A potent brew of crowd-pleasing hits, dynamic showmanship and bone-rattlingly loud rock ‘n’ roll cast a spell on the Zoo Wednesday night.
The triple-threat of Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick — all rock bands that have been making music for more than three decades — attracted a sell-out crowd of 10,000 sweat-saturated, sun-scorched rock fans to the Zoo Amphitheatre. Near 100-degree temperatures didn’t dissuade the masses from waving their arms, bobbing their heads and shouting along with the classic rockers.
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The packed venue was not for the claustrophobic or faint of heart, particularly once headliners Journey and the consummate rocker chicks of Heart commanded the stage.
As Journey started its set at dusk, local fans got the chance to see if new front man Arnel Pineda could match the vocal prowess former vocalist Steve Perry. From the opening lines of “Only the Young,” the Filipino singer, whom the band discovered on YouTube, proved not only a worthy successor but a virtual vocal doppelganger.
Most fans seemed to welcome Pineda with open arms, and his wide smile, indefatigable stage presence and passionate performances seemed to win over any detractors. One female fan even snuck onto the stage to steal a quick embrace before security guards hauled her away, leaving the grinning Pineda to quip, “Anyone else?”
By the time the band played favorites such as "Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Lights” and “Anyway You Want It,” most everyone was singing along, with Pineda’s voice soaring above all others and original guitarist Neal Schon burning up the solos.
The highlights of the set — apart from Pineda’s continual leaping, spinning and microphone flipping — were an extended version of “Wheel in the Sky” and the new and appropriate track “A Change for the Better.”
Heart may have been playing in the second slot, but the ever-impressive Wilson sisters and their band proved they are second to none, not even the night’s headliners.
Through their hits “Crazy on You,” “Never” and “Straight On,” Ann Wilson belted out vocals with seemingly effortless power, while Nancy Wilson’s fleet fingers kept coaxing heady rock out of her guitar as she bounced tirelessly around the stage. Ann’s tuneful wailing on “Magic Man” elicited goosebumps even in the heat, and she proved she is one of the only vocalists worthy to cover Led Zeppelin with her achingly lovely “Going to California.”
The band wowed the crowd with a heady cover of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” leading into a scorching rendition of “Barracuda.”
Although the concert was set to start at 6 p.m., many fans were still lined up around the neighboring Science Museum Oklahoma waiting to get in at show time. When opening act Cheap Trick took the stage at 6:30, the rock quartet truly took over the stage.
Despite some issues with the sound mix and balance, the band, whose lineup has remained largely unchanged since 1968, warmed up the overheated crowd with rowdy rockers such as “I Want You to Want Me,” “Surrender” and “Dream Police.”
Tuxedoed guitarist Rick Nielsen punctuated the performance with his energetic showmanship, cracking wise, tossing picks into the crowd to playing an array of outlandish guitars, including a double-necked axe shaped like a man.
— Brandy McDonnell, Entertainment Writer
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Journey was so spot on .. loved it! Arnel Pineda was so very, very good. They were incredible! Heart was awesome as well. We did the same thing, stood in line and watched numerous freaks walk straight up and cut in line and go right in. The Zoo really needs to get a handle on that crap. The people who stood in line for over an hour got jipped while the cheaters walked right up and snuck in like dirty little sewer rats. A little more organization and planning would be good.
How can you say beer stinks compared to those herbal users. That stuff is outlawed for a reason - it makes people sick from the smell of it! When its 100 degrees outside - good music - and been standing in line over an hour - of course people are going to be drinking! I am surprised they were still trying to sell beer up until the last song was played though?
Lawerence, Oklahoma City - Jul 24, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Obviously, capitalism rules! How else can you explain why you oversell a concert by 2000 tickets. My wife, friend, and I arrived at the Zoo at 5:45 only to wait in extremely long line for an hour and half before getting into the Zoo Amphitheater. We totally missed Cheap Trick (Not a big fan anyway, I was there for Heart and Journey). Once in, the place was packed. I was really hacked to find out if I would have stepped out of the line and walked straight to the gate, we would have been able to get right in. Everyone who did the right thing got punished with lousy seats. It is true what they say, nice guys finish last. (Of course, early birds still get the worm and the better seats.)
Still, we may not have been able to see Heart and Journey give great performances but we could hear from where we were standing. I would have loved to see this concert at the Ford Center.
