Concert Summary: JOURNEY
Molson Amphitheatre
Toronto, CANADA

     CHANGE FOR THE BETTER…..While clouds loomed large over the city of TORONTO most of the day it didn’t dampen the spirits of JOURNEY fans who’ve waited “Faithfully” all summer long for the “Arrival” of the veteran rockers to brandish their new lead vocalist ARNEL PINEDA.
     “Like a Sunshower” the stage “Lights” flooded the frenzied Molson Amphitheatre as the band wasted no time opening a new chapter to their already distinguished career with the hit single “Never Walk Away”,  from their chart topping album “REVELATION”.
     It was apparent from the first note that it was going to be a special evening of music and celebration as the capacity crowd embraced PINEDA with “Open Arms”.
     If the “Chain Reaction” from both the crowd and the band wasn’t enough PINEDA was flying high sharing his 41^st birthday with over 15,000 adoring fans.  The exuberance was gushing from the stage to the last seat in the house as JOURNEY proceeded to tear into the vast catalog of fan favorites, beginning with “Only the Young” followed by “Stone in Love” which was highlighted by one of the many savory solos by all to often underrated guitarist NEAL SCHON.
     The rest of the set was teeming with classics from every era of the band including “Send Her my Love”, “Anyway You Want It”, “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ ” and “Wheel in the Sky”.  By the midway point of the show the band was packin’ heat and pulled the trigger on “Don’t Stop Believin’, which made its way back into prominence as part of the SOPRANO’S series finale.
     With their performance JOURNEY put to rest any questions as to their new direction following the departures of STEVE AUGERI and JEFF SCOTT SOTO over the past few years.  This group has shown great resolve surviving the carousal of singers; what has kept this band alive and moving forward is the stellar musicianship which is at times unceremoniously overlooked.  Guitarist NEAL SCHON has been the keeper of the JOURNEY flame through the turbulent times, also carrying the torch are keyboardist/songwriter JOHNATHON CAIN, booming bassist ROSS VALORY and dynamo drummer DEAN CASTRONOVO.  With the deserved success and accolades of the album and tour it’s quite evident that JOURNEY and new front man ARNEL PINEDA won’t be going their “Separate Ways” anytime soon.
     REVELATION which was most recently nominated for Album of the Year by “Classic Rock Magazine”, has been riding high in the Billboard charts since its release in June; the album continues to enjoy stalwart sales on the strength of the bands sold out summer tour.
     The 3 disc compilation which boasts production credit to renowned producer KEVIN SHIRLEY gives JOURNEY listeners a considerable bang for the buck and is a perfectly packaged introduction to a new era for the band.
     Disc One contains eleven new tracks featuring the peerless pipes of FILIPINO You Tube sensation ARNEL PINEDA including radio hits “Never Walk Away”, “Change for the Better” and the heart piercing ballad “After All These Years”.
     Disc Two features eleven revitalized classic studio cuts from the bands arsenal of top selling albums compiled throughout JOURNEY’S illustrious history with PINEDA at the helm.
     Disc Three is a live DVD bolstering another separate greatest hits set shot earlier this year in LAS VEGAS.
     Albeit virtually impossible for PINEDA to “Escape” the comparisons to famed singer STEVE PERRY, “The Thriller from Manila”, a nickname affectionately bestowed upon PINEDA by his new bandmates, has brought a revived inspiration and spirit with a touch of innocence to both the band and the songs.
     Check out the bands website for upcoming tour dates at www.journeymusic.com.
     The ROCK RAPPORT would like to thank Amanda Cagan from ABC Public Relations for hooking us up.

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