The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Don’t stop believin’
With his looks and pipes, singer for Journey tribute act E5C4P3 may just convince you he IS Steve Perry
The “Wheel in The Sky” keeps turning for popular Northeast Ohio-based E5C4P3 — The Journey Tribute. For more than a quarter of a century, various incarnations of the group have been providing audiences with a sing-along filled walk down memory lane by performing the hits of the ‘70s and ‘80s arenarock act.
Bassist Paul Soos was with the group early on and returned four years ago. His love affair with Journey began nearly four decades ago.
“The first concert I ever went to was Journey on the ‘Escape Tour’ at Blossom Music Center,” said Soos, who grew up in Nordonia and lives in Canton. “It was Aug. 31, 1981. I remember the date, which was also the first day of my junior year in high school. Yeah, I’m the old guy in the band.”
E5C4P3, which has booked a show show at the Lorain Palace Theater, got its start when singer Jason Kelty was a familiar face on the bar-band circuit playing covers.
After it was pointed out he sounded just like Steve Perry-era Journey, those aforementioned wheels started turning and later the tribute act took off. However, the early ‘90s were a different time. While today is the heyday of tribute bands, that wasn’t the case early on.
“Back when we started this thing, nobody knew what to do with the tribute bands,” Soos said. “We were basically on the bar circuit with all of the other cover bands out there. I think we did more shows in Pennsylvania than we did in Ohio.
“We got some better gigs because we did Journey, but back then there wasn’t Facebook or social media to promote our shows. We didn’t have the following that we do now from all of the Journey fans.”
Through the years, Soos said he’s witnessed over and over again those fans hearing Kelty’s spot-on Perry vocals for the first time.
“As soon as he starts singing, their jaws hit the floor,” Soos said. “He’s just amazing. There are other Journey tribute bands out there, but when I listen to their singers, I can tell they’re different.
“Also, the difference with our current lineup is our attention to detail. Our biggest thing is note-for-note interpretation. We play the same live endings that Journey used.”
Someone who agrees E5C4P3 is a cut above the rest is Journey guitarist Neil Schon, who over the last few years has retweeted the band’s videos on social media.
E5C4P3 performs all of the platinum band’s hits, from “Lights” and “Wheel in the Sky” to “Separate Ways” and “Be Good to Yourself,”
While the outfit has played Rockin’ on the River at the city’s Blackwater Landing, the upcoming gig marks its Lorain Palace debut. As one would guess, the date of the show is no accident.
“We figured Valentine’s Day would be great because guys are always wondering what to get their loved ones,” Soos said. “Considering most women love Journey, we figured, heck, there you go.”