Journey - Hammersmith Apollo 17th June 2008

Where do I start?
I thought I would never see them yet since we went to the US this was 5 times in 34 months with 3 singers - the band are now even doing some arena's over here! How things change.

John Parr supported. For the first 2 songs the house music continued the play through the pa. The band were very under rehearsed but were not too bad although the only song I really knew was St.Elmo's Fire which they played last.

So onto Journey with a new singer - how would Arnel Pineda be?
Well he appeared to be supported by half the population of the Philippines so that helped. The new cd is fantastic, yes he does sound like Steve Perry, but he does have some of his own style. They came onto Majestic (an old instrumental) giving Neal a chance to warm up and then straight into Never Walk Away off the new cd. Superb! Then into Separate Ways and yes the legacy has returned. Arnel ran around, sang like an angel and was having a ball. Neal grinned like a Cheshire cat all night. We ended up with 6 off the new cd with Wildest Dream being one of the heaviest songs they have done ever and After All These Years being the big ballad. Arnel was stunning on this. We got all of the dirty dozen hits bar Be Good To Yourself plus album tracks Escape, Chain Reaction, Edge of The Blade. Keep on Runnin' and Mother Father were both sung by Deen who again bashed the crap out of his kit yet has a stunning voice.

Just under 2 hours in total. What can I add? The sound was excellent Neal Schon is a god.

He had met Jimmy Page before so said he had to play at the top of his game. He can shred and make the geetar sing. Lastly Arnel. I went after hearing the cd. It is fantastic.Could he do it live?During Open Arms,Faithfully and the beginning of Don't Stop Beleivin' if you closed your eyes it could have been SP - he is that good.
It is what the band wants and it is what the fans want if the reception he got was anything to go by.But he can get better this was only 10 gigs into a career since being found on youtube?
His ad lib singing on the end of songs could have been better but it is a tiny thought. Nit picking.

The guy is a star and I can't wait till next year when they will return again. 10/10.
ME

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