Joining Def Leppard and Cheap Trick at the home of the Toronto Blue Jays, Journey lit up the venue with a stunning set that would leave the UK and Ireland fans gutted that their 11-date tour would be cancelled.
Journey
Rogers Centre, Toronto – 2 August 2024
Words And Photography: Taylor Cameron
This Journey Toronto show was held four days before the band announced, “Due to circumstances beyond the band’s control, Journey’s UK and Ireland tour is unfortunately cancelled.”
Journey took to the Rogers Centre stage with a bang. Arnel Pineda, who has been fronting the band for almost two decades, has an energy like no other.
With a voice resembling much of Journey’s famous singer, Steve Perry, Pineda delivers these beloved tracks to justice. Opening the set with Only The Young, this was a track the band recorded for the soundtrack of the 1985 film Vision Quest.
Journey’s discography of anthemic songs has always been made to be played live, and their fans never fail to show up to show their support.
Journey’s setlist contained an array of fan favourites and deep cuts, keeping the show interesting and playing songs for both casual and die-hard fans. Faithfully and Open Arms, two extraordinary ballads released by the band in the 1980s, seem to always be a highlight of their live shows.
Fans lit up the stadium with their cell phone flashlights as their voices carried across the room, singing along with Pineda, a sound that could raise goosebumps on your skin.
Toronto fans received a nice surprise as Journey played Who’s Crying Now for the first time this tour, a song from their 1981 success, Escape. Toronto received a slightly different setlist than what has been played at previous shows on the tour. 
Showcasing the skills of the musicians in the band, a piano solo by Jonathan Cain and a guitar solo by founding member Neal Schon graced the setlist, both delivering captivating pieces on their respective instruments. Schon even included O Canada in his solo, the crowd cheering proudly as the guitarist played the melody with ease.
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’, Lights, Wheel In The Sky and Seperate Ways continue to draw a huge response from the crowd even after 40+ years. 
Journey’s music has been the soundtrack to many people’s lives and it continues to be to this day. The lyrics of at least one of their songs touch your soul in a way that you relate to the words being sung. It being an easy tell that their music came from the heart.
Ending their set with two of their biggest hits, Don’t Stop Believin’ and Any Way You Want It, Journey had everyone in the room standing and singing along. It was impossible not to shout each word, starting from “Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world” to the very last “Don’t Stop Believing” of the powerful anthem.
The planned UK/Ireland dates in October and November 2024 were due to be Journey’s first shows on those shores in over a decade. Based on tonight’s evidence, people will be rightfully gutted.
You can read each of the reports from an evening at Rogers Centre here: Def Leppard – Journey – Cheap Trick.
