7TH: 07/19/08 Casino Anselmo Tucson

Post your review only if you actually attended the concert.. or postreviews from any websites (mainly Journeymusic.com) , not to forget mentioning the source in your credits!

Thanks!

NWA, OTY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipswlqDRc1U

SIN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1XM-bCa7Kk

ATL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PvIMpSLCRY

ATTY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQfckUTnDeM

Fans are waiting for the band soaking wet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQfckUTnDeM

SW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87u4cMTsWN4

OA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMVMUsyBheo


DSB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGudBmkg3sw&feature=user

anyway you want it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUnVM4rAqgI

WOW. what a band. eventhough they were soaking wet from monsoon rain and thunderstorm, the show must go on.

https://s351.photobucket.com/albums/q469/just4jrny/?special_track=nav_album_album

Thanks for the links Luna!! What a faithful and happy bunch of people!!!

Journey in Tucson, AZ, AVA 7/19/2008

...Prior to my most anticipated date. I had severe anxiety attack...waited so much to see them perform live this year at my most convenient time and date, I couldn't concentrate much at work. June 20, I purchased 3 tickets for the Tucson concert, the best seat available, without knowing yet who would come along with me. I wouldn't mind giving away 2 tickets , as long as I would not go to the concert alone. I don't drive long distance, I am color blind at night, new here in Phoenix, never been to Tucson.
So, I got somebody to drive for me, a guy from my work and his friend ( both Navahu members). When I approached my co-worker, he was so excited, he told me he love Journey songs and heard they have a new singer, but he could not afford to spend for the concert ticket. How much I made him happy, offering it for free. 2 days before our trip to Tucson...my car's catalytic converter was stolen. Had to report to the police, rushed to my car dealer to have it replace and fix, only to know that they could have the part in 2 days as they ran out of it. Rampant thief! Grabbed a yellow book, get hold of any muffler shop to have my car fix ASAP! My anxiety to the MAX!...alternating diarrhea, constipation and palpitations! I could have had a heart attack if I could not make it on the BIG day!
... so the car was fix. WHEW! we left Phoenix at 2pm and arrived Tucson at 4:20 pm, roamed around Casino del Sol, eat and played some slot. then got out to check AVA across the casino if the gate was opened. Was surprised to see a lot of people outside the gate, asking for concert tickets!, but I knew it was already sold out 2 days ago! Journey!...they sold out 20,000 venue, how much more 5,000 capacity. So I walked around...several people approached me, they knew I was ready for the concert, as I was wearing my Journey shirt...Got some concert tickets?..NO, sorry..( generic answer)...then approached again...asking other people same Q. I would say...a lot of them were asking for tickets or a ticket...I would say again,...A LOT! I could see the frustrations and disappointments on their faces. (Please see some of my clips for this!).It's kinda like Revelation at Walmart without the CD.
...we got inside AVA around 7pm.The security was so cool, he allowed my cameras. (I brought 2 plus my cellphone...just taking chances...I could take it back to my car..it's parked not that far).
I was surprised by their coolness, as they didn't even scanned the tickets, just tore it into 2...anybody can make a copy of any e -tickets....Anyways,...purchased some T-shirts, mug, bandanas. The peeps were at the Journey side..just a couple or 3 at CT. 3 boys ..ages aroud 9-11 beside me choosing Journey T-shirts. The weather was near perfect, slight humidity.
So we got our seat 3 or 4 rows from the stage, middle section. WOW! I would have the chance to see Journey members up close...maybe even the white of their eyes. hehehe...
I looked around...the audience was so diverse, aside from 2 Navahu tribe members beside me, mostly white guys, few Pinoys...maybe 5%.
Cheap Trick at 8pm..played for about 45 mins...was singing along with Flames..catched 5 guitar pick thrown at the audience. Okay..
...then waited again. The journey crew was preparing the stage. It is so small! How could Arnel run around the stage??? Cain's piano is so big. Deen's drum and riser occupied a lot of space, the amps too!...why should I worry so much? well..
I stood up on top of my chair, scanned the crowd again...sorry guys behind me...told me it's okay and smiled. Really cool Journey fans! This was not 5,000 people...it's overflowing. We were packed like sardines! As far as I could see, the lawn section was full and I could see some people outside the fence, like peeping toms, behind the iron bars!!

