Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, NH
November 11, 2006
Sure was nice to have a show so close to home for once! No several hour drive or hotel stay- just a nice, leisurely afternoon to get ready and a short little hop up to the Arena. We had 5 star ILAA packages for this one, so we had to be up there early. Still no problem. And we even managed to find street parking just a few blocks from the Arena! We waited outside the Arena until they opened the door for all the 5* holders, got in, registered, got our laminates and while we were waiting for all this to happen, we got to listen to a bit of Journey's soundcheck, which you could hear quite clearly (if a little distorted sounding) from inside the Arena. Then up to the merch booth, and we got to listen to Deen warming up on vocals. Then we went downstairs to the room where they had our pre-show party set up. Beer and wine- the usuals. Food was not bad- chips and guacamole, cheese tray, veggie tray, bruschetta (with so many tomatoes on it, it was hard to eat!), and chicken fingers. So, we ate a little, drank a little- you know, party stuff!!! Didn't win anything in the raffle- darn! Really could have used that Def Leppard hooded sweatshirt! LOL
Journey was doing a Meet & Greet pre-show just out in the hall where we were, and we all got to go to that as part of our package. And, of course, I had decided at the last minute to leave my ticket scrapbook at home! I had pulled it out, but then decided I just didn't want to have to drag it all over with me at the show. What can I say? Sometimes, I am not quite so bright….. We got all lined up for the M&G- which was a cattle call type: no pictures, handshake, autograph, short conversation thing- and when I saw Jonathan come out and sit down, my hands started shaking- again! Mike laughed, but I can't seem to help it! I will say that I did calm down much more quickly this time and by the time we actually were at the table, I don't THINK I was shaking any more. So we hit Ross first, said "Hi" and got the autograph. Jonathan was next in line. I said "Hi" and he signed my laminate and I told him that his new CD was wonderful and that I really loved it. He said thank you, and then Mike said to him, "And she really means it when she says that. She's a HUGE fan. Couldn't wait to get the CD." And I told him that it was still in the car player. He looked up, gave me that adorable smile and said, "That's what I like to hear!" Deen was next. He's looking really thin again, but I know he's been sick again this leg of the tour. And Mike said to him that we had met him a couple years ago at Mohegan, but, of course, Deen did not remember. He said, "Hey, y'know, I'm getting' old! I don't remember anything anymore!" LOL And then Jeff- while he signed my laminate, I told him how amazing I thought he was, and he grinned and said, "Oh, thank you!" Mike told him that he was looking forward to hearing him, and I'm sure he said something, but I didn't catch it, because by that time, I was standing in front of The Rock God. Now, Jonathan is and always will be my favorite, but there is just something about Neal- he looks at you with the crooked grin of his and he just has this attitude and presence that just surrounds you. This was a nice bonus- the usual routine for these things is that a few of the band members come in to the party and you get group pictures taken by the ILAA host and that's it. There is often not really time to talk to them or anything, so it was nice to get to go thru the M&G line.
We were escorted out to the Arena for the show. We had 4th row seats, in the center section, closer to Jonathan's side of the stage. Happy me!!! Stoll Vaughan came on about 7:20- early, as the tickets said the show started at 7:30, but whatever. He's improved a lot since we first saw him in June. He's kind of country/folk/rock in style- not my usual thing, but he's decent. And definitely worth getting there to see. I have to wonder if it wasn't nerves at the beginning that made him seem so "corny." I sure as heck would have been nervous in front of all those people- and opening for Journey and Def Leppard! And it's cool when Ross and Jonathan come out to play with him. Ross on that electric upright is a cool sight, tho Mike says he plays it more like an electric player than a "real" upright player. I guess- he's the bass player, not me! Phil Collen did not play with Stoll this time. The second guitar was played by Curtis Laur, who is Phil's guitar tech. I like having Jonathan play harmonica for this, since they don't do the long, bluesy opening to LTS now.
And then it was Journey time! Neal and Jonathan came out for the Star Spangled Banner, which is what they have been opening with. And then with the stage mostly dark, the rest of the band came on and we got this great shot of Jeff up on the drum riser hands up in the air, just lit from behind- it's rather cool. But once they start, man, they are ripping all night long. The set was pretty much the same as it has been, tho they have put Message of Love and I'll Be Alright Without You in the set now. Which is great- I'll Be Alright has always been one of my top favorites and Message of Love is a great song, too. Deen did his usual fabulous job on Open Arms and Faithfully. And, yes, I cried during Faithfully- I always get teary during that one- it IS my favorite by far, and at my last show of the season, well, it's just very sad that I will not get to hear it live again till next year. I can't say enough about Jeff- he is just an amazing vocalist, and such energy! I know there are a lot of people who don't like his style, thinking it "doesn't fit" Journey, but I think he works quite well with the music and the rest of the band. There is an edginess and energy on that stage these days that you can almost touch. And I say that not trying to take anything away from Steve Augeri- I loved him as Journey's frontman, too, and if he comes back, I'll be one of the first in line to welcome him with Open Arms! But I can and do appreciate the differences between any and all members of the band, past and present. They all gave their own mark and had their own style and influence and I can and do enjoy most all of them, without needing to "take sides" on one against the other. Ok, off my soapbox….
Def Leppard- loud, rockin', fun set. Pretty much the same as it has been all along. We did not get the "tiger coat" on Joe- darn! LOL But we did get pyro at a couple spots in the set- that was cool! And I am always amazed at Rick Allen- just the fact that he didn't let the accident and loss of an arm defeat him is more than enough to make me admire him, but he's a pretty danged good drummer, too! Overall, I think I have to agree with Mike that Journey had the better set. There was just way more energy and life to their set. Yeah, Phil, Viv and Sav do a lot of running around, up and down the risers and stuff, but Joe is pretty tame up there, especially compared to Jeff. There seems to be more interaction between the band members in Journey, as well- they play off each other, you can see it- they are always watching each other and working with each other. DL, on the other hand, often appear to each be doing their own thing. Not that it was a bad show, but I don't think they quite hit the same level as Journey.
Let's see- we got tons of great pictures! There were over 450 on the camera card at the end of it all. Now, lots of them got trashed right away, as they were just too blurry- none of these guys stand still for long!! Mike got hit by Ross' water gun a couple times- I didn't! And Mike got a Neal guitar pick from one of the ladies in our row- I went out at intermission to get some waters and I guess when she went out, she kind of trampled on him a bit, so she found the pick later and gave it to him!! I tried to get up to the front for Journey's encore, but the creepy security guy wouldn't let me stay- and he chased another girl from our row back at the encore, too- and SHE had been standing up front for Journey's entire set!!! I mean, really- it was just for the encore- what? 4-5 minutes? What was that going to hurt? Oh, well, I tried.
It was a great night, and another fabulous show! I'm sorry it's over for the year now. Hey, guys- see you next summer!!!