August 2, 2004: My Concert Season FINALLY Begins

Turlock, CA
Stanislaus County Fairgrounds

Yesterday greeted Bay Area residents with yet another cold, cloudy, miserable summer day. The awful summer we've had in the Bay Area means that the Central Valley is having a cooler summer too. This is a good thing. Instead of being 100+ yesterday when we drove to Turlock, it was only 85 -- quite pleasant!

Leslie and I took off early for Turlock to avoid the traffic, so when we arrived at the fair as it opened at 5:00, we were able to hear the end of sound check. Deen was working on "Suzanne" as we pulled in to the parking lot, and once we were inside of the fair we kept walking toward the music -- which meant past the huge cow display. (Okay, this is not your "typical" Journey show.... I mean, COWS!) We found a place to sit in the shade and listened to the end of sound check, which meant we got a preview of "Walks Like a Lady" -- Yes, Chris, Ross does sing!

Once sound check ended, Leslie and I, along with our friends from Sacramento that we'd run into, headed over to the Back Talk gathering. I gotta say, it was the first time in a LONG time I showed up at a fan gathering and only knew 6-8 people! As always, it was nice meeting new Journey fans and seeing everyone's enthusiasm for the show. (Not to mention all the treats! The JPP Committee may have to steal a few ideas!)

We headed over to the show about 7:30, and were generally pleased with our front row seats. The only down sides being (1) we were right in front of a set of speakers and (2) we were on the aisle, which meant traffic kept crossing in front of us all night long. The show started promptly at 8:00 and Leslie, Darla, Emerson and I were on our feet at the first note of the Intro. Turns out, we (and the couple next to us) would be the ONLY people in the front row on our feet for nearly the entire concert.

I have never seen a crowd as dead as this one -- ever at any concert. Thank goodness there were some Back Talkers sitting behind us, or we may have suffered the same fate as many of our friends seated around the show -- forced to sit down by the rude people sitting around them. You could count the number of people on their feet for this show -- it was very sad. The first reaction I noticed from the crowd came during "Open Arms" -- well over an hour into the show. People didn't start standing up and looking like they were having a good time until the end of the set. When the show was over, people were chanting "One more song, one more song" and I thought "Why on earth would they want to come out for one more song for a crowd that was only into a 2 hour plus show for the last 30 minutes!" Note to the band -- skip the Stanislaus County Fair in the future!

As with most shows, the audience's reactions fed the band's performance, so while the guys were good as they always are, there was a lack of fire in their performance that I've seen at other shows. That said, it was another enjoyable evening listening to great music. Watching the Ferris wheel start up as "Wheel in the Sky" began. Ross's rendition of "Walks Like a Lady" was a real treat -- much more bluesy than Perry's original in Ross's lower, rougher range. Deen continues to impress and amaze when he takes his turn on lead, nailing again the high note in "Keep on Running" -- wow! Neal and Jon again were a treat during "Voodoo Chile" -- Neal channeling Jimi Hendrix and Jon on the harmonica playin' some serious blues. And of course Steve was the front man with the impossible task of getting the lackluster crowd on it's feet.

As we headed out from the show, it was generally agreed -- a good show, but man, we can't wait for Konocti!

Set List:

Intro
Be Good to Yourself
Only the Young
Star Spangled Banner
Stone in Love
Wheel in the Sky
Higher Place
Suzanne -- Deen vox
Lights
Walks Like a Lady -- Ross vox
Just the Same Way -- Jon/Steve vox
Chain Reaction
Voodoo Chile -- Neal vox
Keep on Running -- Deen vox
-- piano solo --
Kiss Me Softly
Open Arms
Mother, Father -- Deen vox
Rubicon
Escape
Faithfully
Don't Stop Believin'
Separate Ways
Any Way You Want It

Encore:
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
Party's Over