Michael Hepworth
As the Lights go down on Irvine’s Irvine Meadows.
By Peter Peterson
Irvine,CA(Perfect Music Today)6/17/16/–Yes, Journey started off their 2016 nationwide tour in Irvine Meadows, located in Irvine California. If anybody knows me, Journey is like nails on a chalkboard. When I was in the hospitality industry, I had a very strict “NO JOURNEY” policy in my kitchens. Any journey song, any singer, any language, not allowed! My staff hated special cleaning when they would test my rule. I don’t know why I am so scared when it comes to Steve Perry’s or Arnel Pineda’s high falsetto or the insane repetitious radio airplay displacing any other music trivia I have stored in my head. Not to mention the 22 band members rolling through this organization during their 43 year run at this business. How can you journey lovers keep it straight? Sure, RUSH, STONES, and THE WHO were able to endure each other for years, perhaps too many. But, none the less, Journey is not on my playlist. I want to thank everyone that spent money to buy me numerous journey concert shirts as Christmas and Birthday presents. In retro spec, I missed out on potential gifts that would be much more useful. Thanks Journey! But, I digress…
Working at Irvine Meadows has its benefits, but at an expense. You have to listen to bands you don’t care for or know nothing about, but the plus is you get to see bands you enjoy and get paid. I was fortunate to be an Ambassador during this show. Thank goodness! I worked in the plaza area directing the masses and watching the crowd’s movements. Surprisingly the crowd was filled with mostly Pilipino fans, but the old 80’s Journey fans represented. I have to say, Pineda nailed it. The band sounded great. I worked the “house” for only one song. “When the lights go down in the city” The only one song I can stand without diving for the on/off/mute button.
I could go on and on about the song list, the discography, the 14 albums, the band members, but no. The evening was filled with joy and the love and appreciation of Journey’s legacy. Not to many drunks, broken bones or arrests, read Brad Paisley article, but 16,000 fans spending time with their favorite band. And that was what made my night, not so bad.
Brad Paisley – Beer fest, Drunk fest, Puke fest…
After my Journey episode, and several baths later, to cleanse the Journey smell off me, I figured, huh, let’s work a country show. Brad Paisley, I like him, shouldn’t be that difficult to work. Gosh, anything would be better than my Journey experience! But, OH! I WAS WRONG! Brad Paisley and the opening bands, Maddie and Tae and Tyler Farr rocked the crowd under the stars. But the fans were straight up crazy. Usually people purchase 2 – $16.00 dollar 24oz cans. No not this crowd. Paisley’s fans were buying six at a time. The wait for the bathroom was a half hour long. Women were taking care of their business in the men’s bathroom. They just walk in and claim the next stall. And yes, they pee standing up! Due to the long bathroom wait, people just threw up while waiting. It was not pretty. I heard on the radio that there were 5 broken bone incidences. Usually, from people trying to climb over the seating. Numerous fights in the lawn, one lawn bonfire, girls ranting at their dates, lost cell phones, boys falling were they stood, girls falling off their heels. Sounds like a regular country get together. I can’t wait until my next country show.
BROWSE IRVINE MEADOWS EVENTS
Sep 17
Sat 2:00 PM
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Sep 29
Thu 7:00 PM
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Oct 8
Sat 8:00 PM
Michael Hepworth
287 S.Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
http://twitter.com/MrSpiritsman
http://alquimie.com.au/publicatio
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