Journey Book Neal Schon As Opening Act for Canadian Tour
Journey fans who turn out for the band's upcoming Canadian tour can look forward to a familiar face as the band's opening act: guitarist Neal Schon, who's doing double duty to promote his new solo LP, Vortex.
Schon, who collaborated on the double-disc Vortex with drummer Steve Smith and keyboardist Jan Hammer, has rounded up a solo band that includes Rachel Z Hakim on keyboards and Jerry Brooks on bass — as well as drummer Omar Hakim, who's also manning the drums for Journey during this tour due to the legal issues faced by Deen Castronovo.
Hakim made his Journey debut at the group's recent Hollywood Bowl performance, which found the band playing live with an orchestra for the first time ever, and Schon was clearly impressed. "I'm very happy I was able to bring Omar Hakim in to help us pull together a very elaborate and complex show at the last minute," he enthuses in a press release. "It was a nearly impossible feat, and tall order for anyone, but with Omar’s musical integrity and talent, we pulled it off and had a blast!"
Referencing his good fortune in stumbling across current Journey singer Arnel Pineda on YouTube, Schon adds, "Glad to know I've still got the ears and now I'm two for two: first was finding Arnel and now recruiting Omar Hakim."
Check out the Vortex track "El Matador" and take a look at Journey's complete list of 2015 Canadian tour dates below.
Journey 2015 Canadian Tour
7/06 - Winnipeg, Manitoba
7/08 - Calgary, Alberta
7/10 - Penticton, B.C.
7/11 - Vancouver, B.C.
7/13 - Victoria, B.C.
7/15 - Prince George, B.C.
7/16 - Dawson Creek, B.C.
7/18 - Edmonton, Alberta
7/19 - Lethbridge, Alberta
7/21 - Regina, Saskatchewan
7/22 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
7/25 - Hamilton, Ontario
7/26 - Kingston, Ontario
7/28 - Montréal, Quebec
7/30 - Moncton, N.B.
7/31 - Dartmouth, N.S.
8/02 - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
8/03 - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
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