August 25 - Los Angeles, CA (SoFi Stadium)

[CindyJ]

POUR SOME SUGAR ON SOFI STADIUM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: AN EPIC JOURNEY OF ROCK NOSTALGIA ON AUGUST 25, 2024

August 27, 2024
International Concert Reviews
by Dave Blass Photographer/Writer

On a warm summer evening in Los Angeles, California’s Sofi Stadium  transformed into a time machine, transporting fans back to the days when rock ruled the airwaves and life seemed a little simpler. The energy was palpable as the crowd settled in for an unforgettable night featuring three legendary acts: The Steve Miller Band, Journey, and Def Leppard. Steve Miller was a rare treat filling in for Heart and Cheap Trick who were to be part of the Summer Stadium Tour  in other cities. Heart pulled out in early July, canceling all 2024 shows as Ann Wilson has shared some sad health news. Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience will join the tour in September  for a few dates trading off with Cheap Trick. With the stadium's architectural brilliance adding to the magic – keeping the light just right as the sun dipped below the horizon – it felt like time really did stand still for a few hours, allowing the music and memories to take center stage.

Kicking off the night with a bang, Steve Miller took the stage right at 6 p.m. to the electrifying sounds of “Swingtown.” At 80 years old, Miller is the very definition of cool, effortlessly commanding the stage and delivering every note with the same crispness and ease that graced his records decades ago. The setlist was a trip down memory lane, with highlights like “Living in the U.S.A.,” “Take the Money and Run,” and the timeless classic “The Joker” eliciting cheers from the packed stadium. Miller’s guitar solos were soulful and sharp, and his harmonica playing during “Jet Airliner” was nothing short of masterful, sending the audience soaring. He is one of those artists who you forget how many classic tunes are in his catalog. I was excited to have caught him in this great live showcase.

When Journey took the stage, they wasted no time in revving up the crowd with a high-energy performance that began with “Only the Young.” Neal Schon’s guitar work was a powerhouse, reminding everyone why he’s been a staple in rock for decades, while frontman Arnel Pineda, decked out in a bold suit, brought boundless energy to the performance. It was my first time seeing him live and I was not disappointed. He had the range and worked the crowd like he has been doing it for almost a decade… as he has. Journey wasn’t there as just some opener. As co-headliner they put on a FULL 2 hour set that rivaled that of what was to come. They leaned into the Football theme of the Sofi stadium with guitarist Neal Schon sporting a Bill Belichick sleeveless hoodie  and Keyboardist Jonathan Cain sporting a Taylor Rapp LA Rams jersey. I was really impressed by Pineda and how his range just kept elevating each song. “Faithfully” had arms swaying and phone lights twinkling throughout the stadium, while the anthemic. By the time they hit “Wheel in the Sky” the audience was on their feet singing along, at top volume. With “Lights” out came everyone’s Cell Phones… and yes I miss the lighters. It was still a beautiful spectacle. I wasn’t ready for drummer Deen Castronovo’s vocals. He arguably might have been a more exact match for the Steve Perry vocals. I was blown away. Journey really showcases how important backing vocals are. The depth of this band and all of these talented artists singing in harmony is something that really makes them special. “Don’t Stop Believin’” united everyone in one giant sing-along, echoing throughout SOFI’s impressive architecture. Pineda’s vibrant stage presence and powerful vocals made it clear that Journey is still as relevant and captivating as ever. Since Joining the band in 2007 he has brought life and respect to the music loved by millions.

Then, the moment everyone had been waiting for – Def Leppard. As the lights dimmed and the clock counted down, the roar of anticipation from the crowd was deafening. The countdown clock was a fun touch, building excitement rather than relying on the random dimming of lights at an arbitrary time. Bursting onto the stage with “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop),” Joe Elliott led the charge with his signature voice still full of vigor, and the band showed no signs of slowing down. They worked the trident-shaped stage, giving special attention to the “VIP Pit,” where folks got an amazing experience. From “Foolin’,” which unbelievably came out 41 years ago, to the 1987 hit “Armageddon It,” each song felt like a direct connection to the golden age of stadium rock, with everyone belting out the lyrics as if no time had passed since the 1980s.

