JOURNEY (A Parent’s Perspective) SHOW REVIEW!

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There are shows, and then there are concerts. When talking about Journey, the rock and roll giants 45 years into the game, it's indiscribably matched. From their humble beginnings in San Francisco to the top of the charts and definitively said to be one of the biggest stadium rock bands of all time, Journey has come to their final stop.

After nearly half a century together as a band, the group that chanted Don't Stop Believing and I'm Forever Yours Faithfully, calls it quits. With the current lineup of Todd Jensen, Jason Derlatka, Deen Castronovo who's been Journey's drummer for the better part of two decades, Arnel Pineta the Phillipino sensation, with near founding member Jonathan Cain, who joined the band in 1980, and founding member Neal Schon, who started the band back in 1973, the band promised fans one more time.

To say that Journey has personally played a part in my own life, would be an understatement. This band single-handedly shaped my idea of music in every way. My dad played in bands his entire life, and a band he idolized and instilled in my brothers, and I was the band Journey. He'd always talk about their use of harmony, Neal Schon's "tasteful solos", Johnathan Cain's melodic piano riffs, and of course, frontman Steve Perry's voice. When Arnel Pineta joined the band, my dad was skeptical, which of course made all of us skeptical, until he heard Arnel's voice. Playing side by side with the recorded version of Faithfully, I played the YouTube video of Arnel playing with his band Zoo, and my dad couldn't believe it, and said that would be the only person who could replace Perry. Sadly, my dad passed away in 2012, he never got to see Journey with Arnel, but he did take my brothers and I to our very first concert at the Starlake Pavilion with Reo Speedwagon, Foreigner, and headlining Journey.

Monday, March 2nd, 2026, Journey came to Pittsburgh PA, to the PPG Paints Arena for their "FINAL FRONTIER'S TOUR". One of the greatest things about the night was that there wasn't an opener. It was Journey, in your face for nearly 3 hours solid.

As The Who's Bob O'Riley played over the PA, I couldn't help take notice at first of Johnathan Cain's massively red baby grand piano, affectionately known as "The Whale". The band took the stage, and jumps right into Anyway You Want It, a song that spans back nearly 50 years, followed by Neal Schon ripping some riffs into Stone In Love, followed by Only The Young.

One of my favorite Journey tracks of all time Be Good To Yourself came on in a roar from Johanathan Cain's piano with the next track Just the Same Way, John Cain sang. It was awesome to see the genesis of Journey on that stage with each member taking turns singing some of the tracks, with drummer Dean Castronovo singing "Lights" next. One of the first time ever hearing this song live, "When You Love A Woman" played over John Cain's candy red piano followed by an older track, title track Escape off the band's album in 1982.

Speaking of piano, one of the great things about Johnathan Cain is not that he's just a great songwriter, but also an incredible pianist, who rung Pittsburgh's ears with a piano solo that led into track "Who's Crying Now". Dean jumped back on vocals for track "Mother Father", a song that requires insane vocal range, that Dean not only delivers, but does so while playing the drums.

A newer addition to the band was auxiliary musician Jason Derlatka who played keyboards, rhythem guitar and backing harmonies, sang the following track Suzanne which was followed by an insane guitar solo from founding member Neal Schon that led into one of the band's infamous tracks, "Wheel in the Sky." Johnathan Cain then took time to dedicate the next track to military personnel, diving into ballad "Faithfully." Journey took fans through time and played tracks "Feeling That Way," "Anytime", "Dead or Alive", "Ask The Lonely", and "I'll Be Alright Without You", the last track with Jason D back on lead vocals.

Taking things back into the ballad territory, Journey played their hit single "Open Arms", with a very old track "La Do Da" sprinkled into Open Arms which led into a drum solo from Dean.

Journey had an amazing home stretch of tracks, all bangers and singles one after another first with "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'", into a song that I believed helped shape the synth sounds of the 80's is "Separate Ways", and finally with the band going out with a confetti canon filled bang, leaving Pittsburgh PA to the song "Don't Stop Believing", a song that has probably been an anthem of each of us at one point or another in our lives.

Journey left the stage with a final bow to the fans, along with thanks and praises for the support over the years, the love that all of the fans have given, and with the final words and sentiment, "Don't Stop Believing".

You can check out a full list of tour dates, photo gallery from the show, and more below!