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From page 96 of Classic Rock Magazine May 2007
Cover of May 2007 issue.
Royal Centre, Nottingham
His predecessor Steve Augeri – like legendary frontman Steve Perry – had the sort of soaring, euphoric voice that usually comes along once in a blue moon. Incredibly, Journey do still have the possessor of such a voice in the band. Sadly, it’s not Jeff Scott Soto.
Indeed only when drummer Deen Castronovo takes over lead vocals for some of the biggest hits does it really sound like Journey, and he sings some of the world’s greatest rock ballads ( Faithfully , Open Arms and Who’s Crying Now ) with genuine flair.
Soto does own a fantastic set of pipes – his range is phenomenal – but he has a tendency to wail and over-sing, while jittering like a hyperactive toddler. Yes, there’s a hard-core of long-standing fans to impress, but he just seems to be trying too hard.
Guitarist Neal Schon, bass player Ross Valory and Jonathan Cain on keyboards and guitar have been doing this for years and bring consummate musicianship to a string of American rock greats plucked from their earliest albums to the latest, Generations . (Schon’s solo rendition of the hymn Jerusalem is an astounding set-opener.) Don’t Stop Believin’ , Any Way You Want It and the encore Separate Ways send the packed house home largely happy – perhaps
because Soto resists the urge to tinker with the melodies or punctuate them with assorted irritating ‘whoops’ and ‘yeahs’. But still the niggles remain.
Johnny Sparks
