September Smiles - 2017 - Jason Bonham, Cheap Trick And FOREIGNER

We have 3 concerts left for the year (unless something spectacular comes up).  The first was Jason Bonham and the Led Zeppelin Experience, Cheap Trick and Foreigner at Shoreline in Mountain View on September 2.  As mentioned in my last post, we are having a HEAT wave here and the temperatures were up over 100 degrees, even at 6 PM when we pulled into the parking lot of the amphitheater.  The temperature was not the only thing that was going to make this night different for us (me).  

After being successful in sneaking in some alcohol at the Mountain Winery and AT&T at a couple of shows earlier this year, I got bold and decided to try it at Shoreline.  No such luck.  My "hidden" compartment wasn't so hidden and I got caught.  Oh well, one wine cooler confiscated.  I was only slightly embarrassed.

We took our picture standing in the shade of the bar...

and then got a bonus picture in front of the stage.  

It was not quite so hot when we were in our seats and as the sun set behind us it was bearable.  Fortunately we were sitting under the canopy so we were never in the direct sunlight.  While we were waiting for the bands to start, we were surprised by a high school classmate of mine that was sitting in the row behind us, a few seats away.  In all the concerts we go to, rarely do we see people we know.  

First up was Jason Bonham and the Led Zeppelin Experience.  Jason is the son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham.  I didn't realize that I actually like Led Zeppelin until I recognized most of the songs.  (How do you not know if you like Led Zeppelin?)  Now I'm taking my husband's CDs and downloading them.  Here are a few pictures from the JBLZE:

Jason Bonham

Next up was Cheap Trick.  We've seen them before several years ago and were not impressed then.  They were better tonight.

Robin Zander

Rick Nielsen

In between bands I went to use the restroom.  I had brought a deodorant stick with me to refresh, after all it was HOT!  Unfortunately, I dropped the top and it rolled under the door to the stall next door :(  I had to wait until that person was done and fortunately I was able to get it.  That could have been a mess in my purse!  On the way back I took this picture of the tents that cover the venue.  I didn't realize until I was looking at it today, on the wall are pictures of other acts who have appeared there and the one on the right is Steely Dan.  Sadly, Walter Becker passed away September 3.  Kind of eerie.  

This is one of the projections on the ceiling.  So perfect for me to use in my concert scrapbooking.

By far the best of the night for me was Foreigner.  I am in love with this band and have written about some of our experiences, including the time I came in close contact with Kelly Hanson last year.  If Steve Perry returned to Journey, perhaps there would be a contest but failing that, Foreigner is my band.  The energy they put into the concert was amazing.  Mick Jones was even with them this time.  He has been ill and the last 3 times we've seen them, he wasn't there.  This is their 40th Anniversary tour so we are lucky that he was able to make it.  

From our seats we could see through the slit in the curtain.

Mick Jones

Mick Jones and Bruce Watson

Kelly Hanson

Kelly heading into the crowd as he does

  

Jeff Pilson and Thom Gimbel

URGENT

Lemme Hear Ya

The opening drum beat started for "Juke Box Hero" and a huge spotlight appeared in the back of the crowd.  All of a sudden the words..."Standing in the rain..." and the shadow appeared.

It was the first time I had seen them do anything like this.  It was terrific.  I'm so glad my husband was able to take these pictures because all I could see was the bright light.

The guys really seemed like they were having fun.  

I had another up close and personal, this time with Bruce Watson.  He came walking up the aisle near where I was standing so I just went over to him and put my hand out to shake his hand.  He shook mine and I said, "Thank You."  Later, I read an article about him from January of 2015 when he first started playing with Foreigner because Mick Jones was ill.  He seems like a really nice guy, very fan friendly.  This was right before I shook his hand.  I had the camera so my husband couldn't take a picture. 

After the concert there was the moon, almost full. 

Next comes Nickelback and Daughtry.  Are you ready?

April 2017 - #Atozchallenge - Journey to J

J is for Journey.  I'd have to say that this is one of my top five favorite groups.  It would be number one if Steve Perry was still performing with them.  I was really hoping to see that happen when they were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but unfortunately it didn't.  I never saw Journey when he was touring with them and I didn't see the other Steve they had (Steve Augeri).  The first time we saw them Jeff Scott Soto was their lead singer.  He only lasted about a year and then Neal found Arnel Pineda in Manilla and he's been singing with them since about 2007.  He is okay, but he's no Steve Perry.

In any case, here are the layouts from the first Journey concert in 2006.  This was the one where we saw Def Leppard the first time too.  Neal Schon came out alone at first and did the Star Spangled Banner.  Blew the house down right away!

This is the first time we took a "concert selfie."  Since then I've tried to remember to do it with each show.  How young I look!  

The next time we saw them was in 2008.  Journey was the headliner with Cheap Trick and Heart performing first.  This time it was Arnel singing with Journey and they had just released a new album so they had some new music to show off.  I was not impressed with the new stuff and although the sound was close, I could still tell it wasn't Steve Perry singing my favorites.  

I'm also not really impressed with these layouts.  I think I should have put some mats behind the photos.  I love the paper, just not with these pictures.  Maybe someday I'll redo it.

We next saw Journey in 2011 and although those pictures are not yet in my concert album, I did make another kind of album to give to some friends who went to the concert with us.  This is one of the paper bag albums I make.  It is literally made using paper bags and it has inserts that pop out of the top and cards that are in the side pockets.  

We had a pre-concert tailgate in the parking lot so I included those pictures and then I added some pictures of each of the bands.  Night Ranger played first, then Foreigner and finally Journey.

 With each pocket card I included the set list from the band.

I was able to get some really good pictures because we had great seats and a couple of them look like the singer (Kelly Hansen of Foreigner) is looking and pointing right at me!

I like making these paper bag albums and have done them for all kinds of different themes.  School days and baby's are the most common, but they work with any occasion.  I think they make great gifts.  I have one ready for Mother's Day in my Etsy shop. (Shameless plug of my crafting work!)


That's our Journey with Journey.  We did see them two other times, in 2014 with Tower of Power and Steve Miller and 2016 at the big San Francisco Fest with Tower of Power, Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller and Santana.  I think my favorite show of all was the very first one!


So, have you seen Journey?  Like Arnel better than Steve Perry?


You can click over to the main A to Z Challenge page to see what other participants have come up with for this letter, and come back to see what K has for us!