Tag: Ross Valory

My Sunday Song – “I’m Not That Way” by Journey

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For My Sunday Song #396, we are now on to Mike Ladano’s sixth pick and this time around it is a ballad from Journey called “I’m Not That Way”. The song is on the 2000 album ‘Arrival’ and sees singer Steve Augeri on lead vocals. Of course you still have Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain two friends that will be friends forever…cough, cough. As well as Ross Valory and Deen Castronovo two other regulars of the band. This song was written by Schon, Cain, Augeri and Kim Tribble

The song seems to be about a guy who loves awoman and that woman was with another man. But they broke up and her heart is broken. He so wants to move in and tell her he loves her and he won’t do the things her old boyfriend did as he’s not that way. But he feels it might be too soon as she is still reeling as he holds her in his arms and she is still crying over the love she just loss. Yeah, dude…probably too soon. You will be a rebound and not the deep, true love you are wanting from her. Be patient…but not too patient as she might rebound with somebody else. Just my two cents.

The song is a ballad as Journey does do those well. A slow tempo, some soft guitar picking by Neal. Augeri’s vocals are as soft and tender as Neal’s playing. You can hear Ross’ bass line lay down a smooth groove. The song though for me, doesn’t pick up enough in the chorus for me to really get connected to it, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good song as it is, but I don’t know if it is enough to have kept it on the album.

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Journey – ‘Turn the Page: Live in Atlanta, GA’ (Bootleg)’ (2006) – Album Review (The Jeff Scott Soto Series)

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Journey were on a massive Stadium Tour with Def Leppard in 2006. Journey’s lead singer, Steve Augeri had struggled with throat issues and was really having a hard time vocally. The decision was made by Neal Schon to replace Steve and he needed someone he knew could handle the Journey catalog. Luckily for Neal, he had been working with Jeff Scott Soto in their supergroup Soul SirkUs and knew he was the man for the job. Neal called Jeff and there was no way Jeff could say no, it was a dream of his to sing with Journey. He had already been working with Neal, but now he could do it and sing those classic Journey songs, No way he was turning it down.

Jeff got the call and was on a plane the next day and arrived in D.C. on July 5th 2006 and luckily the band had a couple days off, but Jeff had to be ready to sing as the first show with him was on July 7th in Bristow, Virginia. And Jeff was thrown in to the deep end as he didn’t really get to talk with anyone until the day of the show and didn’t even have a setlist for the show until that day and to top that off, he didn’t even get a soundcheck or any real rehearsal with the band…damn that is insane. The only time he had with the band was on the tour bus prior to the show to discuss the set and show. Jeff, of course, survived and continued on with the band.

Jeff’s stint was supposed to be short term, but he was doing so well and the tour was extended until December. Then on December 19, 2006, Jeff was announced as the official new lead singer with the band. His reviews from the tour were glowing and all was going well. There were plans for a new album and work had begun, but by June 2007, it all fell apart rather quickly and as far as Jeff was concerned, unexpectedly. It was announced on June 12, 2007 that Jeff was no longer in the band and the band was going to take the rest of the year off. I don’t think anyone is really sure what happened, but the band eventually wound up with Arnel Pineda who is still with the band today.

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Journey – Concert Review (Charlotte, NC June 9th, 2018)

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Yesterday, I did the review on the Def Leppard part of the show (since they opened the show they should get the first review).  Now, it is time to talk about Journey’s portion of the show.  After seeing Lep, I was really pumped and excited to finally see Journey live.  I have never had the pleasure and I can’t believe I missed them in the Steve Perry years.  Journey has survived all these years because they have something a lot of bands don’t really have and that is songs.  Journey’s hits are some of the most loved and admired songs ever.  I mean  “Don’t Stop Believin'” might be the most recognizable song around the world.

The band is still pretty much in tact.  At least the band from the era I grew up with. You have founder Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory and Steve Smith.  All these guys were there doing the early 80’s and their heyday.  11 years ago they added vocalist Arnel Pineda who they found off Youtube and let me tell you what a find he was.  I still wish they would have done more with Jeff Scott Soto, but oh well.  Arnel is pretty darn good vocalist.

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The stage set up was slightly different than Def Leppard’s, but not by much.  They both used the big 40 Foot screen in the back and the 3 large screens up top on the front of the stage.  Journey stripped back all the risers and platforms that Def Leppard used and had a much simpler set up.  Piano on the left, drums in the middle, Ross and Neal up front and Arnel all over the place (more on that later).

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