Friday, March 28, 2008

Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick Hit the Road

Journey, with its fourth singer, will hit the road this summer on a big classic rock tour that also includes Heart and Cheap Trick.

Not relying solely on their past, Journey will be supporting a new album called Revelation that will be only available at Wal-Mart.
Which means I won't be buying it.

The first disc will consist of 11 re-recorded classics (another reason I won't be buying it), presumably sung by new guy Arnel Pineda. The second disc is filled with 11 new songs, and the third is a live, in-concert DVD.

About this new material, producer Kevin Shirley says on his Web site:

...what has me the most excited about it, is the new album with eleven original tracks. Ballads, rockers, progressive pieces - even a gorgeous instrumental to close - and I think the fans, both old and new, will love hearing what I think is the best album from Journey since Escape. (I know press releases have hinted at these things before, but I wouldn't say it if i didn't believe it). Schon and Cain's playing and writing is tuned into some higher source on this one.... well, you'll see soon enough.

While I am a fan of some Journey music (the older the better), I was a little soured on the band when I read an insanely long interview with former manager Herbie Herbert. Seems that these guys are a-holes of the highest caliber.

Still, a show with Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick would be pretty sweet. It comes to Portland on a Sunday in September, so maybe I'll hit it. That would be a good use of a Sunday night.

I have not seen any of these three bands, so what the heck?

The tour dates are listed here.

7 comments:

Dr. John said...

Isorski - I'm with you. The older the Journey, the better. Even some of their early stuff with Steve Perry up through and including Escape appeals to me. After that things went REALLY commercial and I lost interest. I would like to see what songs are on the disc, maybe out of morbid curiosity, but I doubt I will invest money in the whole package.

I must, though, humbly question that Arnel Pineda is the 4th vocalist in the band's history. I count 5: Gregg Rolie, Steve Perry, Steve Augeri, Jeff Scott Soto, and Arnel Pineda.

Another interesting Journey factoid is that Randy Jackson of American Idol fame once played bass for Journey on the Raised on Radio album.

My one bursh with Journey fame? I got to carry Steve Smith's cymbals from his car to the stage for a drum clinic he did for Reik (sp?) music in San Jose wayyyyy back in the 1980's. Met him briefly and he seemed like a nice and down to earth guy. Kick ass drummer too.

harmolodic said...

You've never seen Cheap Trick? The show will be worth it just for them. I've seen them something like 16 times... I don't think it's possible for Cheap Trick to have a bad night. Those guys are professionals of the highest order, always giving 110%, and their shows are FUN! If you're close to the stage, try catching some of Rick Nielsen's guitar picks when he tosses them into the crowd during "Dream Police." And dig all the guitars he takes with him -- he plays a different axe on just about every song in the set, all custom made. Also, it's still the SAME FOUR GUYS who were there in the beginning! No replacements, still the original band. I can't say enough good things about CT. Man, I miss them, haven't seen one of their shows since '03...

Chris said...

I'd like to see Cheap Trick and Heart. Journey, not so much.

I wonder what Ross Halfin thinks of Kevin "The CAVEMAN" Shirley producing Journey's new record?

Anonymous said...

Seen Journey v3, Cheap Trick v1. Heart would be great. Will have to see what it's all about and how much.

Bar L. said...

Walmart only? Weird.

I am not a Journey fan either. I say them back in the OLD days and it was a fun show but I have never been able to take their music too seriously, its find of fluffy.

Now Heart is worth seeing time and time again....I lost track of how many times I've seen sistas rock out! Love them.

I like Cheap Trick too. They were fluff without being a-holes as you mentioned about the Journey blokes.

I'm going to check the tour dates now.

Bar L. said...

PS Just checked the dates and they have a show in Irvine, only a few minutes from me. I have a great idea - I'll so see Cheap Trick and Heart and then leave and not have to sit in an hour of traffic to get out of that horrendous parking lot they have there :)

Isorski said...

Oh yeah - I forgot Gregg Rolie. Pineda is indeed their 5th singer. Thanks Dr John!