September 21, 2018: The Prelude to 50 Begins

San Francisco, CA

AT&T Park

When the dates for Journey's tour were announced earlier this year, I took a look at the calendar and found that they'd be playing in San Francisco just a couple of weeks before my birthday. I shot off a message to Ana Marie who, like me, would be turning 50 within two weeks of the show. Ten years ago, we similarly celebrated a milestone birthday with a Journey show, but that one had a lot of mixed emotions to go along with our birthdays. This time, we could celebrate and be in a much happier place than we were for that show.

Like 39, 49 has been a year of a bit of turmoil for me. Unlike that year, however, the changes have been mostly for the better. When the tickets for this show went on sale, I was unemployed for the first time since I was 19 years old. I got the ticket anyway, figuring that I'd have a job by the time the show rolled around and would figure out the logistics of a Friday night show when it finally did. I did find a new job not too long afterward and the negative of 49 quickly turned in to a positive as I'm really enjoying the new opportunity. As the show approached, I arranged my schedule with my manager -- I'd work from home in the morning and take the afternoon off so I could meet Ana Marie and Mary Ann who was flying in from Memphis for the show.

Then I got a message from my mother. My uncle Will had passed away and his funeral was going to be the same day as the show. Will had been ill for a while, so his passing wasn't a surprise, but now I had to figure what I was going to do about the show. If I had been going by myself, I most likely would have skipped the show -- it would be a very long day to do both. Since I had planned to meet friends, I had to figure out the logistics of attending the services for my uncle and then getting back to the city in time for the show. So, I threw a change of clothes in my backpack and left it in the trunk of my car to change into at the end of the reception. That my family, and especially my cousins who had just lost their father, were all saying "Great! Enjoy the show!" made me feel better about the whole thing. In the end, I realized, that life is meant to be lived and even in sadness you can find joy.

I got to the show in plenty of time to meet up with Mary Ann and her son and soon Emerson and Nicole swung by and we all got to chat for a while before it was time to head to our seats for Foreigner who were opening the show. It was only 6:00, but I was already pretty wiped out from a long day so we mostly sat through Foreigner while they did their brief set. It's been a while since I'd seen them and, as often happens, I had forgotten just how much I enjoy their music. I need to pull out their greatest hits more often.

Def Leppard was scheduled to start at 7:30, so Ana Marie, her friend Leona, and I were up and on our feet as soon as the opening notes to "Rocket" started. Then the stage went dark. Hmm. That's not supposed to happen. There was some kind of power failure on stage and we had to wait about five minutes for things to get rebooted and start all over. Once things got rolling again, Def Leppard put on the kind of show I have come to expect from them. Big, loud, high energy, and just an all around rock show. I probably haven't seen them since the last time they toured with Journey 12 years ago, but the energy of their show is still great. While I never was a HUGE fan, I did always enjoy their music and seeing them again after a while was fun.

A couple of highlights from Lep's set included the acoustic "Two Steps Behind" which was fantastic, and I can't help but be enthralled by Rick Allen's drum solo. It really never ceases to amaze me that he has managed to remain a drummer despite only having one arm. It's truly mind boggling. Their main set closed out with everyone's favorite stripper song -- "Pour Some Sugar on Me" -- which is always great live. They came back out quickly for a two-song encore of "Rock of Ages" and "Photograph" which are probably two of my favorite songs of theirs. Having the crowd sing along with "Rock of Ages" is always a cool thing.

Another short break between sets and Journey came out around 9:40 to their hometown crowd. The second song of the set was "Only the Young", and at just two weeks away from 50 I can't really call myself young any more, but I definitely still feel young at heart when I hear that song. The chorus of that song has always put a big smile on my face. That I feel I'm in a good place in my life right now is also a good thing, and that song kind of reminds me of that. 

One thing I was wary of going in to this show was the memory of how Def Leppard totally blew Journey off the stage the last time they toured together. Their stage production just didn't hold up and the crowds were way more into the Lep's set than Journey's. This time around, Journey had a much improved production with a lot of animations of the old album covers that made for an interesting background. It wasn't quite as eclectic as Def Leppard's production, but it matched it fairly well I thought.

Ana and I were both surprised when Neal began his introduction to "Lights" fairly early in the set. We had both expected it to show up later for the home town crowd. As he has been doing recently, he dedicated the song to Steve Perry, which I can't decide is touching or amusing. Maybe a little of both -- I've spent a long time in Journeyland. AT&T Park lit up their cell phones and it's a pretty cool sight to see. I always love hearing "Lights" in my backyard, that it's the third time I've heard it sitting a little over a hundred yards from San Francisco Bay just made it more special. Jon's solo later in the set was nice and it was fun to hear snippets of "When You Love a Woman" and "Send Her My Love." Ana and I both held our breath when the opening notes from "When You Love a Woman" showed up. The last time we'd heard Journey perform it was at that show 10 years ago. I've been listening to Trial by Fire a lot lately in anticipation of Steve Perry's new album, so it would have been great to hear it live again.