Then came Journey!!! Ross first...The crowd roared like wild lions! When Arnel hit the stage, the crowd roared even more!
The yelling, clapping, singing with the band, I couldn't pathom. I almost fell from the chair I was standing!!!went down and looked for my shoes! as I was about to wear it, I back off, as there was something I felt like vibrating electricity, maybe the vibration from the crowd's noise and the sound syatem...but I was scared.
Oh! forget about my video filming plan! How could I enjoy to sing, clap and dance if I woud be standing there still. You peeps would enjoy my video if posted on YT, while my enjoyment would be half baked! comm'on...! I am compensating that for some pics I have taken in between!
First 3 songs, I guess ( my mind is out..it's in 7th heaven!)...some water sprinkled!...I thought it was part of the show! But it was coming from back, left and right side of the covered area blown by the gushing wind! Then I heard a loud kinda like a firecrackers or gun fires! Then the rain getting heavier, thunder louder, lighting blinding! The band continued playing!!!!

NEAL SCHON! when he did his solo...WHAT A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!! He continued playing his guitar!!... at his BEST! He just stood there, fighting the wind, all soaked, really drenched!!! His white shirt..long sleeve, thin material (like Batik) sticking to his body! I WANTED TO CRY!!!... I WANTED TO HUG HIM!!! My mind was yelling! STOP IT NEAL! STOP IT! GET YOUR ASS OUT FROM THE RAIN!! I ALREADY KNEW YOU ARE A GUITAR GOD!!! YOU GONNA CATCH COLD! YOU GONNA GET SICK! ANYBODY HAS A RAINCOAT ??? GIVE IT TO HIM!! GET AWAY FROM THE RAIN!!! ...BUT HE WOULDN'T LISTEN! HE WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME!!! HE JUST CONTINUED PLAYING!!! NEAL SCHON! YOU ARE A REAL TROUPER! AMAZINGLY PROFESSIONAL!...I regret not setting my video recorder. PROVEN!...how much you love your work! How much you value your fans! I was also worried he'll get electricuted as all the cables were soaked.

When Arnel sang AATY, I was singing at the top of my lungs! Well, I was a stand out as I know all the lyrics, others don't know much about the lyrics of the new song. Crowd just listen and clapped and got themselves STUNNED! I like Arnel's red-black-white attire.
...the heavy rains continued, after Arnel sang...the band stopped. I could see from their eyes they want to continue, Jonathan's piano was covered with a thick like a comforter sheet, then on top of it later with a big black plastic like the one we use as a garbage bag. But he too continued playing. From the roof, some water dropping directly on the piano. Likewise with Deen's drums, sound of the wet cymbals kinda became like pots and pans banged together. The group was worried their instruments would be damage. Journey crew all over the place...! drying each instruments with white towels...including the mike and mike stand...and the floor!! OMG! Arnel would be running on a wet track!

Arnel was whisked away by crew members! Bunch of white towels. 2 crew scorted him hurriedly to the backstage. They threw towels on his body, another one was patting his back and hair to dry while he was walking away. He was like a baby being taken cared of!!! Lot's of plastic covers and big tapes all over the stage.

Then, another long wait like forever from the soaked crowd for the band to come back. Nobody left! But the storm continued. Hey! Mother Nature are you testing our loyalty to Journey and the band's endurance?? I felt sorry for the children who were wet..a girl...around 4-year old sitting on his father lap, 3 seats away from me was so wet. In between waits...the crowd chanted...JOURNEY!....JOURNEY!

After about 45 minutes or more the band came back ( clothes changed...of course). Roared again! They did few of the dirty dozens...won't dwell much in details..but it was AMAZING!! AWESOME!! OMG!OMG! What a show! What a crowd! What a fan I am! ( I felt like my throat undergone thyroidectomy!)

To summarize:
....MOTHER NATURE VS JOURNEY:

....Thunder- Thunderous applause,
....Lighning- Electifying performance,
....Heavy rains- fans filled out all concert venue, really poured out support,
...strong Wind- was blown away by the band.

MOTHER NATURE VS JOURNEY!...JOURNEY WON!!

