Resurrection - A Journey Tribute celebrates the music of one of the 80s leading rock bands

Has the acclaimed vocalist and musician Steve Perry been reborn? Decide for yourself at the upcoming show on Saturday, Sept. 10 as Resurrection - A Journey Tribute takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. as part of their 2016 Highway Run Tour. According to concertgoers’ comments on the group’s website at www.notjourney.com, many couldn’t believe that Ryan Christopher, lead vocals on Resurrection, was not Perry himself. Journey, formed in 1973, had its biggest success between 1978 and 1987. The groups hits include “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Any Way You Want It,” “Faithfully” and “Open Arms.” Perry was the lead vocalist from 1977 through 1998. On a dare in 2005 Christopher sang his first Journey song ever, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” at a karaoke contest. “I had never sung a Journey song before, and when I was done, I got a standing ovation.” Christopher was in a different Journey tribute band from 2006 to 2013. Later he met up with Vic White, who plays keyboard and does vocals, and they formed Resurrection with George Hawkins, Jr. on bass and vocals and drummer Jim Handley, who worked with Journey for six years as a drum technician. The group is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Resurrection played their first show in March 2014, and their success has spiraled, especially this year. “It’s awe-inspiring. It’s incredible how far we’ve been,” Christopher said. Christopher explained that “A tribute band does everything in their power to be like the original.” Christopher dresses the part of Perry, but he has not extensively studied Perry’s onstage style. “I’ve seen some videos here and there, but I’ve never sat down and actively tried to choreograph a concert,” Christopher said. “We do want to recreate the concerts, but we don’t want to make them so robotic that they lose their live feel.” The group’s set features a replica of the red grand piano that Journey member Jonathon Cain played back in the 80s and a 2005 Journey drum tour kit. “Our drummer Jim Handley was actually the Journey drum tech from 2002 to 2008, so he brings a lot of credibility to our group, and I dress the part from leopard print shirt to the black tux and tails.” All generations will feel welcome at a Resurrections show. “It’s 100 percent a family show,” Christopher said. “We realized that when Journey wrote their songs, they were for families. They designed [their music] to be universal and something everyone could enjoy. I love it when I look out in the audience and see 6- and 7-year-old kids singing all the words to ‘Don’t Stop Believin’,’ a song from 30 years ago.” Christopher’s favorite Journey song of all time is “Mother Father,” a song that takes him back to the broken home he and his five younger siblings endured. “I had a lot of my siblings needing me to be there for them throughout the course of their lives when my parents just weren’t there. Every time I perform this song, I always perform it to the best of my ability because it’s an emotional song for me,” he said. “I’ve actually been onstage and teared up. It means a lot to me, and I send it out to my mom. I know what she went through.” Don’t miss this chance to time warp back to the 1980s, and you’ll agree with other Resurrection fans who said, “Could not imagine the actual band, Journey, performing any better.” Christopher is excited to perform at the Performing Arts Center at Kent State Tuscarawas. It will mark the first time the group will play a college venue. To purchase tickets call the PAC box office at 330-308-6400 or go online at www.kent.edu/tusc/pac.