Search - Journey 2001 on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 3/26/2017...

One of the greatest bands of all time. The concert was well done and had a real nice mix of songs and solo performances. I would have given it a 5/5 rating but the sound quality was not the greatest at times. A must watch for Journey fans!

Words cannot do this DVD justice

Brad | CT | 08/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a Journey fan of all eras. I bought "Arrival" when it came out last year, and it was definitely my favorite CD of the year. I also saw the band in concert last summer and found their performance nothing short of stunning. I knew that there was no chance that I wouldn't absolutely love this DVD before I bought it, and I was right. Nonetheless, in watching it I was still surprised how good it is.The reason for my surprise is simple: I have never heard better sound quality on a DVD. I cranked this DVD through my stereo speakers and felt like I truly was at the concert. The production could not be more crisp and clear.Now to the more obvious part of my review: the songs and performances were all top-notch. This does not look like a band that has been around for nearly 30 years. Steve Augeri for sure brings a youthful energy to the band. He of course sounds great on the new songs he sang on "Arrival", but he also absolutely does all the Steve Perry classics justice.I hate to say it, but the best thing for Neil Schon was for Steve Perry to leave this band. As the true band leader once again, he plays with a flamboyance that is remarkable considering the number of years he had been doing this. It is so obvious to me that he and this band have a new lease on life. Watch this performance and I think you will agree.For sure, many of the classics and all of the biggest hits are here. From the rockers like "Stone In Love" to the ballads like "Faithfully" (which was the beautiful, touching way the band closed this performance), the songs are all masterfully performed. Like other reviewers, I am impressed with the inclusion of the rare "La Raza Del Sol".Bottom line: DO NOT listen to those that say this band is done because Steve Perry is no longer with them. Obviously, he was great and contributed much to their success, but he was not the only important component of the band. Watch this performance and see how great this band still is. The outrage should not be that Journey is going on without Steve Perry, but instead that this band in its new incarnation is not getting the recognition it so richly deserves. If you are a true fan of Journey in particular and classic rock in general, do not give up on this band! And for sure, this DVD comes strongly recommended."

Buy this DVD!

Leslie Spring | Los Angeles, CA USA | 12/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Since the 70's, I've always enjoyed Journey. The musicianship and songwriting have always been first-rate. Also, I can't help but be a little biased, since Jonathan Cain himself played "Faithfully" during my wedding ceremony back in '93. We also exchange Christmas cards every year, and there are even some dedications to my wife and me in the liner notes of one of his solo albums.That being said, I was still prepared to view this DVD with a very critical eye. I hadn't heard the new "Steve" in the band, and as a musician who specializes in vocals, my laser vision was well trained on Mr. Augeri.Well, any reservations that I might have had were completely unfounded. As much as I have enjoyed Steve Perry's singing in the past, his live performances sometimes suffered a little compared with the recordings, which is usually only natural, considering the challenging nature of this material.Steve Augeri, on the other hand, consistently performed so closely to the original recordings that I kept checking for tell-tale signs of post-production dubbing. I didn't find any, so I have to conclude that, yes Virginia, this is a true live performance. He is relaxed, confident, and is obviously enjoying himself, the band, and the audience. Occasionally, there is minor straining or thinning of his voice at or beyond high-E, but unless you are specifically looking for it, you won't notice it. The only real negative comment that I can think of is that his stage patter still needs a little work. Personally, it annoys me when a singer keeps asking how everybody is doing, or if everyone is "having a good time". Yes, we're all doing great and enjoying the show, thank you. Can we move on, now?And moving on to Dean Castronovo, I've been a fan of his playing since he was drumming with various Shrapnel Records artists over ten years ago, so hearing him play with Journey was quite a treat. I think that Steve Smith is a great drummer, but I personally like Dean's more aggressive double-bass work in that he manages to wring a harder-rocking sensibility out of the older material, and outright shred on the new stuff.What can be said about Neil, except that like a fine wine, he does get better with age. His stint as a solo artist seems to have refined his chops to the point of true guitar heroism, which he brings back into the Journey fold with a vengeance. Also, his guitar tone is even more liquid and "sustainy" than ever, allowing him to really sing with his guitar.Ross Valory's work is tight and crisp. On my second viewing of the DVD, I paid particular attention to the rhythm section, and was pleased at how consistently "on" he is playing. Tonally, he seems to be going for a more modern, punchier, and less boomy sound. This only adds to the perception of crispness in the bass, and the music overall. Like another reviewer, I also noticed that although he seemed to be having fun, he was very focused, and I would dare say that he was somewhat of a "hub" to the music.Last but not least, Jonathan Cain was superb, as always. His keyboard and piano work were very consistent in this performance, and his solo piece was a well-executed interlude to bridge the gap between a more raucous song and a ballad. He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely, and another great aspect of this performance is the way that Jonathan enhanced some of his old parts, making them more interesting, and adding more flavor to some of the old songs. Finally, knowing what songs that he wrote, or helped to write, I can only say that Journey would not have had such massive success without Jonathan's contributions.Aside from Steve Augeri's lead vocals, Journey was especially astounding on this DVD because of the rich background vocals that sometimes expanded to four parts because everyone in the band was singing. I heard one section where two members were singing harmony "ooohs", while two more were singing the main lyric in harmony, while Steve Augeri sang some answering lines based on the main lyric. This is really great stuff that allows the band to sound just like the original recordings.Oh, and of course the DVD video and audio quality is terrific. I don't have a 5.1 system, but it sure does sound great through my stereo. Even though this DVD has a minimum of special features, with the great sound, high video quality, and tight editing, this is one of the more well-produced music DVDs that I own. Special thanks go to whoever decided to skip the use of video FX. When I watch a concert on video, I want to see a great performance and nothing else. This DVD delivers just that."

