Review by Paul Sabin for MPM
Foreigners Journey are no strangers to The Wharf as they’ve been performing here for nearly sixteen years, but tonight is a little different.
The band Formed by bassist, Paul Flanaghan and aided on guitar by Ricky Middleton, has had somewhat of a line-up change. Last time they were here, they brought new drummer, Ben Carter with them. This time lead vocals have been taken on by Adam J Oades and Lee Sculthorpe has taken over from Jon Pease on keys and it’s his first night!!
So, with a packed crowd gathered at The Wharf in Tavistock, the lights go down and the band hit the ground running. As you would expect, the band cover everything from `Waiting For A Girl Like You’ to `Urgent’ and `Head Games’. On the Journey side `Be Good To Yourself’, `Who’s Crying Now’ and `Anyway You Want It’ all ensure and good spread of material between the two camps.
Over the two hours or so of stage time, Oades has worked like a trooper (and sweated like one under the stage lights) and more than proved that his voice is as good, if not better then his predecessors as he powered through the songs and hit some major high notes with ease. Equally, Sculthorpe `Scully’ did a brilliant job getting all the classic keyboard sounds out. Its early days for the new guys but band director and guitar god, Ricky Middleton kept things tight and running smoothly whilst Paul Flanaghan looked calm and cool as ever pounding out precise bass lines.
With audience participation throughout, it was easy from the crowd to warm to these guys which was rewarded by several encore songs which could end in only one way with `Don’t Stop Believin’. At that point the whole place was dancing and singing in unison.
Fitting the class and back catalogue of two of the worlds biggest rock bands into a two hour show and doing it justice is almost impossible but Foreigners Journey manage to do exactly that every time! Till next time boys Thank you and good night!
10/10
