E5C4P3 - The Journey Tribute
I grew up as a drummer. In 1991 I had finally learned that I had a talent in singing that seemed to be above average in the karaoke bars. So I became interested in finding a band that needed a singer instead of playing drums. After auditioning for a few bands, I was hired by 'Heavens Reign' (ironically not a Christian band). We did some originals and a bunch of cover tunes including 'Stone In Love'. When that band broke up, the bass player suggested we start a Journey tribute since I sound like Steve Perry. Thank you, Randy! What a life-changing suggestion...
E5C4P3 first started in June of 1993. Randy and I from 'Heavens Reign' joined up with friends of his Al and Tony, and we begged Rob, lead singer of another band we knew, to play keys and rhythm guitar. I became the biggest fan of Journey as I studied the music that I didn't already know. Then, strangely, I noticed an ad from a Journey tribute band looking for a keyboardist. I called to find out what their story was...and ended up replacing their singer (which effectively meant firing all four of the guys I'd been playing with. I felt bad but it was a necessary decision).
This brought in the Pennsylvania era of E5C4P3. Joe on guitar, Paul on bass, Rick on drums, and Todd on keys. Todd had recently disbanded a popular cover band called Bootleg. We played a lot of Pennsylvania and Ohio venues. Remember the Buffalo Lodge, guys? Check out our old demo recordings below!
After a while, Joe, Paul, Rick, and Todd had to leave the band for various reasons and the hunt was on. While we played a gig at Stage II in Brunswick, OH, Steve Beyeler and Scott Psota watched the show and asked me if I was interested in singing with their original project. These guys could play Dream Theater!
When I first jammed with these guys they were calling themselves 'Rapture'. We played 'Pull Me Under' by Dream Theater and the songs 'Escape' and 'Edge Of The Blade' by Journey. These are NOT hit songs and they played them better than any previous line up of E5C4P3 had ever played (sorry, guys). And I was hunting for pretty much a whole new band at the time! Steve joined first and did a few gigs and told the other guys how much fun he had. Then Scott Psota, Scott Dunn, and Kit wanted in, too. Boom...third new line up.
E5C4P3 has played all over the eastern United States. From New York City to Texas and Minnesota to Florida, favorites will always be The Toy Tiger in Louisville, KY, Club LaVela in Panama City Beach, FL, and of course The Odeon and Cleveland Cafe here in Cleveland.
The struggle of traveling every weekend took its toll on everyone over time. And the 'tribute band scene' didn't really become 'respectable' until the 2000's. Steve quit and Justin came in to replace him. Scott Dunn quit and was replaced by Shawn. Scott Psota likewise quit and was replaced by Carlito. The 6 year ride had been fun but it was certainly time for a break by the end. E5C4P3 had played its final show in September of 1999. UNTIL...E5C4P3 returned in 2008!
The current E5C4P3 now includes George McGrew on guitar, Erney Chaney on keys, Billy Jones on drums, and Paul Soos returning on bass. And now we're doing things right...
Melodic Rock.com forum post #1 about me.
Melodic Rock.com forum post #2 about me.
More E5C4P3 on YouTube
Here's some old mp3's!!!
Lovin' You Is Easy - E5C4P3 1996
Roll With The Changes - '1996 Powerhitters' with E5C4P3
Original Demo Recordings! We've gotten a lot better over the years.
Any Way You Want It - E5C4P3 1993
Open Arms - E5C4P3 1993
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Juke Box Heroes
Juke Box Heroes is a classic rock dance band. It's also my "track band". The basic concept is to choose songs people love that other bands don't do and play them like the original recording using a little prerecorded help to fill in what's missing. It's not rocket science, really...and props out to Tim Burris and Disco Explosion for teaching me the concept.
