Journey / Stockton & Fresno 2023 / 2DVDR

Journey / Stockton & Fresno 2023 / 2DVDR / Uxbridge

Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA, USA 19th April 2023

Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA, USA 23rd April 2023

Click image to enlarge

JOURNEY in 2023 celebrated its 50th anniversary and the coupling tour with TOTO was very popular. The best video that you can experience the latest 2 performances is arriving.
This work contains spectacular audience shots from two performances. It is a two-disc set with “Stockton performance on April 19, 2023” on DISC 1 and “Fresno performance on April 23, 2023” on DISC 2. What they are currently doing is the 50th anniversary tour, but it is also the “FREEDOM Tour” accompanying the new work released last year. First of all, let’s take a bird’s eye view of their recent situation and grasp the position of the show.

● 2022
《January: Marco → Changed to Todd Jensen》
・February 22nd – May 7th: North America #1 (40 performances) ← *PITTSBURGH 2022, etc.
・July 4: Appearance at The Fourth in America
《“FREEDOM” released on July 8》
・ July 15-October 6: North America #2 (18 performances) ← *MID STATE FAIR 2022
● 2023
・January 27-April 25: North America #3 (40 performances) ← Coco
・ May 19th + 20th: North America (2 performances)
・July 1: Provo performance

This is the schedule for 2022/2032 that has been announced so far. Just the other day, the main leg “North America # 3” has just ended, and what you can witness in this work is the 37th and 39th concerts. This work recorded at such a show is a superb view image with “super”. Both shows have similar positions, front seats on the right side of the stage (near Neil Schon). You can experience a full show from a special seat that everyone envy. However, although the two performances are similar, there are differences. Let me introduce them individually here.

[Stockton Performance (DISC 1)] DISC 1 is really close. Although it is not possible to determine the detailed position, it is probably about the third row of the arena. If you reach out your hand, you can almost touch Neil and Arnel Pineda, and the image quality is superb accordingly. It’s no longer a visual sensation. In addition to the closeness, the height of the viewpoint is wonderful. You can see the head of the front customer a little at the bottom of the screen, but you can see the stage directly beyond the overhead. As for the height, it feels like holding a smartphone as high as possible, but for that reason, it stays high regardless of arm fatigue, and the sense of stability is outstanding. Perhaps (a tall photographer) is shooting with a camera attached to his hat.
And the sound is also closely related to the field of view. Probably physically close to PA. Even though the hall sound is absorbed, the sense of distance is not felt at all, and the sound alone exudes the feeling of “the band is in front of you”.

[Fresno Performance (DISC 2)] DISC 2 boasts greater visibility than Stockton footage. This is a slightly lower position (about the 5th row?) than DISC 1, but the viewpoint is even higher. Even the spectators in the arena seats are already out of frame and the tip of the raised arm is reflected. It seems that it is not a stand seat from the angle, but the way the view opens is like a stand seat. Only the stage occupies the field of view with a superb view that makes it difficult to understand the position.
And the sound is perfect for the clear vision. The powerful and direct core is similar to DISC 1, but this one has a clearer and more airy feel. The audience’s large chorus is also picked up beautifully, and you can enjoy the super spectacle of the masterpiece group that has become huge by the chorus of nearly 20,000 people.
By the way, two performances that celebrate half a century of glory are depicted with such visual beauty. If you have noticed this article, you may also know last year’s representative video “MID STATE FAIR 2022 (Uxbridge 1710)”, so let’s organize it while comparing.

● Escape (6 songs)
・Stone In Love／Don’t Stop Believin’／Escape（★）／Who’s Crying Now／Mother, Father／Open Arms
● Frontiers (5 songs)
・Send Her My Love/Ask the Lonely (*★)/Chain Reaction (★)/Faithfully/Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
● Others (8 songs)
・Infinity: Lights/Wheel in the Sky
・RAISED ON RADIO: Girl Can’t Help It/Be Good To Yourself
・Others: Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’/Any Way You Want It/Only The Young/Let It Rain (★)
*Note: “*” marks are for Fresno performances (DISC 2) only. The “★” marks are songs that were not seen in the previous work “MID STATE FAIR 2022”.

