?70s band rises again with Filipino vocalist

By Isah V. Red

Journey should have been over for Neal Schon?lead and rhythm guitars, vocals (1973-1987, 1995-present); Ross Valory?bass, keyboards, recorder, vocals (1973-1985, 1995-present); Jonathan Cain? keyboards, harmonica, guitar, vocals (1980-1987, 1995-present); and Deen Castronovo ?drums, percussion, vocals (1998-present), except that Steve Perry?s grating soprano seemed to have been haunting them since they broke off in 1998.

And so, these four current members (the band had seven other former members and several others who joined them on tour or in studio) finally found someone that can sing like Perry in a diminutive Filipino? Arnel Pineda.

Of course, the sound of Journey has been diluted since the entry of new members, Jonathan Cain and Deen Castronovo, hired from other bands, Bad English for one, and Pineda?s Perry-like timbre could easily put Journey back on track especially for the fans who still hum songs like ?City of Angels,? ?Don?t Stop Believing,? ?Who?s Crying Now,? and ?When You Love a Woman,? from the Trial By Fire album, the last with Steve Perry on the vocals.

Two albums that failed to ignite fans? interest had Schon, the last man standing in Journey?s original group, and Valory along with newly hired Cain and Castronovo, had them rethinking where Journey?s next stop would be with vocalist Steve Augeri now floating somewhere away from them.

In 2007, they auditioned possible vocalists via YouTube and found an interesting guy who played formerly in Manila with a band called Ijos and later Amo. He was a regular fixture at Shakey?s on Taft Avenue where rock performances were the main attraction for the pizza and beer joint.

Now, Pineda who has made US a second home and is the lead singer of the resurrected Journey, is now in Manila for a gig on March 14, 8 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds.

Pineda might look like the nephew of Schon, be he isn?t young at all. He was born on Sept. 5, 1967. That makes him a 40-year-old rocker.

The voice of Pineda, though not quite like Perry, but almost sounding like him in more ways than one can imagine, is featured in a two-disc album called Revelation, released by MCA Music.

The first disc contains new songs including ?After All these Years.?  Disc two features Journey?s long line of classic hits including ?Open Arms,? ?Don?t Stop Believing,? ?Anyway You Want It,? and ?Faithfully.? 

In a recent interview, Pineda said in order to hush those not sold to the idea that he?s singing songs that Perry immortalized ?There?s only one Steve Perry in this world? breathing new life to Journey?s legendary sound means a lot of hard work on my part.? 

Tickets to this musical event are available at popular prices at any Mossimo store in Metro Manila or call Ticketnet at 911-5555. Up for grabs are limited edition Mossimo-Journey Entourage Kits that include two gold tickets, a Mossimo cap and gift certificate as well as the much-coveted ?meet-and-greet? pass.

Food from garbage

Movie and television actor Alfred Vargas joins Secretary Heherson Alvarez, presidential adviser on global warming and climate change, in inspecting the materials recovery facility (MRF) in Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City.

The facility is where biodegradable wastes are turned into organic fertilizers that are used to grow high-grade vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, eggplants, cabbage, pechay, ampalaya and others in a one-hectare ?gulayan at bulaklakan? maintained by Estrella Valmocina, barangay chairman, since 1998.

The former senator and Vargas are both residents of Don Antonio Village, one of eight subdivisions in the barangay. The visit and site inspection is part of government?s program versus global warming and climate change. The burning of garbage produces carbon dioxide while rotting biodegradable wastes in dumpsites produce methane, both major greenhouse gases that cause global warming.

Vargas, himself a weekend vegetable farmer in Bulacan, said he wants to be a role model and an instrument towards effecting social change in the community.

?Environmental protection has always been my concern. Living in this same community, I would like to be aware of local issues in order to do my part. All of us must play a role in addressing global warming and climate change. And this is one role I do not mind playing,? he said.

Alvarez welcomed the support, saying, ?The serious threat of climate change underscores the need for every citizen to be on a war footing against climate change. The times call for total mobilization of all sectors. Every citizen should work toward reducing his or her carbon footprint. By working together on a united front, we can help avert the tipping point of irreversible climate change.?

For those who love going nuts

Joey?s Quirky World, the newest weekend morning show on GMA-7, is nuts from beginning to end.

TV host and comedian Joey de Leon appears as the witty and funny Inspector Talas trying to discover bizarre curiosities. With him are Ryan Yllana as Vicky Bola, a ?lady? fortuneteller who foresees people?s quirkiness with her crystal ball, and Cookie, Belly and Boobay, the triple-headed gypsy assigned to look for quirky places, signage, activities and habit exclusive to Pinoys.