I really love that Steve Smith is out on the road with Journey again. As much as I love Deen, there's just something special about seeing Smitty play and his drum solo was incredible once again. Some of the bits he included I've seen him do before in his solo shows, but that doesn't make his drumming any less spectacular.

The show wrapped up a little after 11:00 with "Faithfully" and "Don't Stop Believin'," and for all that DSB has gotten overplayed everywhere in recent years, I can't not love hearing it. It's given me goosebumps for 37 years now, so I don't expect that to stop anytime soon.

Ana, Leona, and I walked out of the show and parted ways a few blocks from AT&T Park as they headed to BART and I headed to my car. It was a very long day for me and I was completely wiped out by the time I got home (and took all of yesterday to recover, hence the Sunday RRR.) While the day started off sad, it ended in smiles and celebration and that's how life should be.

And this party's just getting started... a few more fun times coming up as the countdown to 50 continues. Stay tuned!

Set lists (courtesy of setlist.fm)

Foreigner:

Long, Long Way From Home
Cold as Ice
Feels Like the First Time
Urgent
Juke Box Hero
I Want to Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded

Def Leppard:

Rocket
Animal
Foolin'
When Love and Hate Collide
Let's Get Rocked
Armageddon It
Rock On
Two Steps Behind (acoustic)
Man Enough
Love Bites
Bringin' on the Heartbreak
Switch 625 (with drum solo.)
Hysteria
Pour Some Sugar on Me

Encore:
Rock of Ages
Photograph

Journey:

Separate Ways
Only the Young
Escape
Stone in Love
Be Good to Yourself
--Neal solo #1 --
Lights
Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'
-- Jon solo --
Who's Crying Now
Open Arms
La Do Da
-- Steve Smith drum solo --
Any Way You Want It
-- Neal solo #2 --
Wheel in the Sky
Faithfully
Don't Stop Believin'

May 7, 2018: U2 Experience

San Jose, CA

SAP Center

It's a little strange to be writing about a U2 show a little less than a year after my LAST U2 show, but that was an anniversary tour; last night was a new album tour. Fortunately, in addition to the ticket to the show, a copy of the new album, Songs of Experience, was included for download or CD with each ticket. Being back to work, I spent much of the last two weeks listening to U2's latest. I enjoy it, but nothing really leaped out for me as a must listen song. Hearing the songs performed live, however, definitely made them more impactful.

The show was set up with the same stage and video screen that they used for their Songs of Innocence tour a couple of years ago. While the "wow that's cool" factor of having Bono and the band appear inside the raised screen isn't the same as the first time I saw it, it is still a pretty neat way of staging the show. 

My friend Mary and I had seats behind the main stage, so it was an interesting way to watch the big screen. In general, I've never had an issue with sitting behind the stage. Sure, there are the occasional blocked views due to cables and such, but overall it's an up-close experience with the added perspective of seeing what the performer sees from the stage. Unfortunately, the sound was distorted most of the night which I suspect was due to the speakers directed towards our seats being a bit too much for the short distance to the back wall and thus caused an echo.

Getting the one and only complaint I had with the show off the list, on to the many different high points. We'll start with the opening of the show. Because of our seat location, we were able to see the band exit the backstage area and enter the space beneath the stage just before the show began. I kept watching to see where they'd come up on to the stage and wondering why they hadn't come out yet. Well soon the video screen, which had been showing images through out the pre-show time, began to change and the lights went down and the music started.  Then there they were -- the whole band standing and performing inside the video screen singing "Love Is All We Have Left" (the opening track to Songs of Experience) with loads of energy. They followed that up with another new track, "The Blackout" before the band returned to the stage leaving Bono inside the screen for one more new song.

It's always tricky when an established act is out on tour with new music. Long time fans are always waiting for their favorites and playing a bunch of new songs, especially right off the top of the show, can be tricky. Some performers can grab the audience with the new songs and bring them along, some can't. Fortunately U2 has Bono as a front man and he remains as dynamic as ever and the crowd was really into the new songs. This was a good thing as the show continued since the set list was heavy on newer material. (I suspect after having just done the Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary Tour which was all about the older, classic, beloved material, it was a deliberate choice to stick with newer songs.) That's not to say older songs weren't performed. I was stunned a little while later when "I Will Follow" was followed by "Gloria." It took me a minute to recognize it (mainly due to the distortion issues) and another few seconds to call up the lyrics from my mental database of songs. The crowd ate it up.

Somewhere in the early part of the show (I think three or four songs in) Bono was out on the smaller stage at the opposite side of the arena from where I was sitting and he did what I can only describe as "the Bono strut" and my brain flashed on the "Sunday Bloody Sunday" video. We're all a lot older now, but that was an instant flash back to youth. With a crowd mostly in their 40s and 50s, it was nice to go back in time like that. From my viewpoint behind the stage, it was great seeing the people on the general admission floor jumping up and down all night long. I'm sure there was a lot of Advil consumed afterwards, but for a night everyone ignored their physical age and felt their emotional age. (I swear, I'm still 30!)

