Journey and The Doobie Brothers performed at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska on August 6, 2016.
I am a self-proclaimed hardcore metal head. However, that doesn’t go without my guilty pleasures. I have a long list of bands and artists that I will indulge on occasion. They are the bands I remember in the late 70’s and early 80’s that formed my tastes in music. The Doobie Brothers and Journey are two such bands. I was supremely fortunate that I had the opportunity to cover them both at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska on August 6, 2016.
My first live endeavor with Journey was in Omaha, Nebraska in 1981. I took my high school girlfriend to the show, reluctantly, but by the end of that show I had become a fan. Who can’t stop singing “Don’t Stop Believin” when it comes on the radio? Not me. In fact, it is hard for me to name a Journey song that I just don’t like. Their set started strong with “Separate Ways”, “Be Good to Yourself”, and “Only the Young” as the band entered the stage and the voice of former vocalist, Steve Perry, hit my ears. I had to do a triple take to insure that my brain was not tricking me. It was definitely not Steve, but current vocalist Arnel Pineda, who just crushed the vocals the entire set. What about Neal Schon? In his early 60’s, Neal still plays as well as, if not better than he did in 1981. His rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” sent chills through my body.
See the Journey gallery HERE!
A number of decades ago I got my first taste of The Doobie Brothers on a little show called “What’s Happening”. Their sound was different, and you could tell they were influenced by soul music, especially by vocalist Michael MacDonald, in the early years of the band. The Doobie Brothers set started with “Jesus is Just Alright”,”Rockin’ Down the Highway” and “Dark Eyed Cajun Woman”. Everything was as I remembered it in my youth, great guitar riffs and vocals that sounded like they haven’t aged. It was awesome to hear their music again.
View the Doobie Brothers gallery HERE!
I love shows that take me back to my youth; this night was magic for me.
Photos courtesy of Winsel Photography in Omaha, Nebraska. ©2016.
