{"id":14069,"date":"2016-04-17T18:10:04","date_gmt":"2016-04-17T22:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=14069"},"modified":"2016-04-17T18:12:55","modified_gmt":"2016-04-17T22:12:55","slug":"httpwww-thevalleyledger-comp1904-225","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=14069","title":{"rendered":"LEGENDARY PERFORMANCE: SANTANTA AND JOURNEY"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Story & Photographs by Diane Fleischman<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

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By Diane Fleischman<\/p>\n

Out on the road for a limited three concert tour Santana<\/a> and Journey<\/a> landed at the PPL Center <\/a>last night.\u00a0 A special pairing of two legendary bands,\u00a0 Neal Schon, a former member of Santana is the link between the two, highlighted a full circle in his career.<\/p>\n

The show opened with Santana, Carlos Santana wore a Phantoms jersey ready to set the night on fire.\u00a0 The set began with \u201cSoul Sacrifice\u201d and followed with \u201cOye Coma Va\u201d, with such masterful eloquently performed guitar riffs one can only possess with age.\u00a0 Much like a fine wine, \u00a0here is Carlos Santana at his best.<\/p>\n

\u201cBlack Magic Woman\u201d was an early crowd favorite, as the packed arena swayed to the seductive sounds of this 1974 classic.\u00a0 Neal Schon then joined Santana on stage for the remaining set.<\/p>\n

Along with the night\u2019s performance, was the release date of\u00a0 \u201cSantana IV\u201d,\u00a0 16 new songs to delight any Santana fan, as the early 70\u2019s line up is reunited in the studio for the first time in over forty years.<\/p>\n

Journey was due to hit the stage next.\u00a0 Although it\u2019s been nine years since Arnel Pineda joined the band as the lead singer, certain songs contained the ghost\u00a0 or longing of Steve Perry. However, Pineda\u2019s energetic performance, like a puppy just set loose from the pound, along with a shattering vocal range, allow him to securely fill these shoes.<\/p>\n

Journey kicked off with \u201cSeparate Ways\u201d as the pounding drum lines filled the arena. \u00a0The night held many favorites in store like \u201cOpen Arms\u201d, \u201cLights\u201d, \u201cStone in Love\u201d, \u201cWheel in the Sky\u201d, \u201cOnly the Young\u201d, \u201cMother Father\u201d, and \u201cWho\u2019s Crying Now\u201d.<\/p>\n

Keyboardist, Jonathan Cain, described the meaning behind one of their biggest hits, \u201cFaithfully\u201d, \u201cWhat we wanted to do is use this song, and send it like a postcard.\u201d\u00a0 The fans sang along to this beautiful love song:\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAnd being apart ain\u2019t easy on this love affair, two strangers learn to fall in love again.\u00a0 I get the joy of rediscovering you, Oh girl, you stand by me.\u00a0 I\u2019m forever yours, faithfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd screamed as the encore started with \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019\u201d, while confetti cannons fired, and later a yellow spotlight dappled the audience. \u201cAny Way You Want It\u201d and \u201cLovin\u2019, Touchin\u2019, Squeezin\u2019\u201d rounded out the encore leaving fans completely satisfied.<\/p>\n