After Steve Perry left the band in 1998, Journey found his replacement in a singer that not only looks similar to Perry but also rhymes with him: Steve Augeri. However, due to a recurring throat issue, Augeri has been replaced on this tour by singer Jeff Scott Soto. I can only imagine little ten-year-old Jeff Scott Soto sitting by his radio long ago, wishing upon a star for the opportunity to tour with his favorite band, Journey. I’m sure he never thought his wish would come true.
Soto’s performance was admirable. His voice was clear and strong, and he did little, if any, faking. He flamboyantly strutted around the stage, keeping the audience entertained and captivated. Also captivating was the amount of sweat permeating his clothing in suspicious areas (I’ll say no more as to avoid embarrassing the talented and good-looking singer). I vote that the band keep him on for as long as possible.
Although it was clear that Soto could handle any of Journey’s songs, it seemed that the band wasn’t entirely comfortable handing over their most popular anthems, having them sung, instead, by drummer Deen Castronovo. His voice was breathy and low, and he truly did a wonderful job singing “Who’s Cryin’ Now,” “Open Arms,” and “Faithfully,” while keeping flawless time on his kit.
Even though it wasn’t the all-original band, Journey’s performance was surprisingly good. Aside from a few ear-piercing keyboard solos, they performed really well. Playing for almost an hour, Journey avoided an encore and ended on the uplifting tune “Be Good to Yourself.”
Anyone who knows me knows that the number one rule in my car is “never turn off the Def Leppard.” I remain steadfast in upholding this rule, especially after seeing the band live. They opened with “Let’s Get Rocked,” and the combination of the music and the giant video backdrop made me feel as though I was transported back to the 80’s, even though the band members themselves all had updated looks. Founding member Joe Elliott honestly looks fantastic for a rocker his age. Most of the members of the band have been around for years, the newest being guitarist Vivian Campbell who replaced Steve Clark who, in 1991, died of alcoholism.
The stage show wasn’t extravagant or flamboyant. Def Leppard focused on the music, and that’s all the was really necessary. Not everyone in the audience seemed to know all the words to all the songs and by the end of the concert, drunken fans were dancing through the aisles, frequently spilling beer on my sandaled feet. Throwing in a run-on medley of “Photograph,” “Armageddon It,” and “Animal,” Def Leppard removed themselves from the stage and returned to finish with an encore of “Love Bites” and the infamous “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” They played all their hits and famous songs, and threw in a few new ones from their latest album “Yeah!” which was released on May 23rd of this year. It was a strong show and I left feeling that was my time well spent. I’m thrilled that I finally got to see these bands live that I’ve been listening to for so long.
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