Rockin' Road Report Archive -- ... And Now the Main Event

LAS VEGAS, NV
Aladdin Casino

May 10, 2003

...and now the Main Event!

WOW! That's the first thought that comes to mind, just WOW! Last night opened the "Classic Rock's Main Event" Tour featuring REO Speedwagon, Styx, and our Journey boys. I've got to say this is probably the most impressive FIRST show of a tour I've seen. The glitches were basically non-existent, which was amazing. All three bands put on excellent shows, and I had a WONDERFUL night.

REO opened the night and had the most reserved response of the night -- most people sat through most of their set. (Personally, I was up and down as of the three bands REO ranks third for me.) The show didn't start "right on time" as promised by Kevin Cronin in the recent Rockline interview (which I didn't expect anyway) -- they took the stage at 7:30, a full half hour past the stated start time. They had a very cool opening video sequence before they came out which features pictures from all eras of the band and was a good energizer before they hit the stage with "Ridin' the Storm Out"

As I expected, Kevin talked WAAAAY too much. Just shut up and sing dude! But that was probably my only complaint on their set. And folks, be prepared... he's got a looooooooooooooooong tale about the Playboy mansion that, since the video screens behind him were showing pictures going along with the story, will be there the whole tour. (My personal favorite was the "blah blah blah" screen! )

Before the show started I noticed a red digital clock back by the soundboard and didn't think much of it until about half way through REO's set when I was surveying the crowd and noticed the clock had was reading 45:15 and counting down. Yes folks, they've got a TIMER on all three bands!

So after about 80 minutes and four shirt changes for Kevin, REO wound up their set. (Of course, the timer had run out and they went about two minutes long... once again, shut up and sing!)

Then out rushed the stage crew and I have got to tell you the fact that they actually were able to switch stages from REO to Styx in twenty minutes was VERY impressive. Both Styx and REO had risers behind the drum kit where various members of the band would appear through out the set. (Kevin Cronin and Neil Dougherty taking turns on a piano mostly for REO, and everyone but the drummer for Styx) Though their stages were similar, they made enough changes that the look was different.

9:00 a giant carrot appears on the video screen (what is UP with that Cyclorama cover anyway??) and the boys from Styx all appeared standing on top of the riser and took the stage. The crowd kicked in to gear when they started their set -- most everyone was on their feet for "Too Much Time on My Hands". As I think everyone knows, Styx has a new CD out (which I bought last week so I'd have some clue of the new songs and recommend -- it's quite good) so they played three tracks from Cyclorama which got a fairly lackluster response, though having Glenn Burtnik out in the audience singing "Kiss Your Ass Goodbye" was an inspired move and got the audience into a song they had never heard before. (And damn is that man energetic, he was running all OVER the place.) Chuck Panazzo joined in for a few songs -- coming out towards the end of the set during "Fooling Yourself".

Styx actually finished their set with about a minute and half left to go on the timer, and spent that time tossing picks and "Styx" beach balls out into the audience. (I think Tommy Shaw even signed a few things.)

Time for another twenty minute set change and Journey would hit the stage! The last time I'd seen Journey and Styx on the same stage was at Junefest in 2001 and that time Styx just blew Journey out of the water with their set, and after the high energy show Styx put on last night, I kept my fingers crossed that our boys would be up to following that set.

Out comes the crew and the set changed yet again. Deen's drum kit looks much bigger than past years and WOW the artwork on the bass drums looks great -- good job Christopher! Also looks like Deen's "mascot" for this year is some kind of stuffed lobster, which I noted was sitting on one of the drums towards the back of the kit.

10:27 -- the Red 13 opening starts and the video screen starts showing stars and galaxies and I'm on my feet in an instant! We know by now, of course, that "State of Grace" is the opening song and in my opinion is probably the best place to stick a new/unfamiliar song. The crowd stayed pretty well on their feet through most of it (though I did notice folks sitting yet again -- ah well.) Everyone was back on their feet for "Separate Ways" and stayed that way for much of the night. Unlike Styx and REO, Journey didn't utilize the wings of the stage as much. A little disappointing for me since I was sitting right next to the wing on Jon's side. The configuration of the Aladdin's theater is VERY strange -- all the seats are in a semi-circle so that the ones off to the sides are actually facing the middle of the theater and NOT the stage. Of course, if they were facing the stage, you wouldn't be able to SEE anything. Not a typical view.

They played a very tight set, which was fairly similar but not exactly the same as the show they just did in San Francisco. There are some fun moments in the video projection behind the band that I won't ruin for everyone, but there are a few cool things that I wanted to mention. For one, there was a camera SOMEWHERE above Deen and periodically the screen would show shots looking down at the top of Deen's head and (of course) his kit. (I noticed at least four video cameras going from where I was seated, so hopefully they'll save a lot of this footage and put it together in some form of DVD.) Another personal favorite moment of mine with the video was during "Lights" -- they had some SPECTACULAR shots of San Francisco and "the sun shine on the bay". I tend to forget sometimes just how pretty my hometown is!

During the "Star Spangled Banner" I happened to notice the shirt Neal was wearing (yes, you're gonna get a minor fashion report, but it is relevant.) It was a Journey shirt with the current scarab version (the one with the Golden Gate Bridge in the body) but instead of the blue/red/yellow wings it had the stars and stripes as wings. I didn't take time to check out the swag table at all, but hopefully this is something that will be available for sale -- it looked GREAT!

The audience overall was pretty good, though the response on some of the less familiar songs in the set ("Rubicon", "La Do Da"/"Dixie Highway"/"Line of Fire") was pretty weak -- it was apparent that a good chunk of the audience didn't know these songs. Too bad, because they rocked!

Journey finished up their set about 11:45 (yes, also about two minutes over the 80 minute allotment!) and I was in that "good tired" mode after a good concert -- ears ringing a little, back and feet a little weary, but bubbling with that buzz you get from a good show.

Until San Jose...