MR

Happy New Year!

What a year! 2008 was a successful year for LIGHTS. We toured throughout the Southwest, opened for the legendary Styx, and played for thousands of new friends! The past 2 1/2 years have been very exciting and we've had a wonderful time performing Journey's music for all of you. However, I would like to formally announce my departure from LIGHTS. My personal goal has always been to provide the most accurate tribute to Journey with integrity and respect. With that said, you might be wondering, what's next?

I would like to formally announce that I will continue singing and performing Journey's music. I have persuaded Jeff Vincent, founder and former keyboardist for LIGHTS, not to retire. In fact, together we have assembled a lineup of Los Angeles' finest musicians and will be making our debut in January 2009. We are confident that our show will be something you will want to see again and again! Join us on our new Journey!

We look forward to seeing you soon. Visit often, as we will be rolling out a new site, introducing the new band, and so much more!


Faithfully,

Juan Del Castillo


For Booking Inquiries: BOOKING@DONTSTOPBELIEVINTRIBUTE.COM

LIGHTSjdc wrote:Happy New Year!

What a year! 2008 was a successful year for LIGHTS. We toured throughout the Southwest, opened for the legendary Styx, and played for thousands of new friends! The past 2 1/2 years have been very exciting and we've had a wonderful time performing Journey's music for all of you. However, I would like to formally announce my "departure" from LIGHTS. My personal goal has always been to provide the most accurate tribute to Journey with integrity and respect. With that said, you might be wondering, what's next?

I would also like to formally announce that I will continue singing and performing Journey's music. I have convinced Jeff Vincent, founder and former keyboardist for LIGHTS, not to retire. In fact, together we have assembled a lineup of Los Angeles' finest musicians and will be making our debut in January 2009. We are confident that our show will be something you will want to see again and again! Join us on our new Journey!

We look forward to seeing you soon. Visit often, as we will be rolling out a new site, introducing the new band, and so much more!


Faithfully,

Juan Del Castillo


For Booking Inquiries: BOOKING@DONTSTOPBELIEVINTRIBUTE.COM

Great to hear, Juan.

Dude, I still think the stripped-down version of "Faithfully" you guys did a while back was the best version I've heard of that song this side of the Steve Perry era.

conversationpc wrote:Dude, I still think the stripped-down version of "Faithfully" you guys did a while back was the best version I've heard of that song this side of the Steve Perry era.

Really? Haven't heard it. Can you post it, Juan?

Blueskies wrote:

conversationpc wrote:Dude, I still think the stripped-down version of "Faithfully" you guys did a while back was the best version I've heard of that song this side of the Steve Perry era.

Really? Haven't heard it. Can you post it, Juan?

Juan's a fabulous singer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I--sap81a04

Agreed, Dave. One of my favorites on Journey material. Like his vocals on Girl Can't Help It, too....show from last fall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJh_mTrPlBY

holy crap Juan...


I just listened to your version of OA... effortless man... even Arnel has to focus on this... you just walk through it...

Wow, lots of singers that can carry the Perry torch. Journey can live on forever.

Very good man, still listening to your stuff there on youtube, personally I think you sound ALOT better singing your own style of music, rather than Journey in the Perry-esc voice, because you have an amazing voice, but for some reason when all the great singers, (SOTO, Chalfant, Augeri, Juan, Hugo, etc.. ) then they sing Journey, it doesn't bring the best out in their vocals, for whatever reason. In my honest opinion.

Other than that. you are still one hell of a Journey singer, but personally I think you are better than the tribute act.

Deb wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

conversationpc wrote:Dude, I still think the stripped-down version of "Faithfully" you guys did a while back was the best version I've heard of that song this side of the Steve Perry era.

Really? Haven't heard it. Can you post it, Juan?

Juan's a fabulous singer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I--sap81a04

Agreed, Dave. One of my favorites on Journey material. Like his vocals on Girl Can't Help It, too....show from last fall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJh_mTrPlBY

Wow! He's very good! Is there a link to what Dave was referring to?

I really would have preferred this guy over Arnel I think. I am positive that Arnel will burn out his voice in short order just from the force he uses. He was having big problems on some of the boots I have heard and while I like the new CD I think Arnel is not in for the long haul....

Part of Arnel's allure is the fact that he is from a small nation in Asia, unknown and has a great but tragic story behind him.. Kind of an underdog and people love to see the underdog make it.. I think his story has overshadowed his ability.

Liquid_Drummer wrote:I really would have preferred this guy over Arnel I think. I am positive that Arnel will burn out his voice in short order just from the force he uses. He was having big problems on some of the boots I have heard and while I like the new CD I think Arnel is not in for the long haul....

Part of Arnel's allure is the fact that he is from a small nation in Asia, unknown and has a great but tragic story behind him.. Kind of an underdog and people love to see the underdog make it.. I think his story has overshadowed his ability.

