February 27, 2005: National Center for Youth Law Benefit

Oakland, CA
Paramount Theater

The Paramount Theater in Oakland was a wonderful place to see my 50th Journey show. (Yeah, the number kind of shocks me too!) Last night's show was a make up date for a rained out event back in September. The show benefited the National Center for Youth Law, and Mary Valory was among the organizing committee for the event.

Those of us who held tickets for the original show and the people who purchased the $150 tickets when the date was rescheduled, were invited to attend a pre-show reception at the theater. When I arrived at 4:00 for the reception, I was given an envelope with a raffle paddle and a ticket for a free wine glass that could be picked up after the show. (Very nice -- it has the scarab on it in a turquoise blue color.) I wandered around and checked out the silent auction items, bidding only on the iPod that I figured I'd get out bid on considering the well-heeled of Blackhawk were in attendance. (I was.)

About 5:30 the whole gang who had gathered at the show went in to the theater for the auction -- complete with a real auctioneer. It was an incredible experience -- and WOW I was in a crowd with some serious money. There were all kinds of memorabilia, and the Journey stuff went very well ($3,000 for a platinum GH; $4,800 each for 2 autographed guitars, $1,000 each for 3 pairs of after show passes, $2,300 for a VIP package to any show on the 2005 tour.) The BIG ticket item was a custom motorcycle designed by Arlen Ness. It was in the lobby before the show and all the guys had signed it. A VERY cool bike, even to someone who couldn't care less about motorcycles like me. That went for $45,000! shew!

Because of the auction, the show started a little bit late, but it was well worth it. We'd all hoped for a little something new, but alas, it was not to be. The set list was much as they'd been doing the last year. Of course, being a hometown crowd, "Lights" got a huge reception -- particularly from the fans in the balcony, who were truly fans and not the hoi-palloi of the East Bay. The crowd was a bit yo-yo-ish, up and down all night, but there was a good representation of the die hard fans who were on their feet all night. Towards the end of the show things got a little interesting when I had a moment straight out of Frontiers and Beyond when, during "Separate Ways" I saw a bottle come flying out of one of the front few rows sailing straight towards Neal! Fortunately, it sailed past him and landed on the stage behind him, but wow, it was a scary moment. Fortunately, someone made up for that moment, by hanging a birthday present on Neal's guitar during "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'."

The theater is a 1930s art deco wonder, and both the lobby and the theater itself were dramatic. Watching the band in that environment was really just wonderful, and the place was full to the gills (about 3,000 people.)

After the show I picked up my wine glass, got my coat out of the coat check and started heading back to BART for the hour long train ride home. As I was saying my good-byes, I was handed an after-show pass. Well, okay, guess I'm staying a bit later than I planned! The after-show was held in the mezzanine of the theater and was packed with all kinds of people -- auction winners, VIPs who'd paid considerably more than $150 for their seat for the original date, friends and family of the band -- and, being a hometown show, it was a bit chaotic. Ross was buzzing about since this was Mary's event, but I did eventually manage to grab him for a few minutes to say hello. Deen and Steve were easier to grab for a brief chat, which was cool. Deen is looking and feeling much better (he said he feels normal again, so that was great to hear.) I tried to get a few minutes to say hi and happy birthday to Jonathan, but he was constantly surrounded by people talking his ear off, so I eventually gave up after a small group of us got things signed. I never did see Neal, but I'm sure he was there since others did.

I headed home MUCH later than I'd expected and am VERY grateful that my boss is on travel this week, so I can have a slow start to the week.

Guess this is it until summertime!

How long until the tour???

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
Chain Reaction
Voodoo Chle - Neal vox
-- Jon's solo --
Open Arms
Feeling That Way - Jon/Steve vox
Anytime - Jon/Steve vox
Rubicon
Escape
Faithfully
Don't Stop Believin'
Separate Ways
Any Way You Want It

Encore:
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

December 11, 2004: A Road to Reno

Reno, NV
City Center Pavilion

And so concludes the 2004 touring season. As I drove up to Reno yesterday, I couldn't help but remember the other trips I'd made through the Sierra Nevadas on my way to a Journey show. The mountains are always so pretty in winter time and this trip brought back vivid memories of being stuck just short of Donner Pass back in November of 2000 while on my way to hear the first playing of tracks from Arrival. I popped Arrival in my CD player and had it blaring as I pulled in to Reno a short while later.

I arrived in Reno late yesterday morning and met up with Darla and Emerson for lunch. With nothing much going on until evening, I took a quick nap before heading over to Brew Brothers and the gathering of 70 or so Back Talkers. A fun evening of seeing friends I hadn't seen in a while (and some I'd just seen last week!) I left the gathering a little early to deal with some JPP business, and made it to my seat at the show just in time for the opening notes.

