Who: Journey with Foreigner and Night Ranger
When: August 10, 2011
Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center/ Darien Center, NY
With: Wendy
Of Note: truly terrifying fashion, JOURNEY!!!!
One of the great things about me, I think, is that I have no sense of irony. Like, I can't even begin to understand what the hipster nonsense of, "Well, I only like that ironically," or, "Well, this is just my ironic mustache," means. Why would you have a mustache unless you wanted to have a mustache? Why would you "like" something (or say you like something) if you didn't actually, you know, like it? I've always been more of a "embrace the things you enjoy wholeheartedly and make a big stink out of it" kind of girl.
All that to say, I have always loved Journey. I didn't watch the Sopranos, but I remember saying when it ended that it was the best thing that ever happened because 'Don't Stop Believin'' was constantly on the radio for a few weeks after. Then Glee hit and Journey had a cultural renaissance, which I welcomed with open arms. (Because, for someone with no sense of irony, Glee is like crack. Pure, Velveeta cheese crack.) The very first song ringtone I ever had (hoo-boy, kids today aren't going to remember life without ringtones...) was 'Don't Stop Believin''. Anyway, they were coming to Darien Lake and after a facebook invitation for a concert partner in crime, I was off. (Thanks Wendy!)
One of the best things about seeing three such iconic rock bands was the people. Oh man, the people. Because Brittany always made fun of me for having "80s prep style", I decided to play that up in a seersucker skirt, polo shirt, boat shoes and madras purse (obviously). That was...very tame compared to the lady a few rows ahead of us in full on permed mall hair, a black lace dress with poofy sleeves, stockings (obviously), and some sky high black heels. There were girls who looked like rejects from the 'Cherry Pie' video. There were guys in mullets. And guys in leather vests. And guys with mullets in leather vests AND high top sneakers. I saw more perms that night than I have since my brother's 1992 wedding. It was intense. Also intense? Middle aged people tailgating while blaring Whitesnake.
Anyway, Night Ranger was fine - I knew 'Sister Christian'; predictably they played that towards the end. I was surprised by how many Foreigner songs I knew. Prior to the concert, I would have said, "The only Foreigner song I know is 'Cold as Ice' (and that's largely from the Buffalo Chips version). I had no idea they were responsible for 'Head Games', 'Waiting for a Girl Like You', 'I Want To Know What Love Is', 'Hot Blooded', and 'Juke Box Hero' - all songs that I could sing along to. Knowing that much of the set, even subconsciously, made me wonder about what actually happened while my brothers baby-sat when I was little...
And then, the glory that was Journey. Look, I get it. Arnel Pineda is no Steve Perry. But, his story is so good - they found him on YouTube for goodness sake! - that you can forgive him most of his vocal shortcomings, particularly because he was so full of energy and SO EXCITED to be performing. Plus, anywhere that his voice strained a bit, the crowd just took over for him. They tore through all of everybody's favorites - 'Separate Ways', 'Faithfully' (swoon!), 'Lights', 'Wheel in the Sky', 'Open Arms' (which I may, or may not, have performed a charming interpretive dance to), 'Any Way You Want It'.
Fun story about 'Any Way You Want It' - I always thought the lyric was, "She loves to move/ She loves to groove/ She loves the love of things". I identified so strongly with that - I do love the love of things! Enthusiasm is pretty much my standard response to anything. I was a bit disheartened when I learned it was "lovin' things". Oh well.
Anyway, one of my favorite moments of any concert is the moment where the whole crowd sings along to the chorus of the most popular single, the song that everyone is there to hear. At Journey, that moment came during 3/4 of the songs. It was like being at the biggest, most sing-along-y frat party ever! I love that feeling of everyone enraptured by the thing that I am enraptured by at the same time I am. It's definitely part of the live music magic. This crowd did not disappoint.
Then, to close the set, 'Don't Stop Believin'' (obviously). The whole amphitheater just lit up with emotion and energy and excitement. And then the confetti cannons went off! Yay confetti!!! The encore was a raucousing version of 'Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'', which was just madness.
Seeing Journey was definitely on my "life list", and I was really excited to check it off. Because I love them. In a completely earnest way.
