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Concert Review: Trio of great bands rock
Mid-America Center Tuesday
Kim Bousquet
07/24/2008
Journey guitarist Neal Schon delivers a snarl and a solo as the popular rock band performs in front of a sold-out crowd Tuesday evening at the Mid-America Center.
The mega concert at the Mid-America Center Tuesday gave thousands of fans an excuse to sing loudly and without abandon. Journey, with great openers Cheap Trick and Heart, rocked the arena playing the classics and ballads everyone craved to hear live. Whether you were a Journey fan needing to belt out "Faithfully," a Cheap Trick follower wanting to sing along to "The Flame" or a Heart lover who needs to sing and sway to "These Dreams," there was something there for you.
Cheap Trick was an energetic opener, playing with gusto as the crowd trickled in (traffic was the worst I'd ever seen). Rick Nielsen, donning a baseball cap, threw bucketloads of guitar picks, it seemed, to further rile up the crowd. While the guys have definitely aged, they sounded great playing fan favorites "Surrender" and "Dream Police."
Ann and Nancy Wilson, with an excellent accompanying band, took the stage next, playing great Heart hits like "Magic Man," "Alone" and "Crazy on You." Ann's voice is still stellar and hasn't diminished a bit. Nancy sounds good, too, singing "These Dreams" sweetly. Heart played two encore songs to deafening applause from fans, including a slow Led Zeppelin cover of "Going to California."
Staff photo/Josh White - Journey guitarist Neal Schon delivers a snarl and a solo as the popular rock band performs in front of a sold-out crowd Tuesday evening at the Mid-America Center.
Journey was the big draw for people seeking to relive the '70s and '80s musically, or the curious seeking to see if the new singer, Arnel Pineda, really could sing on par with the great Steve Perry. Pineda was, indeed, a great and energetic singer. During most songs, he had an uncanny Perry-esque sound, such as in "Open Arms," but occasionally diction got in the way.
Neil Schon was as impressive as ever on the guitar. Drummer Deen Castronovo was also amazing to watch, as was keyboardist/guitarist Jonathan Cain and bassist Ross Valory. Most of these men have been with the band for ages, or since the beginning as is the case with Schon. Perhaps Journey doesn't need the voice of Perry if it keeps these guys on board.
The band played quite a bit of newer stuff that was received unequally from fans, with more than a few people taking their seats for some songs, particularly during songs off of the new album "Revelation," "After All These Years" and "Change for the Better." It wasn't until about the sixth song, "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)," that things started to heat up. Clearly, fans came to hear the classics, and eventually, they got what they came for.
Hearing live versions of "Don't Stop Believin'," "Wheel in the Sky" and "Open Arms" made the wait worth it. About four hours into the rock show, fans were finally satisfied. Pineda could hold his own on stage singing classics with these music legends (most of the time), and Journey proved it could still bring down the house. By the encore, especially while "Faithfully" was played, faithful fans couldn't ask for much more.
Arts & Entertainment Editor Kim Bousquet can be reached at (712) 325-5736 or by e-mail at kbousquet@nonpareilonline.com.
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