Cyber Agnes

For those of you who do not know who Journey is, they are an American rock group who'd had its beginnings back in the 1970s. I was just a little girl back then living in the Philippines and I was too young to know enough about them. But you may have heard of their chart-topping songs like "Open Arms" and "Don't Stop Believin." It's most popular lead singer was Steve Perry who left the band due to health reasons. As the band's lead singers came and left after Steve Perry, nobody had really re-ignited the fire that the group kept burning back in the 70's and the 80's until Journey's lead guitarist, Neal Schon, discovered a YouTube performance of Arnel Pineda of the Philippines. The discovery of Arnel started many Filipinos' journey with JOURNEY which included me; hence, the review below.

The Darien Lake Review:

My fiance and I were one of the Toronto fans who went to see the concert at Darien Lake but we are still too sleepy and groggy to post our full reviews right now. We went with 5 of the Toronto fans which I've met at Arnel Pineda's official website. We also met an entire clan of Filipinos who drove all the way from Montreal to see the show. We got home at around 3:00am since we got lost going home from Darien Lake to Toronto. We got entangled in a web of back roads until we finally got to the border to Canada and safely made it back home. But for a start here is the set list from last night's show which lasted for about 2 hours: (note: i've discovered that it was pretty darn hard to jot down the set list and at the same time take pictures of Arnel and the Big Boys, take mini-videos, dance, sing, clap and shout, run back and forth down the isle and make sure that the ushers don't catch me and glance at my fiance's reaction from time to time).

They are saying that it is 3 quarters full but as far as I am concerned, it felt like this show was SOLD OUT! Arnel was fantamazing! He did not miss a note. His stage presence is magnetic (being so near to the stage, I was star-struck as he danced and pranced across the stage). He was full of energy. Neal's performance made you realize why he is still the guitar king of all time. Deen's singing and drumming was head-bopping. Jonathan's multi-faceted performance especially on the keys are simply awesome. Ross' suave bass guitar playing was an ingredient that glued them all. According to my fiance who's a concertaholic, the Darien Lake crowd last night was one of the loudest he'd seen and heard so far. And yes, we were indeed loud and rowdy!

1. Introduction - (instrumentals from the Revelation album - Disc 1)
2. Separate Ways
3. Only the Young
4. Neil's solo guitar performance
5. Stone in Love
6. Keep on Runnin' - Deen singing
7. Never Walk Away
8. Ask the Lonely
9. Change for the Better
10. Lights
11. Still They Ride - Deen singing
12. Classical piano solo by Jonathan Cain as an intro to song no. 13 below
13. Open Arms
14. Mother Father - Deen singing
15. Harmonica (by Jonathan) and Mandolin (by Neal) showdown
16. Wheel in the Sky (heavy metal version - Wow!)
17. Higher Place - Deen singing
18. Wildest Dreams
19. Be Good to Yourself
20. Faithfully
21. Don't Stop Believin'
22. Anyway You Want It
Encore
Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'

Pictures

Arnel Pineda - Lead Singer



Jonathan Cain (keyboards/rhythm guitar) and Ross Valory (Bass guitar)



Arnel Pineda (lead singer), Neal Schon (lead guitarist) and Deen Castronovo (Drums)


Fans from Toronto and Montreal who drove to Darien Lake



Click this link for More Photos from the Concert

Videos

Arnel Pineda Singing Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'

Note: Arnel Pineda singing Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin.' I apologize for the poor video and audio quality. The first part was cut off because I was trying to change batteries and the latter part of the video was blanked out because I was trying to shake hands with Arnel when he went down the stage but to no avail. Oh well! Enjoy!

Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' - Arnel singing




Separate Ways - Arnel singing




Higher Place - Deen Castronovo singing and on drums



The video below of Arnel singing "Don't Stop Believin'" is not a full song; nevertheless, I'd like you to see his moves.



Below is a video of Neal Schon, lead guitarist of Journey, displaying his prowess to the Darien Lake concert-goers. He is playing the intro to Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'. Enjoy!