Yes, I agree with everything you said. He does sound strained at times, but it is a good story for publicity. Personally I wish JSS had stayed...I know all the arguments about it not being the Journey sound but I thought he brought renewed energy and excitement...and no one can do it better then Perry did so why just try to stay with that? I would have liked to hear something new...keeping the style to an extent but it would have been fine with me if it had changed some too. If people just want to hear whats been done they have the recordings...those songs were already done the best they could be done....seeing others continually do them is never going to be the same, regardless of who tries, so I would have liked to have seen them grow away from it and go in a new direction instead of trying to live in the past and be stagnant. Maybe they don't have enough heart left for it to do that now and it was just safer and easier for them not to change...or maybe like so many they can't let the past go either.

Nothing to do with this thread but I think Journey may have sold more prints of their back catalog last year (Escape, Greatest hits CD, Greatest Hits DVD), than actual copies of Revelation.

Blueskies wrote:

Deb wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

conversationpc wrote:Dude, I still think the stripped-down version of "Faithfully" you guys did a while back was the best version I've heard of that song this side of the Steve Perry era.

Really? Haven't heard it. Can you post it, Juan?

Juan's a fabulous singer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I--sap81a04

Agreed, Dave. One of my favorites on Journey material. Like his vocals on Girl Can't Help It, too....show from last fall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJh_mTrPlBY

Wow! He's very good! Is there a link to what Dave was referring to?

I thought I had that video in my favorites but I couldn't find it and it didn't come up when I did a search over there.

conversationpc wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

Deb wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

conversationpc wrote:Dude, I still think the stripped-down version of "Faithfully" you guys did a while back was the best version I've heard of that song this side of the Steve Perry era.

Really? Haven't heard it. Can you post it, Juan?

Juan's a fabulous singer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I--sap81a04

Agreed, Dave. One of my favorites on Journey material. Like his vocals on Girl Can't Help It, too....show from last fall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJh_mTrPlBY

Wow! He's very good! Is there a link to what Dave was referring to?

I thought I had that video in my favorites but I couldn't find it and it didn't come up when I did a search over there.

Thank you all so much for your kind words. I'm thrilled to continue paying tribute to the best . . . Journey. Their music has touched so many. It's evident to me, when I look out from the stage, that this music holds a special place in people's hearts. We will definitely post some audio clips on the site. I'll try and post "Faithfully" this weekend. Hope to see you at a show soon! We'll be announcing some dates next week.

Juan

Blueskies wrote:

Liquid_Drummer wrote:I really would have preferred this guy over Arnel I think. I am positive that Arnel will burn out his voice in short order just from the force he uses. He was having big problems on some of the boots I have heard and while I like the new CD I think Arnel is not in for the long haul....

Part of Arnel's allure is the fact that he is from a small nation in Asia, unknown and has a great but tragic story behind him.. Kind of an underdog and people love to see the underdog make it.. I think his story has overshadowed his ability.

Yes, I agree with everything you said. He does sound strained at times, but it is a good story for publicity. Personally I wish JSS had stayed...I know all the arguments about it not being the Journey sound but I thought he brought renewed energy and excitement...and no one can do it better then Perry did so why just try to stay with that? I would have liked to hear something new...keeping the style to an extent but it would have been fine with me if it had changed some too. If people just want to hear whats been done they have the recordings...those songs were already done the best they could be done....seeing others continually do them is never going to be the same, regardless of who tries, so I would have liked to have seen them grow away from it and go in a new direction instead of trying to live in the past and be stagnant. Maybe they don't have enough heart left for it to do that now and it was just safer and easier for them not to change...or maybe like so many they can't let the past go either.

Now, this is the Phyllis I know and remember from way back .

Vladan wrote:Very good man, still listening to your stuff there on youtube, personally I think you sound ALOT better singing your own style of music, rather than Journey in the Perry-esc voice, because you have an amazing voice, but for some reason when all the great singers, (SOTO, Chalfant, Augeri, Juan, Hugo, etc.. ) then they sing Journey, it doesn't bring the best out in their vocals, for whatever reason. In my honest opinion.

Other than that. you are still one hell of a Journey singer, but personally I think you are better than the tribute act.

Thank you, Vladan. Good point. I agree with you. Everyone you mentioned does sound better singing their own music. There is only one Steve Perry:) In my opinion, Journey's music predominately features one area of a tenor's voice. Those that have a natural inclination or timbre of Steve Perry's voice, can't really display their full range while singing Journey's music. I think that may be one of the reasons why Steve Perry's voice expanded after Escape. I heard him explain he really wanted to feature the richer part of his voice. Hence, 1983's Frontiers.

Juan

Best of luck to you, Juan...maybe, I'll be able to catch a show some time in '09 (and, hey I really like that 'duke of earl' you did - love those golden oldies).

