Mild summer evenings and Blossom Music Center – if you’re from Northeast Ohio than those two things just go together and for this long time music lover and journalist they’ve been a way of life for almost 40 years. Back in the summer of 1981 I ventured to Blossom to see a band that was just breaking huge – they were called Journey and their album ESCAPE was number one in the country when they pulled into town. A good friend of mine and I were trying to start up a magazine way back then – this was before the Internet so it was to be a print magazine and this concert – Journey – was to be our first attempt at covering a show.
So, here I sit – 35 years later – in the same venue about to cover the same band – to say things were a bit surreal would be an understatement. Some things have changed of course, but luckily for the better.
Tonight’s show features a triple bill of San Francisco based acts. Dave Mason, The Doobie Brothers and of course, Journey.
Dave Mason kicks things off and transports the crowd back to the days of Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane with a selection of tracks from his time spent with the band Traffic – for which he was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Bluesy and massively guitar driven his music is as intense and as important now as it was then. As a solo artist Mason had a massive hit in the 70’s with the song We Just Disagree – he performed this song early in the set and got everyone’s attention – got them on their feet and proceeded to mesmerize the ever growing crowd that was still gathering when he hit the stage. He finished off his time on stage with a story of how he played acoustic guitar for Hendrix when he recorded “All Along The Watchtower” and then proceeded to cover the song for the appreciative audience. Watching Dave Mason perform is like visiting a national treasure – he is a living legend and had a huge hand in sculpting the rock music scene, as we know it today. It was a true treat to be able to sit in his presence and watch and listen to his artistry. I highly recommend you all do the same should the opportunity present itself.
After a very quick set change – it was time for The Doobie Brothers. These guys were a staple of the summer concert scene when I was coming of age. The 70’s and 80’s were very kind to this ensemble of musicians. Known for their duel drummer set up – the band hit the stage already wound up and plowed through a nearly one hour set that showcased hit after hit after hit. With a career that has spanned five decades – the depth of their catalogue is that of legend and they hit all the high notes of that illustrious career. Original members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons keep the bands vision true and the level of musicianship on the stage – is staggering.
Their entire set was a series of highlights but standing out amongst all the awesome was a perfect rendition of Black Water that had the now near capacity crowd cheering and singing at the top of their lungs. Finishing their set with a high-powered rendition of “Taking It To The Streets” – the crowd was now primed and ready for the main act – The Doobie Brothers had done their job and done it well.
Kudos must go out to the stagehands of Blossom Music Center – I don’t know that I have ever seen such a large team of individuals work in such unison as this team that worked this show. The set change between The Doobie Brothers and Journey was less than 20 minutes – a truly phenomenal feat.
The lights dim and a slowly building crescendo begins to emit from the speakers and it’s matched by a similar crescendo from the now massive audience in attendance. With an explosion of light and sound Journey hits the stage and so begins a 90-minute party with guitarist Neil Schon firmly in charge of the proceedings. All the original members of the most well-known line up of the band are now back – minus one very notable exception – that being Steve Perry on vocals. Ross Valory is on Bass, Steve Smith is on Drums, Jonathon Cain is on keyboards, Neil Schon as always – handling the guitar duties. On vocals is Arnel Pineda – he’s been with the band since 2007 and has taken a lot of gruff from Journey fans for trying to copy the vocal style of Steve Perry – I had never witnessed a live show with Arnel in the lead role but now – having done so I can without hesitation state – Arnel Pineda is the real deal. He’s not attempting to copy anyone – he has a voice that while similar to that of Steve Perry – is in fact spectacular in its own right and on stage he lights up the venue with his high energy performance. Journey is another of those bands whose catalog runs deep and everyone has their “favorite” that they can’t wait to hear.
No fear though – the band tore through all anticipated tracks – “Stone in Love”, “Open Arms”, “Faithfully”, “Wheel in the Sky”, “Separate Ways”, “Who’s Crying Now”, “Send Her My Love”, “Ask The Lonely”, “Any Way You Want It” – I think you get the idea. The best was indeed saved for last though as they ended the regular set with the mega hit Don’t Stop Believing. I don’t care how metal you think you are – Don’t Stop Believing is playing – you’re singing along, and that is exactly what almost 20,000 people ended the night doing. After a little coaxing the band returned to treat the crowd to “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin'” and then it was time wander back to our cars and the inevitable traffic jam that always accompanies a great night at Blossom.
The take away from all this is that people need to get over the fact that Steve Perry is no longer with the band – it’s been over a decade and Arnel is the man – Journey sounded every bit as good as they did on that summer night in 1981. As I was sitting in that traffic jam trying to get home I heard a passing man who was heading to his car say “that was the best damn Steve Perry impersonator I’ve ever heard” – it took every ounce of will power I had to not jump out of the car and beat him senseless with his cooler.
Sometimes things change folks and every now and again – those changes can be for theT better. Journey is alive and well and when they hit your town make it a point to be sitting in that audience as you are in for a real treat.
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Review and Photos by Dave Dreher, RockRevolt Journalist