This DVD takes concert DVDs to a "Higher Place"!

Dave Hilton | Charlotte, NC | 01/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally, a Journey DVD is released! I have to say that this is probably one of the best live videos ever created. It is great not just because it involves the best rock band of all time, but the DVD gives you flawless performance and production.This DVD features a Las Vegas, NV concert that was performed a few months before Journey's release of their 2001 album "Arrival". After watching it in its entirety, I was astounded at the perfection displayed throughout the entire band. Steve Augeri (the new lead vocalist) has permanently established himself as Journey's front man. He practically nails every high note! That is very difficult for a vocalist to do without a little help with post-production. He also is so intent about keeping the song true to its original recording. Neal Schon is (as always) a master with the lead guitar. Incredible energy and harmony is given in each song...including his solo! Ross Valory (bass) is a mixture of attitudes on stage: sometimes he acts reserved and intense in his performance and other times he's smiling and make funny gestures to the other guys in the band. Despite those observations, his bass guitar playing is crisp, clear, and perfect! Jonathan Cain completely showcases all of his talents in this DVD performance. Here, he plays keyboards, piano, and guitar, plus sings backup vocals! The man proves that he is a comprehensive and total musician. Lastly, Deen Castronovo (drummer) is just insane...in a good way! While his drumming is superb and unblemished with each song, he gives the songs more of a hard rock edge. His movements seem blistering and furious, but they are controlled, making the drums powerful and accurate.The set list for this concert DVD was excellent. All of the hits are played with a few exceptions. Some bonus songs are included such as "La Raza Del Sol" from the band's box set. This is the only recorded live performance of this song that I am aware of, and it is done well. Another bonus song is "Fillmore Boogie". This one will rock the socks off you! It is an explosive, intense rocker that features the band jammin' on guitars and drums...no lyrics (I guess Steve needs a break sometime!).There are some extra features such as band member biographies and a photo gallery. The sound quality is AWESOME! Using Dolby 5.1, this DVD is incredible to listen to. The production of the sound, lighting, and video techniques in this concert and DVD was done with astounding quality. With this DVD scoring A-pluses on all marks, get it whether you're a hardcore Journey fan or just a rock enthusiast. This DVD clearly demonstrates the perfection that Journey achieves in their live performances!"