Vladan wrote:Very good man, still listening to your stuff there on youtube, personally I think you sound ALOT better singing your own style of music, rather than Journey in the Perry-esc voice, because you have an amazing voice, but for some reason when all the great singers, (SOTO, Chalfant, Augeri, Juan, Hugo, etc.. ) then they sing Journey, it doesn't bring the best out in their vocals, for whatever reason. In my honest opinion.

Other than that. you are still one hell of a Journey singer, but personally I think you are better than the tribute act.

i agree.
there are songs that are meant to be sung only by the original singer.
tailor made.

annie89509 wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

Liquid_Drummer wrote:I really would have preferred this guy over Arnel I think. I am positive that Arnel will burn out his voice in short order just from the force he uses. He was having big problems on some of the boots I have heard and while I like the new CD I think Arnel is not in for the long haul....

Part of Arnel's allure is the fact that he is from a small nation in Asia, unknown and has a great but tragic story behind him.. Kind of an underdog and people love to see the underdog make it.. I think his story has overshadowed his ability.

Yes, I agree with everything you said. He does sound strained at times, but it is a good story for publicity. Personally I wish JSS had stayed...I know all the arguments about it not being the Journey sound but I thought he brought renewed energy and excitement...and no one can do it better then Perry did so why just try to stay with that? I would have liked to hear something new...keeping the style to an extent but it would have been fine with me if it had changed some too. If people just want to hear whats been done they have the recordings...those songs were already done the best they could be done....seeing others continually do them is never going to be the same, regardless of who tries, so I would have liked to have seen them grow away from it and go in a new direction instead of trying to live in the past and be stagnant. Maybe they don't have enough heart left for it to do that now and it was just safer and easier for them not to change...or maybe like so many they can't let the past go either.

Now, this is the Phyllis I know and remember from way back .

I just didn't feel like commenting on the band or music too much for awhile due to all the turmoil that was going on....plus I don't like to keep repeating myself too much.

LIGHTSjdc wrote:

conversationpc wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

Deb wrote:

Blueskies wrote:

conversationpc wrote:Dude, I still think the stripped-down version of "Faithfully" you guys did a while back was the best version I've heard of that song this side of the Steve Perry era.

Really? Haven't heard it. Can you post it, Juan?

Juan's a fabulous singer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I--sap81a04

Agreed, Dave. One of my favorites on Journey material. Like his vocals on Girl Can't Help It, too....show from last fall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJh_mTrPlBY

Wow! He's very good! Is there a link to what Dave was referring to?

I thought I had that video in my favorites but I couldn't find it and it didn't come up when I did a search over there.

Thank you all so much for your kind words. I'm thrilled to continue paying tribute to the best . . . Journey. Their music has touched so many. It's evident to me, when I look out from the stage, that this music holds a special place in people's hearts. We will definitely post some audio clips on the site. I'll try and post "Faithfully" this weekend. Hope to see you at a show soon! We'll be announcing some dates next week.

Juan

Thanks! Looking forward to hearing it.

Liquid_Drummer wrote:I really would have preferred this guy over Arnel I think. I am positive that Arnel will burn out his voice in short order just from the force he uses. He was having big problems on some of the boots I have heard and while I like the new CD I think Arnel is not in for the long haul....

Part of Arnel's allure is the fact that he is from a small nation in Asia, unknown and has a great but tragic story behind him.. Kind of an underdog and people love to see the underdog make it.. I think his story has overshadowed his ability.

The only thing I heard him having trouble was the very first Chile show. Everything else I've heard has been great.

Liquid_Drummer wrote:I really would have preferred this guy over Arnel I think.

Cmon...you can't be serious.

brywool wrote:

Liquid_Drummer wrote:I really would have preferred this guy over Arnel I think. I am positive that Arnel will burn out his voice in short order just from the force he uses. He was having big problems on some of the boots I have heard and while I like the new CD I think Arnel is not in for the long haul....

Part of Arnel's allure is the fact that he is from a small nation in Asia, unknown and has a great but tragic story behind him.. Kind of an underdog and people love to see the underdog make it.. I think his story has overshadowed his ability.

The only thing I heard him having trouble was the very first Chile show. Everything else I've heard has been great.

I agree with Brywool. In Chile he had some problems where he was a little flat on a few songs, I'm sure from nerves, but he sounded great after that, and to my surprise he actually got even better in the middle of the tour.

And I definitely wouldn't prefer him over Arnel. He has a really good voice, but no comparison to Arnel. "His story overshadowed his ability"? I think not.

Hopefully Juan's new band won't cancel as many shows as Lights did. (And Light's new lineup the same)

JohnH wrote:Hopefully Juan's new band won't cancel as many shows as Lights did. (And Light's new lineup the same)

Hey, JohnH.

We won't. I apologize if a cancellation affected you. Commitment and dedication were a factor in my departure. Our goal is to provide a powerful and memorable musical Journey experience. I can't wait to see you rockin' out at a show!