Classic Rock's Main Event - REO Speedwagon, Styx and Journey
Gig review May, 20 Los Angeles, CA
20 years as a fan and 2003 saw me attend my first Journey gig. Pure luck really, as while in transit to the UK, I planned a day or two in LA to break the trip up and catch up with a couple of mates. A quick search of Pollstar revealed a certain gig planned for LA May 20. It was Classic Rock's Main event and featured Journey, Styx and REO Speedwagon.
Like I said, pure luck!
But having that good fortune reveal itself, it was time to lock in tickets and a hotel and flights. All went according to plan and a quick e-mail to Journey management locked in the tickets.
The venue was the Staples Center, in downtown LA. I decided to stay downtown, rather than my usual haunt of West Hollywood.
I had heard good things about the redevelopment of the downtown area and wanted to check it out. While it was certainly cleaner and more inviting than on previous visits, time was against me in exploring further.
A quick Metro trip to the Staples Center revealed a venue much bigger than I anticipated. This after all, is 2003 and classic rock bands don't play big venues – right?
Well, not in this case. Staples holds 18,000 people and I learnt later that the show was almost sold out.
So what brings nearly 18,000 people out to see three 'dinosaur' bands? Hits, hits and more hits.
This three band show was a very tight, well oiled, flawlessly executed hit machine.
The audience comprised of a 'mature' age range of fans – looked mainly like 30-50 year olds plus a few either side of that.
And no surprise, they wanted the hits. With all three bands the best known numbers received the warmest reception and the few new tracks performed by Styx and the 1 recent number from Journey received the coolest. With an exception…read on…
The use of a huge video backdrop, with special effects and a live camera shoot projecting the band up there for those in the back to see was a great effect. As were the specialized effects screened during each band's individual sets.
REO Speedwagon hit the stage with a lot of energy and like all three bands on the bill, performed a slick, professional and well oiled set of hits. The guys played only classic material, with nothing from any recent times, concentrating around their Hi Infidelity era.
While the boys have aged, they sounded great. Kevin Cronin was energetic throughout the show – moving from singer at the mike, to playing a little guitar and dabbling at the piano on a couple of those hits! (You know the ones!)
I was more excited about Styx and Journey, but was well pleased by REO and their tight performance.
As with all bands on the night, equal time was allotted. 75 minutes a set, with a time clock mounted on the soundboard counting down from the moment the guys took the stage.
And impressively, only 20 minutes between sets. Just long enough for me to have some very dry Nachos and turn down the option of buying a $10 beer.
Styx were next up tonight. I've been really looking forward to these guys, being a fan for some time. More so now that two personal solo favourites have joined the line-up. Canada's Lawrence Gowan and Jersey's Glen Burtnik.
If we started to get into the classic vs new line-up debate we would be here all night. Let's just say that was then and now is now and at least the band are on the road. Having the need to fill positions in the line-up, you could not have picked better than Gowan and Burtnik.
The band put on a fabulous show – from start to finish were in control of the audience and visually gave you a lot to look at.
But the main reason for this is indeed the two new recruits. Gowan – with his rotating keyboard – wouldn't be tied down, running around the stage when not needed and motioning to the crowd and generally having a hell of a time – he loves what he is doing and it showed.
Glen Burtnik is even better. In my opinion, together with Gowan - he is the life force of the new line-up, running around like a nutter and banging his head at every chance.
Coming out on stage looking like he'd just come back from playing golf with Ice-T, he changed outfits almost as often as he changed bass.
Sadly he was given only one chance to sing lead vocal – but made the crowd stand up and take notice. He is now famous for his audience walk, where he takes a wireless mike and bass out into the stands, mixing with the crowd, hand slapping and generally hamming it up.
Tonight he did it to the sounds of one of Cyclorama's best tunes – Kiss Your Ass Goodbye. And to make the spectacle even more over the top, Tenacious D joined the band on stage – just as they did on record – performing backing vocals and generally making an ass of themselves on stage. It was a definite highlight of the evening and was the one occasion where the entire audience stood for a new tune.
