{"id":115890,"date":"2023-02-05T12:20:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-05T17:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=115890"},"modified":"2023-02-07T18:41:17","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T23:41:17","slug":"toto-and-journey-rocked-the-ppl-center-in-allentown-review-by-janel-spiegel-photography-by-diane-fleischman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=115890","title":{"rendered":"TOTO AND JOURNEY ROCKED THE PPL CENTER IN ALLENTOWN | Review by: Janel Spiegel &#8211; Photography by: Diane Fleischman"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Review by: Janel Spiegel | Photography by:<br \/>\nDiane Fleischman<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>JOURNEY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Freedom Tour 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>PPL Center<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Allentown, PA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Saturday, February 4, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The 50 Year Celebration Anniversary for Journey.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The \u201cWheel in the Sky\u201d keeps turning.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>It was brisk tonight with a beautiful moon in the sky. The cold didn\u2019t stop people from coming to the PPL Center to see JOURNEY, and Toto. It is the 50-year anniversary celebration for JOURNEY. Imagine having a career and songs that still have a strong effect on people. Songs that move people in specific ways, or songs that have been part of life in some way.<\/p>\n<p>The PPL Center was sold-out, and people were ready to sing. Toto was formed in 1977. Toto 2023 is Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams, John Pierce (Huey Lewis and The News), drummer Robert \u201cSput\u201d Searight (Ghost-Note, Snoop Dogg), keyboardist\/background vocalist Steve Maggiora, keyboardist Dominique \u201cXavier\u201d Taplin (Prince, Ghost-Note), and multi-instrumentalist\/vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr).<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-image-carousel  su-image-carousel-columns-4 su-image-carousel-has-spacing su-image-carousel-has-lightbox su-image-carousel-has-outline su-image-carousel-adaptive su-image-carousel-slides-style-default su-image-carousel-controls-style-dark su-image-carousel-align-none\" style=\"max-width:500px\" data-flickity-options='{\"groupCells\":true,\"cellSelector\":\".su-image-carousel-item\",\"adaptiveHeight\":true,\"cellAlign\":\"left\",\"prevNextButtons\":true,\"pageDots\":true,\"autoPlay\":3000,\"imagesLoaded\":true,\"contain\":false,\"selectedAttraction\":0.007000000000000000145716771982051795930601656436920166015625,\"friction\":0.25}' id=\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto5.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-0\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto5.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto5.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto5-288x300.jpg 288w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto5-300x312.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto4.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-1\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1056\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto4.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto4.jpg 1056w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto4-300x227.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto4-1024x776.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto4-768x582.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1056px) 100vw, 1056px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto3.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-2\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto3.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto3.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto3-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto2.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-3\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"673\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto2.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto2.jpg 673w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto2-252x300.jpg 252w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto2-300x357.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 673px) 100vw, 673px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto1.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-4\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"977\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto1.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto1.jpg 977w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto1-300x246.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/toto1-768x629.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 977px) 100vw, 977px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302_script\">if(window.SUImageCarousel){setTimeout(function() {window.SUImageCarousel.initGallery(document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302\"))}, 0);}var su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302_script=document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302_script\");if(su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302_script){su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302_script.parentNode.removeChild(su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec0302_script);}<\/script>\n<p>Toto has quite a few great songs and tonight they rocked the PPL Center. They changed a few song arrangements with help from Dominique \u201cXavier\u201d Taplin. Steve Lakather talked about the incomparable keyboardist Dominique \u201cXavier\u201d Taplin, while doing some of the band introductions. Taplin also collaborated with the legendary Prince. Toto\u2019s music felt fresh, and vibrant with the arrangement changes that they made to the songs.<\/p>\n<p>They played everything from \u201cI\u2019ll Supply the Love\u201d, \u201cRosanna\u201d, \u201cWith A Little Help From My Friends\u201d (The Beatles cover), \u201cHome of the Brave\u201d, and of course, \u201cAfrica\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Toto sounded incredible. Joseph Williams and Steve Lukather sounded great. The vocals were insane, when Joseph Williams was singing a few times, I thought of Meatloaf, he has that power in his voice that Meatloaf had. If you get a chance, go see ToTo.<\/p>\n<p>Journey 2023 is made up of, lead guitarist Neal Schon, keyboards\/backing vocals, Jonathan Cain, lead vocals Arnel Pineda, keyboards\/vocals, Jason Derlatka, drums\/vocals, Deen Castronovo, and on bass Todd Jesnsen. Neal Schon is a three-time Hall of Fame inductee: the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Rock &amp; Roll Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-image-carousel  su-image-carousel-columns-4 su-image-carousel-has-spacing su-image-carousel-has-lightbox su-image-carousel-has-outline su-image-carousel-adaptive su-image-carousel-slides-style-default su-image-carousel-controls-style-dark su-image-carousel-align-none\" style=\"max-width:500px\" data-flickity-options='{\"groupCells\":true,\"cellSelector\":\".su-image-carousel-item\",\"adaptiveHeight\":true,\"cellAlign\":\"left\",\"prevNextButtons\":true,\"pageDots\":true,\"autoPlay\":3000,\"imagesLoaded\":true,\"contain\":false,\"selectedAttraction\":0.007000000000000000145716771982051795930601656436920166015625,\"friction\":0.25}' id=\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey3.