Resurrection: A Journey Tribute has built its reputation on a simple, difficult premise: that a group of Nashville musicians can convincingly stand in for one of arena rock’s defining acts, note for note and mannerism for mannerism. After more than a decade of touring (first show: March 10, 2014; now covering over 40 states), the evidence is extensive enough that Steve Perry himself has weighed in. The original voice called Resurrection “the ultimate Journey tribute experience.” The band plays Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda on Friday, Nov. 27.
About the Show
The stated mission is to faithfully recreate the experience of a 1980s Journey concert: the sound, the look, the production, the emotional register of those arena-era shows when Journey was selling out venues across the country. Founding keyboardist Vic White, who saw Journey perform live with Steve Perry in 1981 and 1983, serves as the group’s musical director and has shaped the band’s approach since the beginning. White has also toured and recorded with John Berry and Deana Carter in his Nashville session career and briefly worked with Bryan Adams. Lead singer Bryan Cole joined in 2023, and his origin story carries weight: Journey’s Infinity album arrived in his hands on vinyl at age six. His audition reportedly included the declaration that he owned not only the full Journey catalog but the bootlegs. Cole previously fronted Giant, the Nashville act featuring Dann Huff (CMA Producer of the Decade), for their 25th reunion show. Guitarist Steve Sheroan holds a Classical Guitar Performance degree from Western Kentucky University, with studio credits spanning MTV, GAC, and WCW Wrestling, and focuses his live work on capturing Neal Schon’s technique. Bassist Trenton “Poptart” Shuler arrived in the most memorable fashion: in 2021, when the band’s bassist was stranded in Houston by a snowstorm the night before a Myrtle Beach show, Shuler took a midnight call, rehearsed through the night on guitarist Sheroan’s Les Paul, bought a bass the morning of the show, and delivered a set that earned him a permanent spot. High-profile bookings have included Royal Caribbean International cruises, AT&T Park in San Francisco, US Cellular Field in Chicago, and Hard Rock Casino and Hotel. Resurrection performs with no affiliation or endorsement from Journey or its current or former members.
Venue & Logistics
Riviera Theatre, at 67 Webster St. in North Tonawanda, has become a recurring stop for Resurrection in the western New York market—prior engagements confirm the venue as a consistent November destination for this band. The show is Friday, Nov. 27, and showtime is 7:30 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are $20. Buy tickets