http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=517683&category=ARTS&newsdate=9/17/2006

Journey tops Leppard in band battle
 
By MICHAEL ECK, Special to the Times Union
First published: Sunday, September 17, 2006

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Journey began its career as a '70s prog-rock band with epic 
guitar solos, hippie-dippie lyrics and deep roots in the classic Santana 
lineup. Def Leppard came to the fore as part of the New Wave of British heavy 
metal, alongside such other manic stalwarts as Iron Maiden.

Both went on to became among the major pop icons of the '80s, and both appeared 
Saturday night at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in a double bill that 
promised memories of senior proms, battles of the bands and late nights 
cruising with the radio on.

And the show made good on that promise -- at least in part.

Journey kicked off with a stellar set heavy on big hits and fan favorites like 
"Wheel In The Sky," "Lights," "Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin," and "Keep on Runnin."

New singer Jeff Scott Soto is more the chain-walleted amalgam of David Lee Roth 
and Steven Tyler than he is a descendant of Journey legend Steve Perry, but he 
was warmly received by the large crowd.

Drummer Deen Castronovo handled the high parts on key Perry tunes like "Who's 
Crying Now," "Open Arms" and "Faithfully," but Soto ably impressed the house on 
the rest of the stuff, including an almost punky "Wanted Dead or Alive."

Guitarist Neal Schon seemed more tastefully reined in than on past area visits, 
but he still provided an opening blast of "The Star-Spangled Banner" leading 
into "Stone in Love."

Keyboardist Jonathan Cain mugged all night, with a smug smile and a constantly 
waving hand that was a virtual parody of itself. Still, he sure played that 
piano (and rhythm guitar when necessary).

Journey finished out with a run of favorites, including "Don't Stop Believin," 
"Anyway You Want It" and "Separate Ways."

Def Leppard was positively lethargic by contrast.

Yes, they played expected hits like "Bringin on the Heartbreak," "Foolin" 
(evidently, final g's were against the rules in the '80s) and "Photograph," but 
even those had little spark -- and none were helped by a bass-heavy sound mix 
that lacked the clarity and punch of Journey's set.

Singer Joe Elliott and the crew did find a little more energy when they tackled 
covers from the band's new album, "Yeah."

But then, Def Leppard's versions of T. Rex's "20th Century Boy" and David 
Essex's "Rock On" don't improve in the originals (even if the former's Marc 
Bolan was Lep guitarist Vivian Campbell's prime influence).

If Saturday actually had been a prom or a battle of the bands, Journey would 
have won hands down.

Cain's pal Stoll Vaughan opened the evening with a brief set best described as 
Dylanesque, in a damning-with-faint-praise kind of way. Michael Eck is a 
freelance writer from Albany and a frequent contributor to the Times Union

JOURNEY/DEF LEPPARD

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga 
SpringsLength: Def Leppard, 80 minutes; Journey, 80 minutes; Stoll Vaughan, 15 
minutes.Highlights Journey's punky "Wanted Dead or Alive."The Crowd: Almost 
20,000 fans of '80s pop.

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