Please click link for some clips...will add more.

https://s351.photobucket.com/albums/q469/just4jrny/?special_track=nav_album_album



Side notes: On our way back to Phoenix...still heavy rains..the guy on the wheel kept on yapping...I was already half sleep,...
Arnel has a lot of charisma on stage, I really enjoyed the show! Is his teeth fix? He has a perfect set of teeth....etc. etc.He completed other details that I didn't notice. Half asleep listening to the guys, I content my self listening to my Oakley Thump with MP3 loaded with Journey songs!
_________________________

Tucson Weekly Review
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Music/Content?oid=113254

PUBLISHED ON JULY 24, 2008:

Live

By JON HOBSON


Journey
AVA At Casino Del Sol, Saturday, July 19
When Journey released their classic hit "Don't Stop Believing" in 1981, they had no idea that it would be a metaphor for their sold-out performance Saturday night at Casino del Sol's AVA.

Hours before Journey took the stage, there was a feeling in the air that this would truly be a unique night. For instance, Casino del Sol ran out of parking spaces by the time the crowd was allowed into the venue. Next, the majority of fans in lower reserved seating crammed their way onto the security railing as if they were at a general-admission show at the Rialto Theatre for openers Cheap Trick.

And this all happened before the storm hit.

Journey took the stage with their new single "Never Walk Away," kicking off one of Tucson's most memorable recent concerts. New singer Arnel Pineda, who was discovered by singing Journey songs on YouTube, surpassed all expectations while singing the band's hits as made famous by Steve Perry. Similar to Mark Wahlberg's character from the movie Rock Star, Pineda was like a kid in a candy store, performing some of classic rock's most recognizable songs.

During "Stone in Love," Tucson's infamous monsoon weather kicked into high gear, even drenching the fans who were covered by the roof. While the band performed another new song, "After All These Years," Journey's road crew frantically raced to cover the group's equipment as the storm picked up.

Following a guitar solo from Neal Schon, the band was pulled from the stage as lightning strikes hit close to the amphitheater. One of Journey's roadies informed the crowd that the show would be paused while the storm passed, reassuring the crowd that the band would wait as long as the crowd would to take the stage again.

An hour later, Journey returned to the stage to play a shortened six-song greatest-hits set. Cold and wet, the crowd rocked out harder than ever, with fists pounding into the air, singing every word to the remaining songs.

"Faithfully," the closing ballad, proved to be an odd, if bittersweet, end to the circumstances both the band and crowd endured during the previous two hours.

Who needs Steve Perry, anyway?

THE " WHO NEEDS STEVE PERRY?" QUOTE! WOW! THAT'S REALLY OUCH! DOES ANY SP FANS REACTED ABOUT THIS??? WELL, IT WILL BE SAID IN PRINT SOONER OR LATER!

luna wrote:

Tucson Weekly Review
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Music/Content?oid=113254

PUBLISHED ON JULY 24, 2008:

Live

By JON HOBSON


Journey
AVA At Casino Del Sol, Saturday, July 19
When Journey released their classic hit "Don't Stop Believing" in 1981, they had no idea that it would be a metaphor for their sold-out performance Saturday night at Casino del Sol's AVA.

Hours before Journey took the stage, there was a feeling in the air that this would truly be a unique night. For instance, Casino del Sol ran out of parking spaces by the time the crowd was allowed into the venue. Next, the majority of fans in lower reserved seating crammed their way onto the security railing as if they were at a general-admission show at the Rialto Theatre for openers Cheap Trick.

And this all happened before the storm hit.

Journey took the stage with their new single "Never Walk Away," kicking off one of Tucson's most memorable recent concerts. New singer Arnel Pineda, who was discovered by singing Journey songs on YouTube, surpassed all expectations while singing the band's hits as made famous by Steve Perry. Similar to Mark Wahlberg's character from the movie Rock Star, Pineda was like a kid in a candy store, performing some of classic rock's most recognizable songs.

During "Stone in Love," Tucson's infamous monsoon weather kicked into high gear, even drenching the fans who were covered by the roof. While the band performed another new song, "After All These Years," Journey's road crew frantically raced to cover the group's equipment as the storm picked up.

Following a guitar solo from Neal Schon, the band was pulled from the stage as lightning strikes hit close to the amphitheater. One of Journey's roadies informed the crowd that the show would be paused while the storm passed, reassuring the crowd that the band would wait as long as the crowd would to take the stage again.

An hour later, Journey returned to the stage to play a shortened six-song greatest-hits set. Cold and wet, the crowd rocked out harder than ever, with fists pounding into the air, singing every word to the remaining songs.

"Faithfully," the closing ballad, proved to be an odd, if bittersweet, end to the circumstances both the band and crowd endured during the previous two hours.

Who needs Steve Perry, anyway?