Las Vegas has been good to Journey. The classic rockers have hit town for extended stays in multiple local venues, and they’re now at home at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, where they return this week for the second run of dates in their latest residency.
For Journey guitarist and co-founder Neal Schon, the best thing about any Journey show is the crowd’s energy. “It almost doesn’t matter where I’m at,” he says. “If there’s a great audience out there that’s so willing to listen to your music still, and completely into it, that kind of makes the show for me.”
In Vegas, Journey can play for fans from around the world by staying in one place, and no matter where attendees hail from, they’ll be singing along to pop-rock classics like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want It” and “Open Arms.” Journey got a major boost with the 2007 addition of lead singer Arnel Pineda, who’s helped connect the band to a new generation, but for Schon, it all starts with the songwriting.
“I honestly believe that we just got a lot of stuff right,” he says of the band’s music. “It’s become classic, and it’s going nowhere anytime soon.”
Caesars Palace, 8 p.m. Dec. 27-28 & 30-31, starting at $99 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
