Journey band, the multi-platinum rock band of the 70’s has just got a massive shot in the arm: it’s got for itself a new lead singer. Arnel Pineda, a Filipino veteran of music gigs in clubs in the Philippines and Japan, was literally plucked out from the Zoo band (as seen in YouTube) in Quezon City, Philippines, and flown to Marin County to have him auditioned. The rest is the beginnings of a modern Cinderella story.

Arnel Pineda just had two months to let this change of fate sink in and barely two weeks to “acclimatize” himself with the music gods that is Journey Band, and off he went to his baptism of fire: the unforgiving “Monster” of Via del Mar, Chile Festival. 15,000 strong audience who also serve as judges is a tough deal for any seasoned singer. And here comes Journey band’s new and un-acclimatized lead singer, this could be nerve-wracking. The result, however, was more than phenomenal.

In the beginning of the performance it was like kind of getting the groove and feel for Arnel Pineda and Journey band. Who wouldn’t after being quiet for quite sometime? Some even wondered that they seemed like singing while reading a script from a teleprompter.

As the concert progressed, everyone just got cozy and comfortable. But it went really exciting and electric when the Journey’s singer sang the popular number “Open Arms”. Chileans are warm and passionate people and so does Arnel Pineda that he sang passionately. What an awesome performance. Everybody just gotten comfortable once he finished that song..finally putting “The Monster” into silence.

Arnel’s version of the song “Faithfully” just melts everyone’s heart. All the doubts looming about this Pinoy talent just disappeared. The “Monster” was brought to Arnel and the rest of Journey band, finally the band regained their position to be among one of the best rock bands of all time.

It was encore number one after the other that was asked of the Journey band. Their final song even took a little bit longer to get going since most of the equipment have been turned off. And it was still so memorable! Arnel Pineda have finally proven that he could deliver what is expected of him to be a part of Journey band.

Neal Schon was like the over-proud father of a son he introduced to the world, Jonathan Cain (rumored to be not so sold-out with Arnel Pineda) now mouths AP “is the real deal,” Ross Valory constantly flashes that otherwise so rare grin, and Deen Castronovo vows to Arnel Pineda at the end of the show.

Almost like a stuff for a soft Cinderella story, isn’t it?

What an opposite situation where it is like a Cinderella story for Arnel Pineda while Journey band is the Lazarus who came back from the dead.

Some musical big wigs coined Journey band has become a “Greatest Hits” group. Schon, Cain, Valory, and Castronovo are riding the wave of Journey’s past glorious moments. They attempted some new materials but they did not seem to hit the sales records. They might still posses the admiration of the original fan groups, but this fans base could either go for other bands or genre, or they could just rot and die of being old.

Steve Augeri, and Jason Scot Soto are both outstanding performers, but they just want to have Journey’s popularity to go for another mile. Adding Arnel Pineda, Journey band just got retrofitted without changing its old persona. Arnel Pineda’s clear high voice, and soulful version of the the songs keeps the old fashion “Journey” atmosphere.

However, Arnel Pineda, as Journey band’s lead singer, doesn’t end his contributions to the band there. His being Asian, his youthful energy, his really “rock” rendition of the fast ones provide Journey band a chance to be discovered by the younger generation not only from continental USA but globally.

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