My advice, take off work the day of a Zoo concert and get there really early if you want a good seat.
LOL, Sorry, didn't mean to offend the "80's" crowd. I've seen at least a thousand acts at 300+ shows in my life starting with the Guess Who, gret blues in Memphis, even saw Cat Stevens back in the day....I did moan during the 80's big hair and lovely dovey groups like REO and Journey ....it's a matter of taste, not good or bad....and BEER PEOPLE are the worse to be around...the herbal one's are no problem..it was so hot and those beer cans started reeking by the time Heart finished...oh, and on the way out we saw several "mucic fans" in the backs of police cars...If ya wanna get drunk stay home and listen to them on tape..lol..the drunks' reviews don't count!...lol.
We had a great time. I recommend Three Dog Night on Friday at Riverwind...always a great show..we have T Petty and also the Eagles in Dallas coming up...see yall there!
It was a great concert. I wish Cheap Trick would have played more songs - they have a lot to choose from.... The only gripe I have about the whole evening - was the zoo oversold the arena. People were still trying to get in half way through Hearts concert. They should have opened up more lines and had more people working at the gate. If they want to sell 10000 tickets they need to have places for those people to park. I met several people hanging out in the parking lot just there to listen to the show that paid nothing. It was an interesting experience for my first concert at the zoo, but I would go back.
Lawerence, Oklahoma City - Jul 24, 2008 at 4:42 pm
The show was just freakin' awesome! Cheap Trick was outstanding!The Wilson Sisters were fabulous! Ann and Nancy Wilson sounded just like they did 20 years ago if not better. I had my doubts as to whether Arnel could fill Steve Perry's shoes; but those doubts were banished just 1 minute after he took the stage. All you had to do was just close your eyes and it was just like Steve Perry was there. I will say though that I thought Arnel dancing needed some improvement! If you didn't go or stay for the entire show you missed out. As for people who were drunk, so what? Fans getting drunk at concerts at the Zoo is pretty normal. We all had a rockin' good time!
A friend and I took my 12-year-old daughter to the show, and we all thought it was brilliant. My daughter knew almost all the songs played, including the Led Zeppelin and Who covers that Heart did. We thought that all three acts did a fantastic job! My friend and I had both seen Journey's "Escape" tour in 1983 at the Myriad, and this was just as good as that. Lou, I'm so sorry you felt you had to leave after the third song Journey played; you missed out. Journey was one of the first "power ballad" bands, and Arnel did not disappoint! It's true that many of the fans were loaded, but they were at least happy drunks. We thought it was especially nice that the show started half an hour later than scheduled so that more of the fans waiting in line could get into the venue. Well done, everybody, thanks for coming, hope to see you again soon.
Lou OBVIOUSLY is DEAF and TOO old to be going to Concerts! If you think that the 80's were Horrible mabe you should go see Yani or something. The 80's was the BEST TIME in Music and I STILL evjoy listening to all of the GREAT Music and Bands from the 80's! I also guarantee that there was 9,999 of people there that DISAGREE With Lou Also! I did not have 1 Drink of Alcohol and thought Arnel totally BURNT UP THE STAGE!!!! Yes Cheap Trick had Problems starting But they were Corrected shortly thereafter. Heart was Obviously at the Top of the Game until Journey took the Stage! I am and always will be a HUGE Steve Perry Fan But, Arnel is a WORTHY Successor to the HIGHLY Built Throne of Perry and Commands the Masses to Follow him. I have not seen a Crowd so INTO the show as they were Last night Since the 80's. Arnel even had the people in the very top and Sides of the Zoo Screaming and waving Cell phones. The Singing from the Crowd was Deafning and would be PERFECT for a Live DVD in the Future! OKC ROCKS the ZOO! Thanks to Cheap Trick, Heart, and Journey for Gracing us with your Presence it was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!
I agree Lou. Journey sucked. Heart rocked, as usual. I've always been a Heart fan and they certainly didn't disappoint last night. Overall good show-I left early from Journey also.
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Still, we may not have been able to see Heart and Journey give great performances but we could hear from where we were standing. I would have loved to see this concert at the Ford Center.
My advice, take off work the day of a Zoo concert and get there really early if you want a good seat.
We had a great time. I recommend Three Dog Night on Friday at Riverwind...always a great show..we have T Petty and also the Eagles in Dallas coming up...see yall there!
Lou