July 14, 2001: Arrival on the East Coast

Pittsburgh, PA
Post-Gazette Pavilion

Reporting from the wilds of West Virginia for this show. A friend from high school moved here a few years ago and wanted me to visit so badly she started sending me Journey concert dates to entice me. Well, what's a girl to do? Hop on a plane and fly to Pittsburgh of course!

So, we drove up to Pittsburgh from West Virginia, and took in my first Journey show in a MONTH (oh, the hardship!) and Ana Gloria's first Journey show ever. (I learn after nearly 20 years of friendship that she's a closet Journey fan! Geez...)

The pre-show tailgate was another great afternoon meeting Journey fans, and we all got to drool over Carol's after-show pass—the only one in the group with fan club seats to get a pass.



It was interesting seeing how things have changed in the month since my last show in San Antonio. John Waite added a slightly tattered looking British flag as a back drop to his show, which definitely enhanced the look of his set. Of course, it occurred to me that he must be somewhat frustrated career-wise—20+ years and he's still opening for Journey. His set list didn't seem any different than it was earlier in the tour, but this time Neal came out at the end of his set and played on "Head First."

Frampton was next, and it turned out my seats were right next to the convention of the Frampton fan club! In fact, pretty much my entire row plus most of the row behind me and half of the row in front of me was filled with "Frampton's Family of Friends" in matching shirts! They, of course, were on their feet the minute his set started. Unfortunately, right after Frampton had acknowledged the gathering and pointed out their shirts, a staff member for the venue came over and asked them all to sit down! (pppppttttthhhh!) They were up and down the rest of the set. Frampton's set was a little bit different than earlier in the tour—he added an acoustic number and taken out the blues song that he co-wrote with Jon.

Journey started their set about 9:45, and the video opening has changed since I saw them last. They've taken to filming their arrival to the city of the day and the stage set up at the venue. Definitely a great way to get the crowd into the show (and has me really eager to see what the hometown show will be like next month!) The show has really jelled in the last month, and was the smoothest set I've seen this tour. Set-wise there weren't any true surprises. Personally, I was THRILLED to hear "Fillmore Boogie" again—they've got to get that song recorded and released. (I know I know... jam song, not record material...okay, so give us a new live album!) And hearing "Livin' to Do" was another highlight for me. I must say, the best part of this tour is the fact that I've been to 6 shows and have yet to hear the same set list twice! Refreshing!

I asked Ana Gloria about her thoughts on the show, and I think she summed it up when she said "I was waiting for a song I didn't like to go to the bathroom, but there wasn’t one!" Watching her during "Lights" was hard—she got very teary-eyed and homesick—but it's always fascinating to watch the power of music over people.

The set list for the night was:

Any Way You Want It
Only the Young
-- Neal Solo (Amazing Grace) --
Stone in Love
Nothing Comes Close
Send Her My Love
Lights
-- Jon Solo --
When You Love a Woman
Feeling That Way
Anytime
Message of Love
Higher Place
Fillmore Boogie
Don't Stop Believin'
Faithfully
Livin' to Do
Separate Ways
-- Neal solo (w/ a little of Deen on drums)--
Wheel in the Sky
-- Deen’s mini-drum solo --
Be Good to Yourself

Encore:
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

On the road again for Journeydigest.com....