Together, they will take the viewers on a fascinating tour around the globe through video clips and info-packed segments?both local and foreign. From a tiger dressed like a pig to never-before-heard celebrity trivia, explore the delightfully peculiar side of the world in this latest offering by the creators of Takeshi?s Castle.

Follow the quirky adventures and misadventures of Inspector Talas and his gang in Joey?s Quirky World, every Saturday before Eat Bulaga and Sunday before SOP Rules at 11:30 a.m. only on GMA.

A song for Chiz

Christine Escudero opted for an intimate post-Valentine?s concert with friends at Teatrino at the Promenade in Greenhills.

The senator was, of course, the most prominent in the crowd, with good reason since his role for the night was that of a supportive husband. Later in the evening, Susan Roces along with Marichu Maceda arrive and the former was all too prepared for the role of encouraging ninang to the beaming couple, most especially Christine.

Christine shared the concert spotlight with friends Odette Garcia and Marisse Santos, and Bimbo Cerrudo as special guest. Bimbo, who has since change his marquee name to the shorter ?Bo? Cerrudo, performed his competent self, his singing style with more polish.

It was Christine Escudero?s night, and she was in her element. The beneficiary of her concert Friday night would be the Department of Social Work and Development in Sorsogon, which has been busy at work. ?I would like the concert to be able to assist particularly the DSWD?s Women and Children?s Help Desk in Sorsogon,? she said, adding that no matter the size of the contribution, it would go a long way among the abused young women and needy children there.

While the singer maintained her passion for music and the craft singing, she has learned to balance it with her new responsibility as wife and mother to twins Chesi and Quino.

?My wife is her own person and I am very happy that she develops as a person separate and distinct from me, from her family. I feel that she?s just happy to love me and the kids, and I think it?s coming from the fulfillment she gets as Christine Escudero, the artist, the teacher and the mother and not Christine Escudero as the wife of?,? said the senator with his characteristic smile.

Towards the end of the show, Christine called on Senator Escudero to join her on stage, which he reluctantly obliged to do. No, she didn?t get him to sing this time. The only time he ever did sing a song to her, and in public at that, was when he decided to propose marriage. At that time, she was flabbergasted that she said yes to his marriage offer.

?While she was onstage preparing for a new song, I came up singing my song for her. It was ?Beautiful In My Eyes? [by Joshua Kadison]. Buti na lang she accepted my proposal, di nasayang ang kahihiyan ng pagkanta ko [It?s a good thing she accepted my proposal, It didn?t go to waste?all the shamelessness that went with my singing],? he recalled.

Senator Chiz had invited both their families then to bear witness to his romantic feat, along with the rest of that evening?s guests dining at the lounge. It was one memorable night for Chiz and Christine, and not for the senator meeting the challenge of a song for Christine.

13 not 12

 In another twist this season, four, instead of the expected three, were chosen from the Wild Card round: Megan Corkrey, the quirky and pretty blonde from Utah; Jasmine Murray, the 16-year-old with the big voice; Matt Giraud, the piano player with the soulful voice; and Anoop Desai, who squeaked through the next round. After the names of the three who survived the Wild Card round were announced, AI judge Simon Cowell added that there will be a 13th spot in the next round, and it belongs to adorable college student Anoop Desai.

 The four who passed the Wild Card round join first nine and they will all go on to the next level of the competition.  The first nine include Danny Gokey, the soulful crooner who recently lost his wife due to an ailment; Alexis Grace, the blonde young mom whose successful change in persona wowed viewers and AI judges; and Michael Sarver, the guy with the Everyman appeal.

 Also joining the next round are Adam Lambert, the rocker with the crazy-wide vocal range; Allison Iraheta, the redhead who has been compared to Kelly Clarkson; Kris Allen, the boy-next-door; Scott McIntyre, the first blind contestant to make it this far in Idol; Jorge Nu?ez, the first Puerto Rican to reach the Top 12; and Lil Rounds, the mother of three from Memphis who has one of the strongest pipes and most praised performances in this entire batch.

 The Top 13 will start competing on performance tonight. Thursday will have results night with the contestant receiving the lowest number of votes bowing out of the competition.

 American Idol?live via satellite Wednesdays at 6 p.m. with same day replay at 8 p.m. and Thursdays, 6 p.m. with same day replay at 8:30 p.m.  on Q Channel 11

Ricky Reyes now at Glorietta 5

The Ricky Reyes Salon has moved to Glorietta 5, 3rd level, on Ayala Ave. This means that the branch in Glorietta 1 will be closed temporarily for renovations.

The Ricky Reyes Salons have pioneered beauty technologies such as digital perm, milk rebonding, eyelash extension, and milk hair color in the Philippines.

For inquiries and reservations, call the Ricky Reyes hotline at 721-7705 or 723-5440.