The show moved on with more of the Innocence/Experience songs, with Bono heading back inside the video screen for "Cedarwood Road" which ran with animations similar to the Innocence tour.  When the song ended, Bono descended from the screen on a little platform at the end stage. Larry grabbed his snare drum and started beating on it as the band walked out to the catwalk. A slow, measured version of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" followed. The video screen for this was filled with a combination of messages about peace and messages about when Ireland gained independence from England in 1916 and the "troubles" that followed. This was followed by "Raised by Wolves" a companion piece to the theme. One of the things Bono kept mentioning throughout the show is how Ireland finally found peace when they found compromise. Much of the show was from the perspective of someone from the outside holding up a mirror to America and saying both "take a good look at yourselves" and "remember who you are." There was an even more poignant moment in this regard later in the show I'll mention shortly, but with that theme running through out the show it really drew attention to the new songs and what they're about. Light in the darkness. Love is difficult but necessary for change.

There was a brief intermission while a recorded version of "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" played and the road crew set up on the small stage for the next set.  That opened with "Elevation" and Bono sporting a top hat, some white make up on his face, and no glasses. Energy levels rose with the tune and continued on the high end when the band launched into "Desire." Then Mephisto made an appearance in a very interesting animation for "Acrobat."

My next two favorite moments came up next. With Larry and Adam back under the main stage for a brief break, Edge and Bono remained on the smaller stage for an acoustic version of "Staring at the Sun" which was amazing. Watching them I just imagined a couple of kids sitting in a garage somewhere in Dublin working out their first songs. I can't even say what evoked that feeling but it was likely a combination of the acoustic guitar and seeing a band I've loved since high school with a friend I've known since we were freshmen talking about music we loved.

In contrast to that feeling, however, were the images on the video screen. Foremost among them were the images of the marches in Charleston from last year. All kinds of images of hatred and bigotry. They were really hard to watch, especially since I just don't understand that kind of feeling. That was compounded by a conversation I had with a friend's husband on Sunday. He's from Syria and we had a long talk about politics, religion, racism, and tribalism and how they're impacting everyone on all sides. In the end, we agreed that true freedom comes when we all recognize each others freedoms.

So this was then followed up with a bit of "This Is Not America" as the band moved on to "Pride." I cried while singing my heart out on that one. Bono reminded us that it was 50 years last month that Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated and that his work still remains unfinished. The images on the screen were much more positive and encouraging including several that just said "Vote." 

The band worked their way back to the main stage (Edge and Adam having been on small platforms on the sides of the arena) for "Get Out of Your Own Way" and "American Soul" which I heard with different ears. The main set closed off with "City of Blinding Light" with a lot of colorful lights around the stage.

Back out for the encore with more encouragement to compromise and love one another and to listen to the lessons of the past. "One" was followed by two new songs, "Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way" (which Bono introduced by saying "this is the best line I've got") and "13 (There Is a Light.)" Both brought a lump to my throat, especially "13" which is a variation of "Song for Someone" from Innocence. It is a message we need to remember.

If there is a light you can’t always see
If there is a world we can’t always be
If there is a dark that we shouldn’t doubt
And there is a light, don’t let it go out

Set list (courtesy of setlist.fm)

Love Is All We Have Left

The Blackout

Lights of Home

Beautiful Day

I Will Follow

Gloria

All Because of You

The Ocean

Iris (Hold Me Close)

Cedarwood Road

Sunday Bloody Sunday

Raised by Wolves

Until the End of the World

-Intermission-

Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me

Elevation

Vertigo

Desire

Acrobat

You're the Best Thing About Me

Staring at the Sun(acoustic)

Pride (In the Name of Love)

Get Out of Your Own Way

American Soul

City of Blinding Lights

Encore:

One

Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way

13 (There Is a Light)

Site Maintenance - Some New Content

Hi again all. While working on the cleanup and reformatting of this site, I happened to stumble on a couple of items I didn't find when I first consolidated all of my Rockin' Road Reports, JourneyDigest.com articles, and other tales and stories back in 2014.  I've added them to the site in this update, so if you want to check out some more historical content, check out the following articles:

Paul McCartney Tour Opener (2002)

Arrival First Impressions (2000)

The Playlist (2015) [A playlist assembled for my parents' 50th Anniversary.]

New posts coming soon... I'm seeing U2 in a couple of weeks!

-MNM

A Little Site Maintenance

Hi folks. For any of you regular visitors here, you may notice that I've changed the look of the site a bit. I'm doing this mostly for my own benefit as I was getting tired of the old look. With that, I have decided to go back through the site and get things set up the way I should have originally and date the posts when they were actually written, not when they were uploaded to this site. Considering how long it took me to get all of the posts uploaded in the first place, this may take a while. So if you happen to notice something odd or think a post might be missing, never fear, I've got everything backed up just in case I screw this up. I don't expect many folks to notice much beyond the corrected dating of the posts. Also, since I interspersed some new comments about the old posts in between the old posts, I plan to change the publishing dates on those too, but will note the actual date written. Let me know if you notice anything seriously broken!

Thanks for checking out my blog and all your support over the years as I've pulled these reports together.

-MNM