… and it looks like this. “Chain Reaction”, which was hardly played last year, has also been revived, but the main feature is “Let It Rain”. You can also enjoy the new songs of “FREEDOM” that were not available at the time of “MID STATE FAIR 2022”.
DISC 1 where you can enjoy the members right in front of you, and DISC 2 where you can enjoy a superb view that is easy to see. It is a superb video set that allows you to fully experience the 50th anniversary tour with two superb views with different personalities. While TOTO, who was a partner of the coupling tour, was announced to come to Japan, it calmed the irritated feelings of JOURNEY fans who had not yet received the news of their arrival in Japan. Please enjoy it to the fullest.

★ A superb view audience shot of “Stockton performance on April 19, 2023 / Fresno performance on April 23”. The Stockton video is super close, about the third row, and the Fresno performance is about the fifth row, with a high viewpoint and no obstructions. You can fully experience the Greatest Hits Show commemorating the 50th anniversary of the formation from two special seats with different personalities.

結成50周年を迎え、TOTOとのカップンリング・ツアーが大好評を博した2023年のJOURNEY。その最新２公演を絶景体験できる極上映像が到着です。
そんな本作に収められているのは２公演の絶景オーディエンス・ショット。「2023年４月19日ストックトン公演」をDISC 1、「同４月23日フレズノ公演」をDISC 2に配した２枚組です。現在の彼らが行っているのは50周年ツアーでありつつ、昨年リリースされた新作に伴う“FREEDOM Tour”でもあります。まずは、そんな彼らの近況を俯瞰してショウのポジションを把握してみましょう。

●2022年
《１月：マルコ→トッド・ジェンセンに交代》
・２月22日ー５月７日：北米#1（40公演）　←※PITTSBURGH 2022他
・７月４日： The Fourth in America出演
《７月８日『FREEDOM』発売》
・７月15日ー10月６日：北米#2（18公演）←※MID STATE FAIR 2022
●2023年
・１月27日ー４月25日：北米#3（40公演）←★ココ★
・５月19日＋20日：北米（２公演）
・７月１日：プロボ公演

これが現在までに公表されている2022年／2032年のスケジュール。つい先日、メイン・レッグである「北米#3」が終了したばかりで、本作で目撃できるのはその37公演目・39公演目にあたるコンサートです。そんなショウで記録された本作は、「超」の付く絶景映像。どちらのショウもポジションは似ており、ステージ右寄り（ニール・ショーン寄り）の前方席。誰もが羨む特等席からフルショウを体験できるのです。ただし、２公演は似ていても違いもある。ここで個別にご紹介してきましょう。

【ストックトン公演（DISC 1）】
DISC 1は本当に激近。詳細なポジションを断定は出来ないのですが、恐らくアリーナ３列目くらいでしょうか。手を伸ばせばニールやアーネル・ピネダに触れられそうに近く、それに伴って画質も超極上。もはや肉眼感覚です。その近さに加えて素晴らしいのが視点の高さ。画面下端に前方客の頭も少しは見えるのですが、ほぼ頭上を越えてステージを直視できる。高さとしてはスマホを精一杯掲げているような感じなのですが、それにしては腕の疲れをものともせず高いままですし、安定感もズバ抜けている。恐らくは（背の高い撮影者が）帽子にカメラを取り付けて撮影しているのではないでしょうか。
そして、その視界に相応しくサウンドもド密着。恐らくはＰＡから物理的に近いのでしょう。ホール鳴りも吸い込みつつも、距離感がまったく感じられず、音声だけでも「バンドが目の前」感が滲み出してくるのです。

【フレズノ公演（DISC 2）】
そんなストックトン映像以上の見やすさを誇るのがDISC 2。こちらなDISC 1より少し下がったポジション（５列目くらい？）なのですが、視点はさらに高い。もはやアリーナ席の観客さえフレームアウトして振り上げる腕の先がちょろっと映り込む程度。角度的にスタンド席ではないようなのですが、視界の開け方はスタンド席っぽい。ポジションがよく分からなくなるくらいの絶景でステージだけが視界を占領するのです。
そして、サウンドもスカッとした視界にピッタリ。力強くダイレクト感たっぷりな芯はDISC 1に通じるのですが、こちらはさらに空気感を透き通っていてクリア。観客の大合唱も美しく拾っており、２万人近い合唱隊によって巨大化した名曲群の超スペクタクルを肌感覚で味わえるのです。
さて、そんな映像美で画かれるのは栄光の半世紀を祝うような２公演。本稿に目を留められた方なら昨年の代表映像『MID STATE FAIR 2022（Uxbridge 1710）』もご存知かも知れませんので、比較しながら整理しておきましょう。

