Dave Mason, Doobie Brothers, Journey

[nc42acc]

Setting: Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach. Row 5 center stage orchestra seats.
Artists: Dave Mason, Doobie Brothers, Journey
Villain: Mother Nature
Mother nature starting the evening with a huge thunderstorm cell that hovered just over the venue most of the night. Had a VIP meet and greet package with my long time favorites the Doobie Brothers so I had to get there early. After getting past the gate keepers and convincing her I did need to get in the park we were off through the monsoon to stand under a canopy to get drenched. After some rearranging of the meet and greet location we finally got to meet the three founding members of the Doobies. What an honor it was to stand in the presence of guys that have put so many smiles on my face through the years with their music. It was truly a bucket list moment for me.

Since the lightening was dropping all over Dave Mason was late to the stage but did get to perform several songs, call me impressed! The last song "all along the watchtower, Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston and John Cowen came on stage to play with Dave. Just amazing performance.

Another round of lightening and delay the Doobies hit the stage and the crowd goes wild. These guys play with soul and heart and it shows in every song they played. The whole set was an on your feet singing to the music extravaganza. Last song Dave Mason and his band come out and play with the Doobies. This was probably the best concert of the many I have seen them.

Now the concert goes south, stage switch and delay and Journey comes out and what I will now call them Schons pinatas....... Way too loud and just horrendous sound. Arnel Pineda was running around and jumping on stage like David Lee Roth in his heyday. If he flipped that mic in the air once he did it 1000 times. Let me just say he ain't no Steve Perry! Neal Schon looked like a grandpa Justin Beiber. Just awful performance, no heart no soul a disgrace to the Journey name and heritage. This coming from a Journey fan from way back when Infinity was released. I was deeply saddened Friday night as the band Journey is officially dead. RIP.

[cpp]

I've seen them all numerous times and I will take the Doobies over Journey any day. Matter of fact we will be seeing the Doobies in Orlando Nov 16.

[Bill Hart]

I still play the first Dave Mason album regularly, great songwriting and performances. Those first couple Doobie Bros records - specifically Toulouse and Captain- were sensational sounding- Ted Templeman as I recall produced them in the early days.

[cpp]

Bill according what I have read, Ted Templeton produced almost all of the Doobies. On my World Gone Crazy lp he is listed

[MylesBAstor]

Think this is the only Doobie Brothers album in my collection. Haven't heard it in a while but seem to remember it being pretty good sounding.

[JCOConnell]

I like the Doobies, but I am only familiar with their radio airplay stuff. I never bought any of their albums except for the best of record.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Think this is the only Doobie Brothers album in my collection. Haven't heard it in a while but seem to remember it being pretty good sounding.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n20596[/ATTACH]

They are indeed nicely recorded. I've always liked them and have several of their albums.

[mkuller]

I saw Dave Mason on his Traffic Jam tour in Napa at the Uptown Theater last November - he had a good band and put on a terrific show. I've seen the Doobies numerous times and they are always great with such a vast array of hits to play - Johnston and Simmons always play their hearts out. For their music, I recommend their CD box set. On the other hand I have never had the desire to see Journey live although I do like some of their songs.