Local rockers Flight 409 tackled something you might not expect on their new album, "We Don't Dance." Not only did the band cover a classic -- it covered a Journey classic, with Flight 409 singer Andy Thornton doing his best here's-what-Steve-Perry-would-sound-like-if-he-grew-up-listening-to-Blink-182 version of "Don't Stop Believin'."
And with Perry's Valley roots, that's a daunting task for a local band to attempt. Go to the band's MySpace page to listen to very updated version of "Don't Stop Believin'," then come back here and tell us what you think. Does Flight 409 have you "Believin'?"
Bonus: Below is a quick back-and-forth on MySpace I had with Thornton about his decision to sing the song:
What made you guys want to cover the song?
I used to listen to the song a lot with my dad and it means a lot to me. I've always been a big fan of Journey, they are incredible musicians.
Did this being Steve Perry's home turf scare you?
Absolutely not, it's an ode to Steve Perry and Journey. They are a great band. Plus we asked and got permission to record the song, Steve Perry has heard it, and he approves of it.
How did you get Steve to hear it?
Our label took care of all that for us. When they got the ok for us to record it one of the conditions was that they get to hear the finished product.
It's funny how when bands cover a song, they can capture and present something that makes the song 'great,' and drove it to being a classic,
-when the orig. performers often grow and change the song sometimes loosing that groove.
(It's weird, the cover can be almost more authentic than the 'origional.')
(-the journey cut you posted some time ago (comparing the replacement replacement singer with Perry)
kinda brought that out.
(Sorry, but that coverband's version was kinda awful, -but then Journeys rendition of their own song also got rushed through and sucked because of it.)
These guys?
Very tight, Great Guitarwork, and the vocals are faithful and the guy has a good voice, (a little heavybreathed, but maybe it's the guy's singing style, (besides) perry covers killer octaves very comfortably and has lungs like a locomotive, NOT easy to cover.)
For over twenty years later, with a song that has been known as it's orig. version (only,) since it was like, first penned?
It's a nice version.
ME BEING FLIGHT409'S NUMBER ONE FAN ABSOLUTLELY LOVES THE COVER.