's solo as all five chime in for the chorus. But hearing "Separate Ways" live is an experience like no other. It had to be one of the more powerful performances that they put on. With the largeness of the drums, the ambiance of the keyboard, and the background of the guitars, it was all topped off by Arnel's masterful vocal work. The whole song just felt large and hearing live recordings just don't do it justice. Their new material was more hit-and-miss, as Jonathan Cain's great touch on the keyboard was shown on the ballad, "After All These Years". Other tracks like "Change For The Better" kind of shifted the momentum down a bit, but there was a nice balance of both new and old songs.

Journey began their 2008 Summer Tour in the UK.

While the momentum was a bit of a roller coaster, "Lights" was only the beginning of one of the high points. You could hear the crowd singing along, holding up lighters and cell phones. And as Jonathan Cain caught everybody's attention with an impressive keyboard solo, he went straight into "Open Arms". The entire venue was singing with Arnel's soaring vocals, which you could see that he was definitely in his element. And then they went into one of Arnel's best songs, "Faithfully". As one of the songs that originally caught the attention of Neal Schon when he discovered him on YouTube, he truly does it justice. "Wildest Dreams" and a song I was unfamiliar with brought the energy down a bit, but then they played fan-favorite, "Don't Stop Believing". They didn't disappoint here, although it didn't feel as powerful as some of the others. Instead of strictly sticking to the song list, they went into a little ditty with Neal Schon on guitar and Jonathan Cain playing a very impressive harmonica. You could see how much fun Journey was having on stage, as Arnel Pineda was dancing, meeting fans, and making some impressive and timely jumps off of the drum riser. They completed the set with "Wheel in the Sky" and "Any Way You Want It", which had everybody on their feet asking for more. As Arnel did formal introductions of all the band members, you can see how close they have become. They came out for an encore with "Escape" and "Lovin, Touchin', Squeezin'", which felt like great fanservice for the packed crowd. As they made their final bow, it only reinforced my excitement about Journey's future.

While there were some songs I was hoping to hear like "Mother, Father" or "I'll Be Alright Without You", it was still a phenomenal experience and worth every penny to see them live. They managed to cover most of the biggest hits as well as display some of the stronger tracks from Revelation. The pacing could have been better managed, but that was most likely attributed to more familiarity and passion for the classic songs rather than the new material. All five members of Journey really shined here and all of the old songs felt new again. Heart put on a great performance, and I'm sure Cheap Trick did the same. With a large amount of tour dates left to go, there's plenty of time to check them and see for yourself that they still got it.

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Don’t Stop Believin’ In Journey

From left to right: Arnel Pineda (lead vocals), Deen Castronovo (drums), Neal Schon (guitars), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), and Ross Valory (bass).

Journey has had a long musical history. They have been around for more than thirty years, best known for such 80s hits as “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms”. Throughout the band’s various line-up changes, former lead vocalist Steve Perry is responsible for creating the amazing legacy and memorable voice of Journey. After being part of the group for more than twenty years, Perry and Journey parted ways in 1998 after disputes over Perry’s hip injury and required replacement surgery. Since then, they have had a couple of lead singers that attempted to capture the spirit of the band. Look and sound-a-like Steve Augeri shouldered the burden as ‘the replacement’, but he always felt more like a poor copy of Perry that failed to measure up. A throat infection in 2006 forced Journey to look for a new lead singer, and Jeff Scott Soto was the temporary stand-in until they parted ways in 2007.

Former lead singers: Steve Perry, Steve Augeri, Jeff Scott Soto, and the current Arnel Pineda.

The discovery of new lead singer Arnel Pineda came from guitarist and founding Journey member Neal Schon’s searching on YouTube. Making a name for himself in The Phillipines and with band The Zoo at the time, Pineda was singing covers of famous bands such as Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and Journey as well. After immediately being flown to the U.S. for an audition, he was soon added to the group. Since the departure of Steve Perry, Journey had lost that magic. Steve Augeri was an adequate replacement, but he never had that emotion and feeling that made the group so unique and special. Jeff Scott Soto was forgettable, as he was only part of the band for six months before they sought out a more permanent replacement. The discovery and implentation of Arnel Pineda is such a wondrous story, but one that has led to some raised brows and criticisms from faithful Journey fans. Questions about his Filipino background, accent, or his fit with the band should be set to rest. His tenor voice is a great match for Perry, much better than previous singers. Besides that, he carries that feeling, passion, and magic into songs both old and new that really makes this feel like a new start for Journey.


The recently released album, Revelation is the first to include Pineda, although he joined during the recording process and does not have any writing credits on any of the tracks. The record includes eleven new tracks, eleven re-recorded greatest hits, and a bonus DVD featuring live concert footage. The packaging and artwork add a nice touch, but the music speaks for itself. For the first time in a long while, it feels like classic Journey once again. The opening track, “Never Walk Away” gives a nice introduction to Pineda, and it shows only a sampling of his amazing voice. He soars throughout the new material, very much feeling like the true spiritual successor to Steve Perry. Rather than merely sounding like a copy, he adds that dimension to the band that has been missing. You can hear the emotion he adds to each song, from rock to ballad. A couple songs tend to meander a bit, but longtime members like Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain still show they still have it. As the principle writers of the album, they present a well-balanced album that complements each section. One of the standout tracks is the soulful “Turn Down The World Tonight”, which really showcases the direction Journey is heading in.

The new recordings of classic songs like “Faithfully”, “Don’t Stop Believin’”, and “Who’s Crying Now” sound amazingly similar to their original counterparts. Pineda definitely does them justice, enough so that you can even make out the minor differences in his delivery. Although drummer Deen Castronovo was not apart of the original recordings of these hits, he does a good job of presenting the songs. While there are plenty of tracks I would have loved to have heard with Pineda, they chose a nice selection of tracks that encompasses some of their biggest songs and complements his style and voice very well. In classics like “Open Arms”, Pineda is in his element as his tenor voice soars. The concert footage shows the band early on with their new lead singer, but you can see chemistry gradually building. Given that Pineda has only been officially with the band for about six months, he’s acclimating well enough. While he doesn’t command that stage presence that Perry had, he doesn’t look out of place. Fans might initially question his fit because of his ethnicity, but once they see and hear him with the rest of the band, then their fears should be laid aside.

Arnel Pineda is not exactly the next ‘Steve Perry’, but he brings Journey in the right direction. Although all five guys aren’t exactly young anymore, they still bring the intensity and passion in their music and performances. Revelation is exclusively available at Walmart stores, and the low $12 price tag should entice both newcomers and old fans alike. The future is looking better for Journey, and I’ll be keeping a watchful eye on where things go from here.

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