We'd heard before the show that most of the band was sick, which since they were sick last week too didn't surprise me much. Alas, this universal illness meant that the set list was cut WAY short. When "Escape" started, I looked at my watch -- it was only 9:15! Lots of songs were cut out.

But, while short, the set was strong. Better a good short show than a mediocre long show, right?? I had a pretty good seat -- 9th row center section. With the high rollers sitting in rows 1-7, it was easy to see the stage since they sat for most of the show. Unlike last week in Clearwater, however, those NOT in the high roller seats were on their feet and singing and dancing along. Other than a guy getting on stage and trying to sing with the band towards the end of the show (and immediately whisked off stage) there weren't any particular stand out moments for the evening. Alas, it was over all too soon, and it was time to turn back around for the drive home.

The end of the year's touring is always met with mixed emotions, but at least we know that the break will be short -- Hollywood is just 5 weeks away!

Set List:

Intro
Be Good to Yourself
Only the Young
Joy to the World/Star Spangled Banner
Stone in Love
Wheel in the Sky
Suzanne -- Deen vox
Lights
Walks Like a Lady -- Ross vox
Chain Reaction
Voodoo Chile/Gypsy Queen -- Neal vox
-- Jon solo --
Open Arms
Just the Same Way
Escape
Faithfully
Don't Stop Believin'
Separate Ways
Any Way You Want It

Encore:
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

August 29, 2003: Deen Sings!

Kelseyville, CA
Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa

No sense wasting time on this highlight of highlights. Last night's show at Konocti Harbor was unbelievable and included Deen taking over on vocals for two songs in the set -- "After the Fall" and "Mother, Father." I have had the good fortune of hearing Deen sing once before during a sound check and had been amazed, so when I'd heard Thursday night Deen was going to sing, I was bubbling with excitement. Six songs into the set, Steve steps up to the mic and said something to the effect of "Five years ago I had the opportunity to join this band along with Deen Castronovo. Tonight we're going to let Deen take a turn on lead vocals." What I heard when Deen opened his mouth for "After the Fall" had my eyes popping out of my head and jaw hitting the floor. If you think Steve sounds like Perry, you haven't heard Deen! I was amazed. He did an absolutely phenomenal job.

A little while later Deen was given a chance to sing lead again, this time on "Mother, Father." Unfortunately his mic cut out for most of the first verse (grrr!) but again I was in awe. "Mother, Father" has always been my favorite Journey song, and when the band performed it at the Warfield last April I was a complete emotional wreck. I managed to not burst out in hysterics this time (though I couldn't prevent a few tears), however my knees literally started shaking and I had to hold on to the seat in front of me to keep myself standing. I love that song so much and Deen did such an amazing job!

The rest of the show was filled with a little bit of everything from the history of this band. Taking the stage at 7:45, they played on until 10:15 -- with only a very short break before the encore. We were treated to three songs from Arrival ("To Be Alive Again", "Higher Place", and "We Will Meet Again") as well as "State of Grace" from Red 13. And we once again had a "Santana set" as part of the encore. This was the kind of Journey show we were all hoping for when the "evening with" dates were announced. [25 songs, not including solos!]

Then you add in the venue. This is the third time the band has played at Konocti Harbor, and it never ceases to amaze me what a spectacular place it is to see a show. A funky little resort run by the plumbers and pipefitters union local 38, seated on the shores of Clear Lake 2.5 hours north of San Francisco. The venue is only 5,000 seats and while there are some funky seating arrangements, it's a beautiful backdrop of the lake and surrounding mountains. Warm summer nights and amazing music. (Not to mention the "hey look there's [your favorite band member here]" aspect since everyone is THERE and there is exactly one restaurant and one bar!) It's a fun, relaxing, family atmosphere. I loathe the drive up to Konocti, but I LOVE the shows I've seen up there.

What a great way to kick off the last leg of the summer touring and the handful of "evening with" shows.

Set List:

Red 13 intro
Separate Ways
Stone In Love
Wheel in the Sky
Star Spangled Banner (Neal solo)
To Be Alive Again
After the Fall -- Deen vocal
Lights
-- Jonathan's solo --
Open Arms
Mother, Father -- Deen vocal
Precious Time
Higher Place
Feeling That Way
Anytime
Chain Reaction
Ask the Lonely
State of Grace
Don't Stop Believin'
Escape
Be Good to Yourself
Any Way You Want It
We Will Meet Again
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'

Encore:
Santana set
conga/timabales solos with Michael Carabello (congas) & a new timbales player named Gibby something

Black Magic Woman -- Neal vocal
La Raza Del Sol
Everybody's Everything -- Jonathan vocal
Faithfully