Phil Collen and Vivian Campbell’s dueling guitar solos lit up the stadium, and Rick Allen’s drumming was as thunderous as ever, reminding us all why Def Leppard continues to fill stadiums. The setlist stuck mainly to the classics from Pyromania and Hysteria, with just a sprinkle of High ‘n’ Dry added in for spice. The notable outliers were wonderful acoustic versions of “Two Steps Behind,” with Joe Elliott performing solo vocals and acoustic guitar from 1993’s Retro Active, and a great performance of “This Guitar” from Diamond Star Halos. For that song, all the band members, including drummer Rick Allen, came to the end of the runway to engage with the audience up close and personal. Allen even joined in on the maracas for the tune.

Earlier in the set, they played their new song “Just Like ’73,” which dropped at the beginning of this tour and is well worth a listen. “Switch 625” featured a fantastic showcase of Rick Allen’s multi-pedal drumming, which never fails to blow me away. The man is a legend.

However, I was ashamed of the Los Angeles crowd when Elliott went for the sing-alongs during “Two Steps Behind” and “Bringing on the Heartbreak” and got NOTHING from the audience. I mean, nothing. I looked around, and not a single person was singing. Clearly, they only sold two Def Leppard albums in LA. I was shocked. It was a capacity crowd, with the cheap seats filled and the floor fairly packed, so the silence was deafening. Luckily for the band, folks woke up for “Rock of Ages,” and they were on their feet singing along. A nice “Happy Birthday” song for guitarist Vivian Campbell (with the audience singing along, finally), and “Photograph” brought the main set to a close and launched into the encore of “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”

The evening was a perfect blend of nostalgia and timeless rock, where each song acted as a portal to summers long gone yet still somehow within reach. The atmosphere was charged with emotion, joy, and a shared love for the music that has soundtracked countless memories. As the night came to a close with encore performances that had the entire stadium on its feet, it became clear that this concert was more than just a trip down memory lane – it was a celebration of rock’s enduring spirit and the power of music to bring people together across generations.

Visit the link for photos

[CindyJ]

Def Leppard, Journey & Steve Miller Band Bring Hit Filled Rock Brigade To Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium (SHOW REVIEW/PHOTOS)

By Andy J. Gordon

In today’s live music scene, very few legacy acts, often referred to as classic rockers or “Dad” rock, can fill stadiums by themselves. Perhaps that’s why Def Leppard, Journey, and Steve Miller Band joined forces to do a massive show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, on August 25th. This “Summer Stadium Tour” has been on the road since early July, and the August 25 show at SoFi attracted thousands of boomers, teens, and in-betweens as each band displayed the chops that made them successful hitmakers from the ’70s to the mid-90s.

The number of chart-toppers this trio of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bands produced over the years is staggering. The show’s schedule followed the bands’ history – the Steve Miller Band opened, followed by Journey, while Def Leppard closed the show. The musical styles of each band may not be exactly alike, but there was logic to the lineup. Steve Miller Band started in San Francisco in the late 1960s, while Journey also hails from the Bay area and formed in 1973 with previous members of Santana and Steve Miller Band. Miller was invited to join the current tour by Journey guitarist Neal Schon, who was still in his teens when he and Miller became friends in the early 1970s. Def Leppard formed in England in 1976 as a band part of the new wave of British heavy metal, eventually leading to a glossy pop metal sound that made them MTV favorites.

Here is how the five-hour night of music transpired.

The stadium was barely filling in, probably because of the early 6 PM start time, notorious LA traffic, and frustrating parking queues when Miller hit the stage. His catchy, blues-based rock songs still resonate, and the 80-year-old musician seemingly has not lost his touch. His voice and guitar skills were impressive for the entire hour-long set. Second guitarist Jacob Petersen, keyboard player Joseph Wooten, drummer Ron Wikso, and bassist Kenny Lee Lewis provided expert support for Miller as they blew through one hit after another. Timeless songs like “Swingtown” and “Living in the USA” had the crowd, including many stadium workers standing and singing with Miller.

Wooten’s trippy, effects-laden synthesizer intro and long solo during “Fly Like An Eagle” exemplified their exploration of the early 70s psychedelic sound. “Jungle Love and “Take The Money and Run” featured excellent harmonies and timeless Miller guitar solos. “The Joker” turned into a loud audience singalong, and Miller showed off his considerable slide guitar skills. Miller closed the set with the Paul Pena cover, “Jet Airliner,” that he dedicated to Les Paul.

