 
|
|||||||||
              
|
Music Review: Journey's stand-in finds notes that Foreigner can't
Wednesday, June 09, 1999 By John Young
It was a tale of two singers last night at Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheatre. Truly, it was the best of times; it was the worst of times.
Both Journey and Foreigner pumped out the hits in front of 15,371 listeners ready for big, stomping '80s rock. Journey provided the good times, despite having Steve Augeri singing in place of Steve Perry. Foreigner featured original vocalist Lou Gramm at his worst, struggling just to keep his voice from cracking.
It's not as if Foreigner's opening set was a disaster, however. If you didn't listen to a radio during the '80s, the cheers for the band's set might've baffled you. Otherwise, you probably recognized all 13 songs Foreigner played and understood why fans waxed nostalgic over "I Want To Know What Love Is," "Double Vision" and "Feels Like The First Time."
The only impediment to completely brainless, bashing rock pleasure was Gramm's croak. He deserves credit for being a trouper and sounded as if he were fighting a cold or hoarseness. Still, he strained for -- and missed -- the high notes in "Head Games" before deciding to stay in his low register for much of the night. That meant "Juke Box Hero" didn't soar, and "Blue Morning, Blue Day" fell flat.
The naughty, sexist tunes came off as appropriately gritty, though. "Women" was as humorously dumb as ever, celebrating females who "can't be beat" or park themselves "in a back seat."
As well-received as Foreigner was, the energy at the concert rose with Journey's appearance onstage. Singer Augeri looked even more like Perry than when he fronted Journey at the A.J. Palumbo Center in October, and he still sounds remarkably like the group's one-time ultra-tenor. If anyone noticed Perry's absence, they sure didn't seem to care.
Journey has tinkered with their set since that previous show. They've added the old rock-radio hit, "The Girl Can't Help It," and an obvious, crowd-milking new tune called "Good Times."
Other elements stayed right where they worked best. "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" made for a fist-pumping opener, and the back-to-back duo of "Lights" and "Open Arms" probably ended the life of many a disposable lighter.
Augeri seemed comfortable chatting between songs at this show, too. He even changed the lyrics in "Lights" from "my city" (Augeri's not from San Francisco, after all) to "your city," further ingratiating himself with the crowd.
Maybe Gramm will return to have a better night another time. Maybe Journey will get Augeri in the studio soon and attempt to write another chapter in their storied commercial history. In the meantime, fans will have an occasionally raw, occasionally raucous Star Lake show to remember.
John Young is a free-lance writer.
|
||||||||
