Meadowbrook Farm,
Gilford,
NH
August
19, 2005
Steph and I were scheduled to do Street Team duty for this one, so we got to the venue early. Parked the car- nice to get there early and get a close spot!! I knew that place is usually rather nasty about cameras and stuff, so I didn’t bring it with me. I should have- because we walked up to the gate and told the guy guarding it that we were helping out with the Street Team and he just said: OK, it’s that big blue tent down there. Didn’t even check our tickets or IDs and didn’t search even Steph’s bag!!! Figures.
So we reported in to Jennifer, got our shirts, and had some time to wander around a bit and check out the motorcycle!! Oh, wow- is it ever gorgeous! The pictures do not do it justice at all. That is going to look REALLY, REALLY good at my house!
Time to get set passing out CDs. It was just Steph and I, so things got a bit hectic for a while. Funny how many people would give you strange looks when you said: Get your CDs here!! Lots asked: How much? And were shocked that it was free!! I know there were a lot of people who didn’t know about it, but this one had it printed right on the tickets! Had one guy ask if it was new stuff or greatest hits, and when I told him it was new stuff, he said : Oh…. And made a face. And, of course, there were the debates with a few of them about Steve A. sounding “just like” Steve P.—“And he looks just like him, too!” Uh, no- on both counts. Then I had the guy who asked me if my hair color was natural- I just smiled. His wife said: Of course it is! He said: I know how to tell. And proceeds to grab a handful of my hair and SMELL it!! Must have been trying to see if he could smell that chemical smell. So he goes: Wow! It is her real color! Again, I just smiled…. *wink * Strange people out there.
One of the venue people came up and asked me if they could get some of their own people to help hand out CDs. This was when the major part of the crowd was coming in, and things were getting backed up. I sent him down to Jennifer to get CDs and we ended up with maybe four or five extra people. That helped a lot. We were still handing out the last of our CDs when the music started, so I helped Steph empty her box, and we booked it for our seats- so fast, that we forgot to pick up our own CDs and had to go back out at intermission to get them!
The show was fabulous! I really enjoyed hearing the older stuff from the first albums. I had never really been all that familiar with them before this, and even tho I had been listening more to those songs leading up to the show, hearing them live was just so incredible. Say what you will about rock music in general, and I will be the first to admit it is not the rocket science of the music world, but those intrumental parts proved that those 5 guys up on that stage are true musicians. The first half set list was changed up a little from what it has been. Deen has been ill, so he did not sing lead at all, just backing vocals. They added in Just the Same Way, which was fine with me, and Walks Like a Lady. And that is just one more thing that impresses me about this line-up. If one of them is unable to sing on any given night, there is always someone else to fill in very competently.
Second half was really amazing. No Voodoo Chile, but we did get the SSB for Neal’s solo. And they did FIVE from Generations: Faith in the Heartland, In Self Defense, Gone Crazy, Every Generation and Out of Harm’s Way. For those who don’t care for Gone Crazy, give it a chance live. You may change your mind. It is a lot of fun live- Ross is just the perfect one to sing that song. Every Generation seemed to go over very well, as did Out of Harm’s Way and Faith in the Heartland. It was nice to hear so many new songs, even if the crowd wasn’t familiar with them yet. And we got some odd looks when we were singing along with all the songs- new and old. Well, hey, folks, some of us HAVE heard the new stuff already!!
I gotta say that the crowd was pretty darned lame for most of the first half of the show. Just sat like lumps- not even appearing to get into the mucic at all. I don’t get it. Sure, stuff like Kohoutek and Nickel and Dime and Mystery Mountain aren’t what most people think of when they think Journey, but they are full of interesting stuff from a music standpoint. Well, Steph and I tried to make up for all of them by ourselves. We were aobut 8 rows from the stage, on Jonathan’s side, and he knew we were there. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could hear us singing, especially the new stuff because we were so loud! But we wanted them to know there were a few people there who appreciated and enjoyed the whole show, not just the radio hits. There were more people who stood and stayed standing for most of the second half, but as usual, when they did a new song, a lot sat again. All I can say is that I only LIVE in NH- I am not a native!! LOL
And the best part- at Meadowbrook, they let you rush the stage for the encore. Steph and I knew that and we were ready, so we were right in front of Jonathan for LTS. And we got the harmonica solo right in our faces- kneeling at the edge of the stage, eye contact, big smile and pointed right at us when he finished. I left a happy lady! He touched Steph- I missed. But we did get one of his picks and one of Neal’s. Neal tossed it right at me, but I lost it against the black Generations cover at first.
All in all, it was a great nite and I would sooooo do it again! Thank you, Journey, for another wonderful concert nite!
Set List:
Part 1:
People and Places Intro
Kohoutek
Of A Lifetime
I’m Gonna Leave You
Nickel and Dime
Mystery Mountain
Walks Like a Lady
Just the Same Way
Feelin’ That Way/ Anytime
Any Way You Want It
Part 2:
Intro/ Be Good to Yourself
Only the Young
Faith in the Heartland
SSB (Neal Solo)
Stone In Love
Wheel in the Sky
In Self Defense
Chain Reaction
Lights
Gone Crazy
Every Generation
Who’s Cryin’ Now
Piano Solo
Open Arms
Escape
Out of Harm’s Way
Faithfully
Separate Ways
Encore: Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’