By the time Journey kicked off their set with “Only The Lonely” and “Be Good to Yourself,” SoFi had filled up, but the roars from the crowd could hardly be heard above the sonic onslaught brought by the band. SoFi is a huge space that gets extremely loud, but the sound was clear and balanced throughout the stadium. Unlike the Steve Miller Band, Journey took advantage of the state-of-the-art lighting effects, giant video monitors, and massive three extension ramps that jutted out from the stage. Lead singer Arnel Pineda got a full workout, sprinting along the ramps while belting out the band’s hits. Lead guitarist Neal Schon sported a wide grin for the entire 90-minute show. He also ventured out on the ramps, albeit at a leisurely pace, and engaged with the crowd while he blasted an array of solos interspersed with familiar guitar riffs.

The hits kept coming as Todd Jensen’s thumping bass beat, and Deen Castronovo’s thunderous drums pulsated the stadium seats on “Who’s Crying Now.” Pineda got excellent harmonic support from keyboardist Jonathan Cain and Castronovo while Schon wrapped it up with the familiar guitar solo he creatively expanded upon. “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” focused on Cain’s impressive piano playing and interplay with Schon’s guitar, contradicting their ongoing financial and political offstage battles. All band members except Cain left the stage for a solo organ sequence that transitioned to a classical-inspired piano solo.

Although Pineda has been with the band since 2007, people still compare his vocal abilities with those of the legendary former Journey vocalist Steve Perry. He proved his chops when Cain’s solo eventually segued into the dramatic, familiar opening notes of the ballad “Open Arms” as Pineda and the rest of the band rejoined. Pineda’s passionate and striking vocals led to Schon’s riveting guitar solo. Later in the set, Schon went to the end of one of the ramps and played an extended solo sequence with lots of reverb and sustain effects. It eventually led to the opening notes for “Wheel in the Sky.” Pineda crooned the lyrics, then hopped into the crowd with a security escort while Schon went on another solo exploration. Castronovo did an outstanding job on lead vocals for “Lights,” and Pineda took over again for the closing sequence of mega hits that included “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Anyway You Want It.”

Def Leppard took full advantage of the SoFi setup. A wall of lights was stacked behind the stage, and various colors beamed from behind and high above. Rotating, closeup images of the band members filled the three video screens. All five band members trekked to the ramp extensions throughout their 90-minute set, and singer Joe Elliot spent the most time strolling along the ramps. His flowing white locks seemed transparent under the floodlights as he sang and engaged with the crowd.

Much of the set was dedicated to the fortieth anniversary of their 1983 album “Pyromania.” They certainly mixed in other tracks, but from the opener, “Rock! Rock! (Til You Drop),” that album’s songs were featured prominently. Collen and Vivian Campbell’s double guitar assault joined with bassist Rick Savage’s harmonies on “Rocket” before returning to Pyromania’s “Foolin’.” Elliot led the way on the dramatic “Too Late For Love” with additional, rich harmonies from Savage and a forceful guitar solo from Campbell. Elliot went to the front of the ramp alone with an acoustic guitar and said, “if you know it, sing it” before launching into “Two Steps Behind.”

Eventually, the rest of the band joined him up front amid the floor crowd. Each had acoustic instruments. Elliot asked the audience to join them in singing “Happy Birthday” to Campbell, and then they all strummed together and harmonized wonderfully during “This Guitar.” The musicians returned to the main stage, and the song smoothly transitioned back to electric instruments. Elliot, Collen, and Campbell started “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” with acoustic strings, letting the audience sing the chorus before they switched back to electric. The band closed out the set with “Rock of Ages” and “Photograph,” two more blockbusters from Pyromania. Drummer Rick Allen got the spotlight for a thunderous solo during “Rock of Ages,” and there was a lot of loud audience participation during “Photograph” before Collen closed it with a killer guitar solo.

The five musicians barely left the stage for a minute before they all came back to give the audience two more songs. They started with the title track from 1987’s Hysteria album. That song and album were both critical and commercial successes, which blasted the band to the top of the charts. Elliot belted out the lyrics, and the Collen/Campbell two-barreled guitar onslaught exploded throughout the stadium. They followed that with the silly but undeniably fun show ending, “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” showcasing the band’s sense of humor and diverse songwriting ability. Of course, the crowd ate it up, sang, and cheered mightily well past the closing notes.

Source