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-5\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"966\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey3.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey3.jpg 966w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey3-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey3-768x636.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 966px) 100vw, 966px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey4.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-6\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1123\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey4.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey4.jpg 1123w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey4-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey4-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey4-768x547.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1123px) 100vw, 1123px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey1.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-7\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"707\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey1.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey1.jpg 707w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey1-265x300.jpg 265w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey1-300x339.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 707px) 100vw, 707px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item\"><div class=\"su-image-carousel-item-content\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey2.jpg\" data-caption=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-8\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\" title=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"699\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey2.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey2.jpg 699w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey2-262x300.jpg 262w, https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/journey2-300x343.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 699px) 100vw, 699px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><script id=\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101_script\">if(window.SUImageCarousel){setTimeout(function() {window.SUImageCarousel.initGallery(document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101\"))}, 0);}var su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101_script=document.getElementById(\"su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101_script\");if(su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101_script){su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101_script.parentNode.removeChild(su_image_carousel_69f3ed9ec1101_script);}<\/script>\n<p>I must say it&#8217;s a difficult task to sing certain JOURNEY songs. Singer Arnel Pineda has the vocal ability, but I will say Steve Perry will forever be a once in a lifetime voice. Arnel Pineda put so much energy into the show, and he gave a lot of love to the crowd of adoring fans. Neal Schon was awesome. The crowd went wild as soon as Journey walked onto the stage.<\/p>\n<p>I imagine it took some people back to high school, or back to being a kid. Music is powerful. I talked to so many people tonight. People who just wanted to \u201csing along\u201d or \u201cjust have a blast\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Journey started off with \u201cOnly the Young\u201d, Neal Schon did an amazing guitar solo, they went right into \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019\u201d \u2013 I think it was a giant sing along. I\u2019ve been to quite a few concerts at the PPL Center, and it was loud. The crowd was singing! SINGING!<\/p>\n<p>If you remember \u201cback in the day\u201d when <em>The Sopranos<\/em> was on\u2026 The last episode to be exact, \u201cMade in America\u201d- I won\u2019t ruin the ending if you haven\u2019t seen it. They play the song, they play \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019\u201d at the end of the episode. \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019\u201d has been played in films, television shows, and everywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>Journey also performed \u201cStone in Love\u201d, \u201cLights\u201d, \u201cLet It Rain\u201d, \u201cOpen Arms\u201d, \u201cFaithfully\u201d (I think I melted.), \u201cSeparate Ways (Worlds Apart), and more. Journey was incredible. The energy of this concert was invigorating. The PPL Center staff was awesome, the stage crew worked fast to change the stage. The stage crews are incredible. They deserve so much credit and all the love to the stage crews. I\u2019ve lost count of how many stage crews I\u2019ve seen quickly change everything out for the bands.<\/p>\n<p>PPL Center constantly out does itself. The Allentown Police Department was on hand as always to make sure everyone stayed safe. Shout out and a big thank you to PPL Center, and my awesome section of people. Every single was singing, and just having fun. We got a chance to forget about the nonsense of the day, work, any stress. All of us sang our hearts and souls out. I\u2019m pretty sure the moon was listening. Thank you, Toto, for just rocking out and Journey for keeping that \u201cWheel in the Sky\u201d moving.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure to check out Journey\u2019s official site and Toto\u2019s official site for tour information. Also, you can stay up to date with what\u2019s going on at the PPL Center on their site or social media.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/journeymusic.com\/\">https:\/\/journeymusic.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/totoofficial.com\/\">https:\/\/totoofficial.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mn2s.com\/booking-agency\/talent-roster\/arnel-pineda\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> https:\/\/mn2s.com\/booking-agency\/talent-roster\/arnel-pineda\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pplcenter.com\/\">https:\/\/www.pplcenter.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Review by: Janel Spiegel | Photography by: Diane Fleischman &nbsp; JOURNEY Freedom Tour 2023 PPL Center Allentown, PA Saturday, February 4, 2023 The 50 Year Celebration Anniversary for Journey. The &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=115890\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">TOTO AND JOURNEY ROCKED THE PPL CENTER IN ALLENTOWN | Review by: Janel Spiegel &#8211; Photography by: Diane Fleischman<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":115901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5716,2290,69,2575],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allentown","category-diane-fleischman","category-in-the-valley","category-janel-spiegel"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/TOTO-Allentown.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115890"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=115890"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115890\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/115901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=115890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=115890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=115890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}