Elsewhere Gowan sang Fields Of The Brave and JY sang These Are The Times.
Aside from the three new tracks (good on the band for including them), there was nothing but hits, with Blue Collar Man, Come Sail Away and Lady getting the best reception.
Joining the band on stage for several tracks was original bass player Chuck Pananzo. His presence was greeted warmly and it was cool to see him and Glen sharing bass duties.
Tommy Shaw hit every note and seemed to be having a good time, but as I had hoped, it was the Burtnik and Gowan show that impressed me.
Another 20 minutes to the second and the lights dimmed again for the entrance of Journey – who were welcomed like heroes.
One word can describe the performance – slick. These guys have been on the road each summer now for 4 or so years and they really have things nailed down.
The guys could be excused to running on auto-pilot, but that was definitely not the case tonight. I wish I had previous performances to go by, but for a first time in person, I was well impressed.
The crowd especially seemed to really dig their set and really got into it, with some obligatory arm swaying, plenty of screaming and some rousing sing-a-longs during the set.
Even in these days of anti-smoking and political correctness, a few lighters managed to make their way into the air during Lights and Open Arms. Great stuff!
I think the band sensed the enthusiasm from the crowd, as Neal's rendition of Star Spangled Banner was absolutely electric. You could see the smiles on their faces during several tracks, which is always good to see.
It was a little sad to see I was the only one standing during Higher Place. At least from where I was situated! The song is a dead set barnstorming rocker that was just a little lost on a crowd who wanted the hits. But that's what they got, with the rest of the set comprised of back catalogue classics.
Steve Augeri put on a great show, moving a little more freely than on the Live 2000 DVD. It was only on one occasion that I noticed he didn't go for a high note, with the remainder of the show flawless.
Before you could blink the show was over….the encore was rousing, but the 75 minute mark came all too quickly.
For my first time at a Styx, REO or Journey gig, I really felt like I was treated to a good one. I was impressed by every band, each set and the crowd's general reaction to the whole night.
In a word – fabulous!
A few side notes from the actual gig review.
With my ticket was a After Show backstage pass. It was at this point I followed some folks and ended up underneath the venue in the change room area.
I was ushered into a room, only to have someone come and ask for me, who then led me to Journey's room. It was a great gesture and one which I appreciated very much.
Inside were the guys and their family and I was finally able to meet them all in person. I've been talking to Neal, Steve and Jon for ages, but this was my first face to face. And they couldn't have been nicer, fetching me a drink and looking after me.
It was a relatively short time to get a lot on, but I met Ross for the first time, and the madly enthusiastic Deen, who is just an all-round great bloke. And fit as hell – he looks great after dropping a lot of weight and like Steve Augeri, is just so thankful to be I the position he is in.
Jonathan Cain was enthusiastic about the show, but reluctantly acknowledged the crowd's desire to here only the hits.
Neal was also a little frustrated at the set length. The show only allowed the set 75 minutes – with Neal commenting that it was really hard to cut their set to fit into that time frame and how he looks forward to doing a full show again.
The guys collectively rated the show as their best to date on the tour, confirming the awesome audience and the size of the numbers there.
Steve Augeri noticed I didn't have anything for the guys to sign on me and promptly disappeared – returning with the set list from the stage, which he then took around the room for the guys to sign. Too cool.
It was over all too soon and it was time to leave for the night. I caught up with Neal and Deen's individual tech guys, which was another case of putting a face to the e-mails.
I wanted to talk about a lot more things, but there's a time and a place and tonight was just cool to meet the guys finally and just enjoy the moment.
The night concluded with a 20 minute walk thru downtown to make it to my hotel. That was interesting – especially at 1 in the morning!
What a night though. It was a wonderful atmosphere in the building and for the most part 18,000 people were going nuts.
My only frustration - If only each one of those in attendance went out the next day and invested in a copy of Styx's Cyclorama and Journey's Arrival and Red 13 – the bands and the scene in general would be a lot better off.
Andrew J McNeice / 2003.