journey cut short

‘Electrical incident’ abruptly cancels Journey concert at RodeoHouston

Journey left the stage early.

Photo by Brianna Griff

[Update March 15: On Saturday morning, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo released an additional statement about the situation that took place Friday night. Today's Warren Zeiders' concert will proceed as scheduled. The statement continues with information for people who attended Friday night's Journey concert:

"We are working through options for guests who purchased tickets through AXS, the Rodeo's official ticket provider. No action is required from ticket holders at this time. We will provide additional information in the coming days. Thank you for your patience and understanding."]

On Friday night, Journey’s sold-out RodeoHouston show in front of over 70,000 fans was cut short during the middle of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the fourth song of the evening.

According to a statement from RodeoHouston, an electrical fire near the starred stage scuttled the show.

“Due to an unforeseen electrical incident under the stage area, we regretfully announce the cancellation of tonight's Journey concert,” the statement read. “We sincerely apologize to all fans for this disappointment. Our team is working diligently to assess the situation, and we will provide updates regarding rescheduling options and/or refunds as soon as possible.”

When a legendary song like “Don’t Stop Believin’” is the fourth song in your set, you’ve sufficiently created a generational musical dynasty, that much is true. On Friday night, the believin’ came to a grinding halt.

Many fans thought that the power to the stage abruptly cutting out just before the second chorus was done for dramatic effect, to get the crowd to finish the chorus. The video screens surrounding the stage went black, and no audio was heard from the musicians. Broadcaster Jake Asman shared the moment the power on stage went out on X.

I lived in Houston for six years and went to over 30 rodeo concerts—but I’ve never seen anything like this. Journey was in the middle of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ when the stadium speakers blew out.

The entire concert is on hold! pic.twitter.com/UxbDFbXBr8
— Jake Asman (@JakeAsman) March 15, 2025

Fans became more concerned once the band members left the stage. They were last seen being escorted off the stadium floor and into the service level of NRG, but not exactly in a rush. Many in the press box assumed the technical difficulties were minor.

An announcement over the public address system from Bob Tallman, the reassuring voice of RodeoHouston, let fans know that the music was over for the evening.

Back in March 2007, some fans that attended a twin-bill of Hannah Montana (Miley Cyrus) and the Cheetah Girls were issued refunds after faulty speakers in the stadium left them without sound for a portion of the sold-out concert.

Here was the Journey setlist provided to media before the concert began. What a night it could have been.

Setlist

Only The Young
Be Good To Yourself
Stone In Love
Don’t Stop Believin’
Who’s Crying Now
Lights
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
Open Arms
Ask The Lonely
Faithfully
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Wheel In The Sky
Any Way You Want It

concert review rodeohouston

In Memoriam

Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

As with many local legends, it's hard to tease out what specifically made Ely's time in Austin so great; Austin treasures its live music staples, so being around and staying authentic from the early days is often the most important thing an artist can do.

Ely got his local start at One Knight Tavern, which later became Stubb's BBQ — the artist and the famous venue share a hometown of Lubbock. He alternated nights with emerging guitar great Stevie Ray Vaughn. He built his own recording studio in Dripping Springs, and kept close relationships with other Texas musicians. Later in his career, Ely brought fans into the live music experience, publishing excerpts from his journal and musings on the road in Bonfire of Roadmaps (2010), and was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022. Austin blues icon Marcia Ball was among Ely's friends who played the induction show.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings. [...]"

Read the full story at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added two paragraphs of context about the Austin portion of Ely's career.

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journey cut short

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In Memoriam

Legendary Texas singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78