I picked mine up from Sam's for $10.72.

I went to the concert last Tuesday out here. My best friend and his wife were there and he said it was one of the best concerts he's seen. He's been a HUGE Journey and Cheap Trick fan for a very long time. Robin Zander and Ann Wilson sounded amazing... almost like time has stood still.

The revelation was Arnal. His stage presence has radically improved since joining the band. He bounded around the stage, danced and really got the packed crowd into the show. The only thing he needs to work on is, when he gets excited, his eyes will go big. Doesn't happen all the time, though. I'm not sure what the band's future will be after this tour, but good for Arnal.

I couldn't resist it when I saw it at the swag booth. I picked up a signed copy of the new Journey release... and it was the Wal*Mart 2cd/1dvd version. Sweet. The t-shirt was courteous of my friend's wife.

I am still stunned this album is doing so well considering the Steve Augeri albums bombed because consumers weren't willing to support someone who isn't Steve Perry, yet this album looks like it might be their biggest studio album since Raised On Radio

They are selling it at a great price, that is why it is moving. Maybe others should take notice.

that is true, but a lot of people forget Wal-Mart did the exact same thing last year with REO Speedwagon, a 2 CD/1 DVD set for an unbeatable price, and that set didn't seem to do very well and unlike Journey, REO still has it's peak era lead singer entact (probably the only "arena rock" band who was massive in the late 70's/early 80's to do so)

Journey is a much bigger band than REO. I really don't know anyone who listens to REO, but I know plenty who still break out their Journey cds quite regularly. Also, Journey is a much bigger tour draw, which speaks to their popularity.

Below is an interesting tidbit from melodicrock.net:


Interesting comments from industry commentator Bob Lefsetz on the Journey/WalMart package earlier today. On the topic of disecting this week's Billboard chart positions, Lefsetz stated:
18. Journey "Revelation" Sales this week: 23,778 / Percentage change: -4% / Cume: 308,777
"And that's what it is! Not the incredible pipes of their Filipino lead singer, but the PRICE! Irving's the leader on this... He told me if Dave signed off on it, he was going to put out a Van Halen DVD for $7.99!
Maybe I'm talking out of school here, not that Irving said this was off the record, but this is a very important point. PRICE MATTERS! Stop weeping over the death of the CD, the declining margins, and just lower the damn price so music becomes an impulse item. Lower the price enough and it doesn't PAY to steal!
And you wonder why the established acts would rather go with Irving and Wal-Mart than Doug and Universal. Wal-Mart pays, the act gets the lion's share of the money and the customer is HAPPY!"

^ I hope we do get a Van Halen DVD from the reunion tour.

I'm going to the concert here in Minneapolis in September. Cheap Trick and Heart will also be there.

I'm curious how many new songs did Journey play? I'm huge "old" Journey fan. I've been to 2 previous concerts and they basically played their greatest hits album straight through and I loved it. I assume since they just put out a new album that they'll sing some new songs at the concert, but I'm just wondering how many.

I might be mistaken but I think at least 3 or 4 new songs. We left before the encore (not my choice but was probably a good idea considering the crowd and we had to work the next day).

I went to the Journey/Heart/Cheap Trick concert in Atlanta last night.

Didn't quite make it there in time for Cheap Trick (heard just a little bit at the very end of their set), but Heart sounded pretty good, and Anne Wilson still has some amazing pipes, even now, 30 years from their early albums. They seemed very grateful to be touring on this 3-band tour, playing their music for appreciative fans, the women were eating up all their songs (probably about 10 songs for their set).

The main act, Journey, got on stage around 9:15 p.m. and played until 10:45 p.m., so they did a 90 minute show that comprised of about 5 of their new songs, and plenty of their hits (though not much from Raised on Radio, if at all).

Arnel Pineda was a very energetic front man, giving low-fives to the crowd near the stage, jumping off the drum platform - doing leg splits like a cheerleader at times. And in concert, he sounded pretty much like Steve Perry would, though he does his own thing with a few songs here and there, but nothing too objectionable. He's got a big voice, too. Neal Schon was in fine form, playing his axe like he was on borrowed time. Jonathan Cain's Piano was a little out of tune on "Faithfully", but overall consistent (even playing guitar on the new songs), as were Ross Valory (bass) and Dean Castronovo (drums/percussion).

I couldn't believe they played "Escape", and finished their encore with "Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'" Overall, the crowd was having a good time, though they mainly sat down during the newer songs (that's usually the case), but when the hits were being played, everyone was right back up and singing and dancing along with the band.

If you're a Journey fan, go check them out on their concert tour.

Here in San Antonio I was floored when they played Rubicon mid-set. We also got Escape during the encore, along with Don't Stop Believin' with a sudden-stop near the end, followed by a Sopranos-inspired Journey logo on the big screens during their big rock ending.

IMO the only song Arnel was shaky on was Lights. Everything else was incredible.

To all those who saw Journey on their latest tour: does Ross Valory still make creepy Frankenstein leers throughout the show? Like, as if Fred Munster was trying to figure out a word problem in his head and not getting very far while trying to thump out the bassline to "Any Way You Want It"?

Freaky, man...

I was also surprised when they played "Rubicon" as well.

Sorta on topic, have you guys ever listened to Journey's first two albums from 1975-1976? Self-titled, and Look Into the Future?

They were before Steve Perry joined the band and became the lead-singer, so they sport ass-kicking prog-rock tracks instead of cheesy 80s love ballads. They're damned good albums. They sound like Deep Purple, really, with that hard-rock/organ/awesome guitar solo sound.

Some pretty so-so photos taken with a compact camera from a long ways away (had to sneak in the camera since they had a no-camera stance for their concert).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/patcave...7606579730777/

Ugh...Journey was "over" when Steve Perry left the band. I refuse to listen to the new stuff at all. JMO.

I have ALL their albums - including the stuff before Perry joined the band.