●エスケイプ（６曲）
・Stone In Love／Don’t Stop Believin’／Escape（★）／Who’s Crying Now／Mother, Father／Open Arms
●フロンティアーズ（５曲）
・Send Her My Love／Ask the Lonely（＊★）／Chain Reaction（★）／Faithfully／Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
●その他（８曲）
・インフィニティ：Lights／Wheel in the Sky
・RAISED ON RADIO：Girl Can’t Help It／Be Good To Yourself
・その他：Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’／Any Way You Want It／Only The Young／Let It Rain（★）
※注：「＊」印はフレズノ公演（DISC 2）のみ。「★」印は前回作『MID STATE FAIR 2022』で観られなかった曲。

……と、このようになっています。昨年はほとんど演奏されなかった「Chain Reaction」も復活していますが、一番の目玉は「Let It Rain」でしょう。『MID STATE FAIR 2022』の時点では皆無だった『FREEDOM』の新曲も楽しめるのです。
メンバーを目の前感で楽しめるDISC 1と、スキッと見やすい絶景で堪能できるDISC 2。個性の異なる２つの絶景で50周年ツアーをフル体験できる極上映像セットです。カップリング・ツアーのパートナーであったTOTOの来日が発表される中、未だ来日の報が届かないJOURNEYファンの歯がゆい気持ちを鎮めて……いや、さらに掻き立ててしまう罪つくりな２枚組。どうぞ、存分にお楽しみください。

★「2023年４月19日ストックトン公演／４月23日フレズノ公演」の超絶景オーディエンス・ショット。ストックトン映像は３列目くらいの超間近で、フレズノ公演は５列目くらいで視点も高くて遮蔽物ゼロ。音声も視界に相応しい極太の極上サウンドで、個性の異なる２つの特等席から結成50周年を記念するグレイテストヒッツ・ショウをフル体験できます。

Disc 1
Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA, USA 19th April 2023
1. Neal Schon Solo / Intro
2. Only The Young
3. Neal Schon Guitar Solo #1
4. Stone In Love
5. Don’t Stop Believin’
6. Band Introduction
7. Lights
8. Send Her My Love
9. Escape
10. Chain Reaction
11. Who’s Crying Now
12. Mother, Father (Dean Castronovo on vocals)
13. Let It Rain
14. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
15. Jonathan Cain Piano Solo
16. Open Arms
17. Faithfully
18. Girl Can’t Help It (Jason Derlatka on vocals)
19. Neal Schon Guitar Solo #2
20. Wheel In The Sky
21. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
22. Be Good To Yourself
23. Any Way You Want It

COLOUR NTSC Approx.118min.

Disc 2
Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA, USA 23rd April 2023
1. Neal Schon Solo / Intro
2. Only The Young
3. Neal Schon Guitar Solo #1
4. Stone In Love
5. Don’t Stop Believin’
6. Neal Schon MC
7. Lights
8. Send Her My Love
9. Ask The Lonely
10. Escape
11. Chain Reaction
12. Who’s Crying Now
13. Mother, Father (Dean Castronovo on vocals)
14. Let It Rain
15. Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
16. Jonathan Cain Piano Solo
17. Open Arms
18. Faithfully
19. Girl Can’t Help It (Jason Derlatka on vocals)
20. Neal Schon Guitar Solo #2
21. Wheel In The Sky
22. Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
23. Be Good To Yourself
24. Any Way You Want It

COLOUR NTSC Approx.123min.

COLOUR NTSC Approx.241min.(Total)

Arnel Pineda – lead vocals
Neal Schon – lead guitar, backing vocals
Jonathan Cain – keyboards, piano, backing vocals
Jason Derlatka – keyboards, backing vocals
Todd Jensen – bass, backing vocals
Deen Castronovo – drums, backing vocals

Uxbridge 1913