It was 1981. I remember it like it was yesterday. It was time to go “collecting” for my paper route. That meant riding my bike door to door to collect the money that my customers owed for their newspaper delivery. With the money I already had, I knew I would be able to collect enough to then ride up to the mall and buy Journey’s “Escape” album at Musicland. The second I got home...I had it out of the plastic and was listening to it over and over on the crappy little record player I had in my room. I was 12 years old...and it was the greatest thing I had ever heard! I have been a HUGE fan ever since...having seen them a number of times in concert over the years. On Friday night at The Alamodome...it felt like they just couldn’t quite get the sound dialed in properly. Drums and keys were buried in the mix...while Schon’s guitar and Pineda’s vocals seemed overdriven for much of the night. Accepting it as something that was simply out of my control...I was still able to sit back and enjoy a 90 minute hit-filled setlist that spanned their entire career.

Only the Young

Be Good To Yourself

Guitar Solo / Stone In Love

Ask the Lonely

Escape

Who’s Crying Now

Faithfully

Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’

Piano Solo / Open Arms

Line of Fire

Dead or Alive

Guitar Solo / Wheel in the Sky

Lights

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Don’t Stop Believin’

Any Way You Want it