Being a multi-instrumentalist, this band gives me an opportunity to use my keyboard and harmony skills to back myself up. On most of our songs, I could play a keyboard part or a rhythm guitar part. I feel it's a better show to play the guitar parts live and prerecord the keys instead of vice versa. Also, in the real world, I can sing live harmonies along with anyone...except for myself. So, using tracks, I get to sing along with myself so we can pull off Journey songs and make it sound like the studio recording (where Steve Perry recorded most of the harmonies himself). Don't worry...the other guys in JBH sing, too.
So, with that said, JBH is just a fun opportunity to dance to some awesome tunes. It's my concept of what a cover band should accomplish. People want to dance, so you can't play a lot of slow songs (but we have a few) or progressive art rock stuff and expect the masses to love it. So, as much as I love Rush, I'd never put 'Tom Sawyer' in the middle of a JBH dance set. (Although I'd love to see people try to dance to the keyboard solo when it goes into 7/8 time. That would be hilarious!)
JBH came around after Eclipse broke up. I first joined a band called 'Cleveland Rocks' which was short-lived because the guitarist soon moved to Florida. So the drummer, Rick Strah, and the bass player, Ken Marklow, both joined me in creating JBH. Rick just happened to know Scott Psota, my guitarist from E5C4P3 back in the 90s, and mentioned he was interested in playing again (other than the E5C4P3 reunion). I also reconnected with Rob Biglin. He and I worked together in Breakfast Club until I foolishly left the band right before they got so popular. So the five of us put together JBH, but Ken, who also played with other bands, couldn't continue with JBH. So we just continued on as a 4 piece band with Rob on bass. (Incidentally, Rob and I also played together in Sellouts with Rob on guitar and me on bass.) Rob moved back to Indiana and we eventually found Gary (G Rock) Stulak. Mark Matthews (previously in E5C4P3), Dave Warner (who used to run lights for E5C4P3) and even George McGrew (from Eclipse and 2112) filled in on bass until Gary came around. Hey! Look at that! All those bands mentioned within one paragraph. I'm starting to feel like Kevin Bacon.
In 2016, JBH went through some major changes. Disagreements on the future direction of the band led to going our separate ways. I then was joined by Steve Raz on guitar, Paul Soos on bass, and Tim Sprow on drums. Michael Scott Nelson eventually joined the band on drums and Carmen Carlucci later joined on bass. In 2022, George McGrew joined on guitar and Jason Brosmier on drums. In late 2022, Jason Brosmier left the band. I decided to play drums myself until a new drummer could be found.
Jason Kelty - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Bass
George McGrew - Lead Guitar, Vocals
Carmen Carlucci - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
More JBH on YouTube
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Rubix Cubed
Rubix Cubed came from out of nowhere. I was asked to fill in on bass for one gig. All of a sudden, I got Cubed and joined a new band! For the first year, I was the keyboard/rhythm guitar player. Then the drummer left and I switched over to drums. I had never gotten a chance to be a drummer in a band even though I grew up playing drums. This band couldn't be any more fun for me! It's the band I would have wanted to be in when I was in high school. I get to solve Rubik's Cubes and wear parachute pants for a living! Who could ask for more?! OK, so the parachute pants didn't last. The silly outfits had to stop. Now it's just about the music.
Carmen Carlucci - Bass, Vocals
George McGrew - Guitar, Vocals
Jason Kelty - Drums, Vocals
More Rubix Cubed on YouTube
Keltyoke
During the 2020 Pandemic Shutdown, I decided to record myself singing some songs that I'd probably never do in any of my bands.
Kelty plus Karaoke equals Keltyoke!
The Longest Time by Billy Joel
Leader Of The Band by Dan Fogelberg
More Today Than Yesterday by Spiral Staircase
Feel Your Love Tonight by Van Halen
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
Tom Sawyer by Rush
Abbey Road Album by The Beatles
Rock'N Me by Steve Miller Band
Day After Day by Badfinger
Buddy Holly by Weezer
Hotel California by The Eagles
Lady by Little River Band
An Innocent Man by Billy Joel
Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles
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