A interview with the Journey Tribute Band, Frontiers.
FRONTIERS – January 18, 2003
By Deb Eshem
Visit the bands website HERE!
On September 6, 1983, the multi-platinum rock band Journey performed what was to be their last ever show as the lineup that would go on to eventually sell over 55 million albums and spawn such hits as “Don’t Stop Believin’”, “Open Arms” and “Separate Ways”.
On that humid late summer evening in Honolulu, Hawaii, no one knew that this curtain call was for keeps, and when Journey’s Greatest Hits compilation hit the top ten five years later (spending an astounding 92 weeks in Billboard’s Top 100 and selling over 10 million copies), the band was missing in action. Despite Journey’s commercial success with the album Raised On Radio in 1986, and a short-lived reunion ten years later, Journey never again managed to hold on to the magic that defined an era – living instead in the shadow of their own legend.
Fast forward nearly 20 years….a band with a Steve Perry sound-alike strikes out on the road once again to recapture the sound of a generation. The band is not the revamped Journey, now without legendary front man Perry or drummer Steve Smith…..This is Frontiers….
Comprised of music veterans sharing a lifelong love and respect for the music of Journey, Frontiers recreates the early 80’s era from the sound to the dress, to the frenetic energy of the band that ruled the arena rock circuit for years.
Anyone lucky enough to see Journey at the height of their success knows that what the band achieved on vinyl was nothing compared to the all-out spectacle that was Journey live. This is where Frontiers nails it – from the vocal improvisation of an unchained melody to the extended jam sessions born from Journey’s acid jazz roots, the band faithfully recreates the Journey experience with no exception.
Stepping into the role of Perry, singer Jeremey Hunsicker pays homage to his lifelong idol with a phrasing and range that has drawn the obvious comparisons his entire career. As a dynamic showman who can effortlessly make “love” a six syllable word, Jeremey is at home on the stage, drawing the audience into his world and making no excuses for his dead-on interpretations of the classics.
Veteran rhythm section Mike Morrison (drums) and Greg Eanes (bass) recreate the Smith/Vallory combination that locked down Journey’s bottom end, and duo guitarists Jim Gober and David Thomas not only pay tribute to Neal Schon’s renowned speed and soul, but also recreate the stacked vocal harmonies that set Journey apart from their contemporaries. Rounding out the group is classically trained pianits/keyboard artist Chad Campbell, bringing his own interpretation of Jonathan Cain and Gregg Rollie’s stunning sonic attack, and filling out the vocal palette of the group.
As the lights go down and the crowd rises to their feet in anticipation, a familiar chord is struck in the hearts of the faithful…..This is an event…..This is young love, this is crazy summer nights, this is the escape for those who never stopped believin’.
“Out on the border of a changing skyline, we put hope in front of fear…And all the heros have gone east of Eden…We all need new Frontiers….”
And now, here are some of the things about themselves that Frontiers so graciously offered to share with us.
Deb: What is your “day job”?
Jeremey: I am a sales rep.
Jim: I am an electronics sales rep.
Greg: I build transformers.
Mike: I am a banker.
Dave: I am in the insurance business.
Chad: I’m the computer nerd.
Deb: Are you all married with children?
Jeremey: I am married to Sabrina, we have 1 basset hound and 2 cats, but no children.
Jim: I am married with 2 kids.
Greg: I am married, and I have three grandchildren.
Mike: I’m married, and I have 4 daughters. I live in a house with “5 women”.
Dave: I’m not married anymore, and no children.
Chad: I’m married with 2 children.
Deb: This one is for Jeremey. Do your work associates(in your daytime job) kid you about being “Steve Perry”.
Jeremey: Nobody knows about it, or if they do, they don’t say anything.
Deb: Here’s another one for Jeremey. When did you realize that you wanted to be a singer, and why did you decide to portray Steve Perry?
Jeremey: I have been singing since I was about 10. In my late teens(in college), when I began writing and recording more of my own music, I started hearing nonstop comparisons to Perry whenever people would listen to my music. Eventually I kind of adopted that as a schtick, and now I guess it has paid off.
Deb: Was Journey one of your favorite bands growing up?
Jeremey: I always loved Journey on the radio, but growing up as a singer, I was more into 80’s top 40 and R&B than AOR. At any rate, Journey is now my favorite band and not a day goes by that I am not in some way involved in the music of Journey, whether surfing the web to find new and interesting Journey/Perry sites or managing Frontiers, which is about a full time job itself. I frequent Back Talk just about every day, but I rarely post unless I feel I can add something constructive to a thread (or unless I am promoting an upcoming show).
Deb: All of the other guys grew up with other influences based on what their parents listened to.
Deb: How did you guys come together to be Frontiers?
Jeremey: We are all members of x-factor, a top 40 cover band, and we just started to put this together. We’ve been doing this for about 8 or 9 months now.
Deb: Wow, that short a time? You guys are so in sync I would think you had been at it for years.
Deb: What is your favorite song to perform?
Jeremey: Don’t Stop Believin’
Jim: Girl Can’t Help It
Greg: Separate Ways
Mike: Separate Ways
Dave: Edge of the Blade, Suzanne
Chad: Send Her My Love
Deb: What kind of response have you been getting to Frontiers’ portrayal of Journey?
Jeremey : Very positive. The only time we have any problems is when we get booked into the wrong type of club and they are not into this type of music.
Deb: Have you ever met Steve Perry or any other members of Journey?
Jeremey: I’ve never met Steve P, but my wife and I did get to go backstage and meet Rindell and the band in 1998.
The rest of the guys all said no to meeting any of the members of Journey past or present.
Deb: Have any of you seen Journey perform?
Jeremey: Yes, twice. Once in 98 on the Vacations Over Tour and then again on the Under The Radar Tour.
Jim: Yes, twice. Once in 1988 with Steve Perry and in August of last year.
Deb: If you found out that Steve Perry or any of the other Journey members were in the audience, would you be nervous?
All of the guys said “Of Course, wouldn’t anyone”?
Deb: This is another one for you Jeremey. Were you aware that Journey was looking to reform in 1998? Would you have considered trying out for frontman for Journey?
Jeremey: Yes, I was aware of it, but I would not have even considered going for it. It was all done on an inside track so there was no option of anyone else to try anyway.
Deb: Will performing remain a sideline for you, or are you planning to take it to a full time, make a living doing it type of situation?
All of the guys said they would like to do more shows, but none of them were interested in doing this on a full time basis.
Deb: Kind of as a follow-up to that question, the members of Perryville are scattered far and wide, and it seems that most of the Journey tribute bands are on the east coast. Do you expect to ever be able to extend your bookings nationwide?
Jeremey: At this time, it would not be financially possible for us to travel long distances. Right now we are trying to book within a 500 mile radius of Virginia, but in the future, anything is possible. If we were able to hook up with a venue that wanted to provide us with transportation, we would definitely consider it.
Deb: I just want to say thank you, for being so gracious and taking the time to let the fans at Perryville delve into your lives and minds a little (hopefully not too much). All the residents of our little neighborhood on the web would like me to convey their admiration and appreciation for the wonderful job you do.
My review of the show is posted on the Frontiers website, and I am planning to see them as often as possible. I hope to be able to meet some of the Perryville fans at an upcoming show.
A very special THANKS to Deb E. for doing the interview on Perryville's behalf.
