Journey delivers marathon, career-spanning show in Toronto with a hits-heavy ending

· Toronto Sun

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Journey

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Scotiabank Arena

Wednesday night

RATING: *** (3 out of four)

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Don’t Stop Believin’ in Journey.

The San Francisco rock-pop outfit that’s lasted 53 years and sold over 100 million albums along the way is supposed to be on its Final Frontier tour, as the trek is called.

But as recently as Monday, co-founder-lead guitarist Neal Schon — and the last original member standing — told the Sun (and posted on Facebook) he was renaming the trek, The Long Goodbye, saying the road trip has been so positive, it’s up to the fans what the band does next.

In the immediate future, specifically on Wednesday night at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, that appeared to be a career-spanning, two-and-a-half-hour show with lots of deep cuts in the first half leading up to a hits-heavy second half.

In other words, you had to wait a little Patiently – also a song early in the set – for the big payoff in the end as the group wrapped up the night with fans on their feet for Don’t Stop Believin’, Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) and Any Way You Want It.

Beforehand, there was also the standout power ballad duo of Who’s Crying Now and Open Arms, which drove the crowd to spirited singalongs, swaying and lighting up their phones.

Meanwhile, helping out Philippines-born lead singer Arnel Pineda, who’s been with the band for 19 years, were keyboardist-rhythm guitarist Jonathan Cain (a 45-year veteran with Journey who said at one point, “I’m really going to miss you guys,” supposedly referring to the fans), drummer Deen Castronovo and second keyboardist Jason Derlatka.

When Pineda wasn’t singing lead vocals, Cain, Castronovo and Derlatka were, with Pineda actually leaving the stage whenever they did.

But there appeared to be no hard feelings.

Pineda, who, at one point, could be seen in the audience near the front of the stage taking photos before he did a full walk around the floor greeting fans towards the end of the night, would proudly praise whoever just sang whenever he got back on stage.

Pineda also let out a long and loud note at the end of La Do Da, proving he’s still got the chops when necessary.

For their part, Castronovo and Derlatka both possess solid, often soaring voices that did justice to such songs as Just the Same Way, Lights, Of a Lifetime, Girl Can’t Help It, Precious Time, Anytime, and Suzanne, all from the ‘70s and ‘80s.

And Castronovo showed no signs of not having fully recovered from the medical emergency he suffered on stage on Oct. 8, just two songs into a show in Tulsa, Ok., and had to have his drum tech take over.

He was not only strong as a singer but also during his drum solo, complete with fire bursts.

Rounded out by bassist Todd Jensen, Journey opened with Be Good To Yourself and then broke into Canada’s national anthem to huge cheers.

But it was when the first recognizable hit, Lights, was played that the audience finally shifted in their seats.

Schon and Cain were a large part of the focus, standing in the front line with Pineda, while Jensen, Castronovo and Derlatka made up an elevated back line with three large video screens towering over them all.

Schon brought out the double-necked guitar for Precious Time, and both Cain (who later changed into a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey jersey during Wheels in The Sky, which ended with more fire bursts) and Schon evoked another time – let’s say the ‘70s? – with their respective keyboard and guitar solos while some pretty trippy videos played on the big screens.

Cain also dedicated Faithfully to “the men and women who have served” in the Canadian Armed Forces.

SET LIST:

Be Good to Yourself

O Canada

Stone in Love

Ask the Lonely

Only the Young

Just the Same Way

Patiently

Lights

Of a Lifetime

Escape

La Do Da

Drum Solo

Girl Can’t Help It

Edge of the Blade

Precious Time

Chain Reaction

Anytime

Dead or Alive

Piano Solo

Who’s Crying Now

Open Arms

Keep On Runnin’

Suzanne

Guitar Solo

Wheel in the Sky

Faithfully

Don’t Stop Believin’

Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’

Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)

Any Way You Want It

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