Journey Band Reborn With Filipino Lead Singer

Journey band, the multi-platinum rock band of the 70’s has just got a massive shot in the arm: it’s got for itself a new lead singer. Arnel Pineda, a Filipino veteran of music gigs in clubs in the Philippines and Japan, was literally plucked out from the Zoo band (as seen in YouTube) in Quezon City, Philippines, and flown to Marin County to have him auditioned. The rest is the beginnings of a modern Cinderella story.

Arnel Pineda just had two months to let this change of fate sink in and barely two weeks to “acclimatize” himself with the music gods that is Journey Band, and off he went to his baptism of fire: the unforgiving “Monster” of Via del Mar, Chile Festival. 15,000 strong audience who also serve as judges is a tough deal for any seasoned singer. And here comes Journey band’s new and un-acclimatized lead singer, this could be nerve-wracking. The result, however, was more than phenomenal.

In the beginning of the performance it was like kind of getting the groove and feel for Arnel Pineda and Journey band. Who wouldn’t after being quiet for quite sometime? Some even wondered that they seemed like singing while reading a script from a teleprompter.

As the show went on, Arnel and the band started to show the flow in their performance. And it’s just about right when things just got into the right groove and mood when Arnel Pineda belted out the popular song, “Open Arms”. Arnel Pineda just know how to answer Latinos passion for music and he did such an awesome job. After that number, just about everyone got comfortable and the Monster got silent.

Arnel Pineda’s singing of “Faithfully” just caught everyone’s heart with excitement. What used to be doubts of his capability to be with Journey finally disappeared. The “Monster” was transformed to Arnel and the rest of Journey band, claiming their long lost position of the greatest rock bands of all time.

It was encore number one after the other that was asked of the Journey band. Their final song even took a little bit longer to get going since most of the equipment have been turned off. And it was still so memorable! Arnel Pineda have finally proven that he could deliver what is expected of him to be a part of Journey band.

Neal Schon was like the over-proud father of a son he introduced to the world, Jonathan Cain (rumored to be not so sold-out with Arnel Pineda) now mouths AP “is the real deal,” Ross Valory constantly flashes that otherwise so rare grin, and Deen Castronovo vows to Arnel Pineda at the end of the show.

This is something like a substance of a mushy Cinderella story, really?

It’s a Cinderella story for Arnel Pineda and it’s complete opposite for Journey band where they take the place of Lazarus who came back from the dead.

Some musical big wigs coined Journey band has become a “Greatest Hits” group. Schon, Cain, Valory, and Castronovo are riding the wave of Journey’s past glorious moments. They attempted some new materials but they did not seem to hit the sales records. They might still posses the admiration of the original fan groups, but this fans base could either go for other bands or genre, or they could just rot and die of being old.

Steve Augeri, and Jason Scot Soto are both great singer and performers and they are just trying to extend the lifespan of Journey. Getting Arnel Pineda into Journey, the band got its new version without changing the old package of Journey’s identity. Arnel Pineda’s tenor sounding voice keeps the feel and touch of the what is used to be “Journey”.

Gradually, Arnel Pineda, as Journey’s lead singer, his contributions to the band doesn’t end there. Being Asian, his vibrant energy, his really “rock” version and style could provide a new way of penetrating the admiration of today’s generation both in America and internationally.

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!