The members of Journey seem set on going their separate ways after their farewell tour, but in the time left together, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers are revisiting the radio smashes that sold more than 100 million records over their career.
This chapter of Journey will come to a close after their extensive Final Frontier tour winds down sometime in 2027. But for now, they’re just getting started, with the tour kicking off Saturday in Hershey. On the second show of their tour, Journey cruised through their hits (and much more), playing for more than two hours Monday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
For a generation raised on radio, the show checked off all the boxes for acclaimed power ballads, melodic rockers and guitar solos aplenty. With a giant video screen behind them, Journey played 23 songs, all from the era of former vocalist Steve Perry, plus a few other solos and an extended jam.
About the elephant in the room aka Perry: Some fans believe the band isn’t Journey without him, despite his departure almost 30 years ago. (For proof, just check out the comments on almost any video of the current era band.)
But Journey, founded in 1973 by guitarist Neal Schon, has kept going. In fact, singer Arnel Pineda has been in place since 2007. It’s an impossible task to replace Perry, so Monday’s show proved to be a group effort when it came to vocals.
Pineda took lead on 16 songs, while longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain (he joined in 1980), drummer Deen Castronovo and keyboardist Jason Derlatka also took turns on lead vocals. Schon and bassist Todd Jensen chipped in with background vocals and harmonies, too.
The show rocketed off to a start with “Any Way You Want It,” in a change-up from the tour opener, followed by “Stone in Love” and “Only the Young.” The later double shot of “Lights” (with Castronovo on lead vocals) and “When You Love a Woman” slowed things down before the fast-paced “Escape” ramped it back up.
The ebb and flow of the show continued with Cain’s piano solo, which teased and then led into “Who’s Crying Now.”
Journey plays “Wheel in the Sky” on March 2, 2026, in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/r8pkRjqfYg
— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) March 3, 2026
A few songs later, Schon showed off on a guitar solo, with fleet fingers for a 72-year-old, before fan favorite “Wheel in the Sky.” Pyro blazed as the band added some crunch for their heaviest moment of the night.
Cain dedicated “Faithfully” to the nation’s military, and then teamed nicely with Castronovo on the back-to-back “Feeling That Way” and “Anytime,” much the way Perry and original keyboardist Gregg Rolie did back in the day.
After the hard-charging boogie of “Dead or Alive” and the synthy “Ask the Lonely,” the show settled down with “I’ll Be Alright Without You” (with Derlatka on lead vocals) followed by “Open Arms.” A seven-minute jam of “La Do Da” included a drum solo and riffs on The Doors’ “Break on Through (to the Other Side)” and Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” Cain made a wardrobe change, adding a Pittsburgh Penguins sweater with “Cain” and No. 26 on the back. (Sorry, Tristan Broz.)
Skipping an encore break, Journey closed with three of their bigger hits to end the show. “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” had the crowd swaying and singing the “na na na na na” portion before a strong “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart).”
There could be no doubts about the finale, as “Don’t Stop Believin’” closed out the show amid a veritable shower of confetti.
Top guitar solos: Schon soloed on pretty much every song, with his top performances on “Escape,” “Who’s Crying Now” and the solo before “Wheel in the Sky.”
The merch: T-shirts were $50, with long sleeves at $60 and a zip-up hoodie at $120, plus koozies at $5, socks for $20 and hats for $30. Their legacy package ($225) included four T-shirts, an embroidered bag, hat, patch and koozie.
A look at the merch for Journey’s Final Frontier show Monday night at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/xzECajHEuf
— Mike Palm (@MikePalmMedia) March 3, 2026
What was missing, part one: Longtime fans had hoped that Perry, who fronted the band from 1977-87 and 1995-98, might return for the farewell tour, with Cain raising hopes of a surprise appearance on the trek. Perry, however, put those rumors to bed gently in a Facebook post.
What was missing, part two: With a career-spanning set, there were bound to be a few omissions, with “Girl Can’t Help It” and “Send Her My Love” topping the list. Fans hoping to hear anything from the band’s six studio albums from the 1990s or beyond got only one song — “When You Love a Woman” — off 1996’s “Trial By Fire.”
The future: Schon, who founded the band in 1973, hasn’t ruled out a new chapter for Journey, suggesting “Journey Beyond” may be a possibility. Cain, meanwhile, will turn his attention to making Christian music.
Last time here: Journey’s most recent show in Pittsburgh came on July 27, 2024, at PNC Park, alongside Steve Miller Band and Def Leppard, on the Summer Stadium Tour 2024.
What’s next: The band is back Wednesday in Washington, D.C., with the 60-show North American tour running into July in Texas.
Journey setlist
Any Way You Want It
Stone in Love
Only the Young
Be Good to Yourself
Just the Same Way
Lights
When You Love a Woman
Escape
Piano solo
Who’s Crying Now
Mother, Father
Suzanne
Guitar solo
Wheel in the Sky
Faithfully
Feeling That Way
Anytime
Dead or Alive
Ask the Lonely
I’ll Be Alright Without You
Open Arms
La Do Da
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Don’t Stop Believin’