Journey band members Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory and Steve Smith may have aged physically since the glory days of the group. But the men — lead guitarist, keyboardist, bassist and drummer, respectively — still play with all the fierceness, earnestness and nimble-fingered-ness of their youth. Oh, and that current lead vocalist, Arnel Pineda? The one you’d swear sounds identical to former lead singer Steve Perry? Just as fierce, with a lot of leaping and cavorting that belies his 48 years.
And the 7,301 mostly Baby Boomer-age fans who turned out to see Journey and fellow Bay-area band the Doobie Brothers Wednesday at Verizon Arena rolled back a few of their own years ... when it came to showing their enthusiasm.
Scores of cell phones were whipped out and held at the ready as Journey’s performance began with the much-welcomed “Separate Ways,” with its distinctive lead-in. Performing before big-screen video graphics, the band then went into a string of '80s hits that got the screaming audience to its feet … “Be Good to Yourself,” “Only the Young,” “Stone in Love,” and “Any Way You Want It."
Schon and Smith were the standouts in Journey’s performance. Schon, 62, proved his mettle by channeling Jimi Hendrix in a guitar-solo tribute to the military that included both “Taps” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” Schon also gave a nod of sorts to Perry by mentioning his and Perry’s co-authorship of the 1978 song “Lights.” Later Smith, 61, loosed a transcendent drum solo that segued into “Wheel in the Sky."
But making the evening for concertgoers were several of the band’s most familiar hits — “Open Arms,” “Who’s Crying Now” and “Don’t Stop Believin’" as well as “Faithfully,” presented as another nod to military personnel.
Beforehand, the pared-down but still-versatile Doobie Brothers — with original singers/guitarists Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons — got the crowd going by opening with its rock-gospel hit “Jesus is Just Alright.” They went on to present such memorable cuts as “Rockin’ Down the Highway,” “Dark Eyed Cajun Woman,” “China Grove” and the uber-popular “Dark Water” along with a hit from Michael McDonald’s days as lead singer — “Takin’ it to the Streets.”
Band member Marc Russo stood out with saxophone performances with both with the Doobie Brothers and opener Dave Mason, who demonstrated his guitar talent performing such songs as “Only You Know and I Know."