Erik Kabik Photography/ erikkabik.com
Lead guitarist Neal Schon performs with Journey in this 2017 file photo at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Journey continues a limited engagement series Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23, 2022, at Resorts World Theatre.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | 2 a.m.
A lot has changed in the 40 or so years since Journey was regularly filling stadiums on tour across America and beyond.
Just one of its founding members, lead guitarist Neal Schon, is still with the band. Where Journey once played upwards of 90 concerts annually, its 2022 Freedom tour has about 50 dates. It’s already been 15 years (!) since the band handed over the mic to its talented and energetic lead vocalist Arnel Pineda.
Journey setlist
Friday, July 15, at the Resorts World Theatre:
• “Only the Young”
• “Stone in Love”
• “Don’t Stop Believin’ ”
• “Faithfully”
• “I’ll Be Alright Without You”
• “You Got the Best of Me”
• “Ask the Lonely”
• “Who’s Crying Now”
• “Mother, Father”
• “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”
• “Lights”
• “The Way We Used to Be”
• “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’”
• “Wheel in the Sky”
• “Open Arms”
• “Girl Can’t Help It”
• “When You Love a Woman”
• “Send Her My Love”
• “Be Good to Yourself”
• “Any Way You Want It”
But, if anything can be taken away from Journey’s appearance Friday — the opening show in a four-concert limited engagement at Resorts World Theatre — it’s that the band can still flat-out entertain.
The hits, familiar to all, came fast and furious. With Pineda gyrating across the stage, performing acrobatic midair kicks, flipping his microphone and generally playing to an adoring audience, Journey didn’t make the crowd wait to hear some of its biggest hits. Four of the first five songs Journey performed, including arguably their most recognizable hit, “Don’t Stop Believin,’ ” once resided in the Billboard Top Ten.
And they didn’t stop there.
From “Ask the Lonely” to “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’ ” and “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” to “Send Her My Love,” and “Faithfully” to “Open Arms,” the nearly two-hour show was a step back in rock history.
Keyboardist Jason Derlatka gave Pineda a well-deserved break and took over the vocals on “I’ll Be Alright Without You,” as did drummer Deen Castronovo with an emphatic version of “Mother, Father.”
Journey tossed in “The Way We Used to Be” and “You Got the Best of Me,” solid cuts off the band’s 15th and latest studio album “Freedom.”
Schon — he wore a leather jacket for half the concert before shedding it — still has the chops of a rock guitar icon. And judging by the smile on his face most of the night, he still enjoys performing. Ditto with Journey’slongtime keyboardist/guitarist Jonathan Cain, bassist Todd Jensen, Castronovo and Derlatka.
Backed by the Violution Orchestra — conducted by UNLV’s director of jazz studies, Dave Loeb, and filled with Las Vegas-based musicians — Journey mastered a set of 20 songs that had the sold-out audience standing, singing and swaying throughout most of the show.
The orchestrations, by Sean O’Laughlin of Boston Pops and Hollywood Bowl Orchestra fame, were icing on the cake.
— Journey’s special engagement at Resorts World Theatre continues with shows at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For ticket information, go online to AXS.com or rwlasvegas.com/entertainment.