When: August 10, 2011
Where: Darien Lake Performing Arts Center/ Darien Center, NY
With: Wendy
Of Note: truly terrifying fashion, JOURNEY!!!!
One of the great things about me, I think, is that I have no sense of irony. Like, I can't even begin to understand what the hipster nonsense of, "Well, I only like that ironically," or, "Well, this is just my ironic mustache," means. Why would you have a mustache unless you wanted to have a mustache? Why would you "like" something (or say you like something) if you didn't actually, you know, like it? I've always been more of a "embrace the things you enjoy wholeheartedly and make a big stink out of it" kind of girl.
All that to say, I have always loved Journey. I didn't watch the Sopranos, but I remember saying when it ended that it was the best thing that ever happened because 'Don't Stop Believin'' was constantly on the radio for a few weeks after. Then Glee hit and Journey had a cultural renaissance, which I welcomed with open arms. (Because, for someone with no sense of irony, Glee is like crack. Pure, Velveeta cheese crack.) The very first song ringtone I ever had (hoo-boy, kids today aren't going to remember life without ringtones...) was 'Don't Stop Believin''. Anyway, they were coming to Darien Lake and after a facebook invitation for a concert partner in crime, I was off. (Thanks Wendy!)
One of the best things about seeing three such iconic rock bands was the people. Oh man, the people. Because Brittany always made fun of me for having "80s prep style", I decided to play that up in a seersucker skirt, polo shirt, boat shoes and madras purse (obviously). That was...very tame compared to the lady a few rows ahead of us in full on permed mall hair, a black lace dress with poofy sleeves, stockings (obviously), and some sky high black heels. There were girls who looked like rejects from the 'Cherry Pie' video. There were guys in mullets. And guys in leather vests. And guys with mullets in leather vests AND high top sneakers. I saw more perms that night than I have since my brother's 1992 wedding. It was intense. Also intense? Middle aged people tailgating while blaring Whitesnake.
Anyway, Night Ranger was fine - I knew 'Sister Christian'; predictably they played that towards the end. I was surprised by how many Foreigner songs I knew. Prior to the concert, I would have said, "The only Foreigner song I know is 'Cold as Ice' (and that's largely from the Buffalo Chips version). I had no idea they were responsible for 'Head Games', 'Waiting for a Girl Like You', 'I Want To Know What Love Is', 'Hot Blooded', and 'Juke Box Hero' - all songs that I could sing along to. Knowing that much of the set, even subconsciously, made me wonder about what actually happened while my brothers baby-sat when I was little...
And then, the glory that was Journey. Look, I get it. Arnel Pineda is no Steve Perry. But, his story is so good - they found him on YouTube for goodness sake! - that you can forgive him most of his vocal shortcomings, particularly because he was so full of energy and SO EXCITED to be performing. Plus, anywhere that his voice strained a bit, the crowd just took over for him. They tore through all of everybody's favorites - 'Separate Ways', 'Faithfully' (swoon!), 'Lights', 'Wheel in the Sky', 'Open Arms' (which I may, or may not, have performed a charming interpretive dance to), 'Any Way You Want It'.
Fun story about 'Any Way You Want It' - I always thought the lyric was, "She loves to move/ She loves to groove/ She loves the love of things". I identified so strongly with that - I do love the love of things! Enthusiasm is pretty much my standard response to anything. I was a bit disheartened when I learned it was "lovin' things". Oh well.
Anyway, one of my favorite moments of any concert is the moment where the whole crowd sings along to the chorus of the most popular single, the song that everyone is there to hear. At Journey, that moment came during 3/4 of the songs. It was like being at the biggest, most sing-along-y frat party ever! I love that feeling of everyone enraptured by the thing that I am enraptured by at the same time I am. It's definitely part of the live music magic. This crowd did not disappoint.
Then, to close the set, 'Don't Stop Believin'' (obviously). The whole amphitheater just lit up with emotion and energy and excitement. And then the confetti cannons went off! Yay confetti!!! The encore was a raucousing version of 'Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'', which was just madness.
Seeing Journey was definitely on my "life list", and I was really excited to check it off. Because I love them. In a completely earnest way.
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