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Journey Band Reborn With Filipino Lead Singer

For a while Journey band have in dormancy state not until they got a boost from Pinoy talent who would be their front line lead singer. This Pinoy talent is Arnel Pineda who is already a veteran when it comes to club performances whether it will be in the Philippines or Japan. His popularity is also shown by his showings in Youtube and eventually lead him to get flown straight to Marin county to audition for the vacant lead singer position. And the rest is just like a Cinderella story.

Arnel Pineda hardly had enough to get used to his instant challenges and getting used to international status quo being with the Journey band. This added the extra pressure in getting ready to perform and please 15,000 Chilean Journey fans. This extra ordinary experience for Arnel Pineda just added the fire in his first international concert performance that was just nothing but exceptional.

In the beginning of the performance it was like kind of getting the groove and feel for Arnel Pineda and Journey band. Who wouldn’t after being quiet for quite sometime? Some even wondered that they seemed like singing while reading a script from a teleprompter.

As the show went on, Arnel and the band started to show the flow in their performance. And it’s just about right when things just got into the right groove and mood when Arnel Pineda belted out the popular song, “Open Arms”. Arnel Pineda just know how to answer Latinos passion for music and he did such an awesome job. After that number, just about everyone got comfortable and the Monster got silent.

Arnel Pineda’s rendition of “Faithfully” brought the floor down. Totally dispelling any doubts about this guy’s talent, The “Monster” was taken to Arnel and the rest of the Journey band, renewing its place among the greatest rock bands of all time.

It was unbelievable that Journey could do their finale since they were asked for encore number one after the other. There comes a time that their finale even took longer to get going since most of the equipment is turned off or disconnected. Even with those issues it was still such a memorable atmosphere. Finally, Arnel Pineda has shown beyond any doubts that his talent is nothing short of the best to be a part of Journey band.

Neal Schon was acting like a proud father to a son he presented to everyone, Jonathan Cain (who was not so pleased with Arnel Pineda) now is preaching Arnel “is the real deal”, Ross Valory keeps flashes that nothing else with rare smile, and Deen Castronovo gestured to Arnel Pineda that he’s the man!

Almost like a stuff for a soft Cinderella story, isn’t it?

While this is a Cinderella story for Arnel Pineda, this is also a “Lazarus, rise from the dead” story for the Journey band.

Pundits point out that the Journey band has become a “Greatest Hits” band. Schon, Cain, Valory, and Castronovo are living off Journey band’s past glory. They have waxed new materials but unfortunately they were tepid at sales. They may still have the loyalty of the band’s original followers, but this fan base either moves on to new bands or music, or simply die of old age.

Steve Augeri, and Jason Scot Soto are both great singer and performers and they are just trying to extend the lifespan of Journey. Getting Arnel Pineda into Journey, the band got its new version without changing the old package of Journey’s identity. Arnel Pineda’s tenor sounding voice keeps the feel and touch of the what is used to be “Journey”.

Gradually, Arnel Pineda, as Journey’s lead singer, his contributions to the band doesn’t end there. Being Asian, his vibrant energy, his really “rock” version and style could provide a new way of penetrating the admiration of today’s generation both in America and internationally.

Tags: Concerts