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Tagline: The Essential Journey Experience
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THE LONGEST-RUNNING JOURNEY TRIBUTE IN TEXAS

ABOUT THE BAND

DAVE CURTIS        JOEL HONEA        JOHN GURKE        MIKE HEUP        TERRY MURPHY

 

ESCAPE is a Dallas-based band performing a musical tribute to the arena rock supergroup, Journey.

Formed in 2006, ESCAPE is north Texas' longest-running Journey tribute band, and performs to crowds who love to sing along and dance to Journey's timeless music. Their songs are appealing to a wide audience that spans across all ages and musical tastes. We are always amazed when we see younger faces in our audience singing along as if they grew up with Journey's music! The ladies love the ballads, the guys love the rockers, everyone loves every song!

A staple in the live music scene in Dallas/Fort Worth, ESCAPE also performs at festivals and venues throughout the Texas/Oklahoma/Arkansas region. The band has been featured on WFAA's Good Morning Texas, and is one of the most highly sought-after bands for the area's municipal concert series and festivals, including Rockwall's Concerts by the Lake, Southlake's Art in the Square, Safari Nights at the Dallas Zoo, and many others. In 2019, ESCAPE was the featured pre-fireworks entertainment for Addison Kaboom Town!, one of the top Independence Day celebrations in the country.

The band consists of five veteran musicians who bring a dynamic, high-energy presentation to every show. What you hear is performed live; NO backing tracks, ever! Journey's music carries a positive message and our ESCAPE shows are all about having a fun time for everyone attending. You won't believe your ears!

The song catalog includes Journey hits, B-sides, and some non-Journey hits on which Journey members performed:

After All These Years

After the Fall

Anyway You Want It

Ask The Lonely

Be Good to Yourself

Chain Reaction

Dixie Highway

Do You Recall

Don't Stop Believin’

Don’t Fight It

Escape

Faithfully

Feeling That Way / Anytime

Foolish Heart

Girl Can’t Help It

I’ll Be Alright Without You
Just the Same Way
Lights / Stay Awhile
Line of Fire
Lovin’ You Is Easy
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
Mother, Father
Never Walk Away
Oh Sherrie
Only The Young
Open Arms
Patiently
Raised on Radio
Send Her My Love
Separate Ways
Still They Ride
Stone In Love
Sweet and Simple
The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love)
Too Late
Wheel in the Sky
When You Love a Woman
Where Were You
Who's Crying Now
Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever

DAVID CURTIS | KEYBOARDS, VOCALS

 

As the founding member of ESCAPE, Dave has been a Journey fan most all of his life. Dave grew up in Chicago, where he began studying piano at the American Conservatory of Music when he was 7 years old.

He had a great teacher, who allowed Dave to bring in any sheet music he wished to learn, as long as he was doing his classical studies. So there he was, learning Led Zeppelin and Chopin.

Dave loves most styles of music but has always been drawn to the fun of 80's pop rock. He can also be found jamming boogie woogie.

Dave's influences include Debussy, Chopin, George Duke, Jerry Lee Lewis, and of course Gregg Rolie and Jonathan Cain.

Dave is also a licensed pilot, and enjoys taking to the skies.  In his spare time Dave enjoys working on his model trains, and custom painting stage pianos and keyboards.

Photo: David Curtis
Photo: Joel Honea

JOEL HONEA | LEAD GUITAR, VOCALS

 

Joel joined ESCAPE in September 2009. Originally from Garland, TX, he began dabbling on guitar very early on, but started taking it seriously when he was 11, at which time he also began playing violin. Violin went by the wayside at the end of 9th grade in favor of concentrating on the more "cool" instrument. He has played with various bands in Dallas/Fort Worth, Seattle, and Salt Lake City, and also teaches guitar lessons.

Joel credits Elton John as the biggest reason he has loved music all his life. It seems that all of his favorite guitarists are named either Steve, Mike, or some spelling of "Jimmy"...but somehow a Neal slipped in there as well... Actually, there are WAY too many to name. He also immensely enjoys listening to the skills of great drummers...a live music highlight for him was getting to see Buddy Rich at a small club in Dallas shortly before BR's death. When he's not doing music, Joel works as the Production Manager in the Emergency Cardiovascular Care group at the American Heart Association in Dallas. He also speaks fluent Spanish, enjoys reading, just about anything outdoors, good food (making it AND eating it!), good movies, and most of all, his kids.

With ESCAPE Joel uses Ibanez, Epiphone, and Fender guitars with Line 6 Helix...PROUDLY!

JOHN GURKE | DRUMS, VOCALS

 

As a graduate from the prestigious University of North Texas, John has embarked on everything percussion from orchestral, Drum Corps International (DCI) to jazz drum set and everything in between. A professional music educator/band director in the Dallas area, John keeps a busy schedule between band/drum line competitions, composing, arranging, recording, performing, adjudicating and conducting clinics. As a professional artist, John has recorded/performed with numerous artists, including Torrid Affair (Warner Brothers), Fearless (Independent), Michael Harris (Lion Music), Cheap Trick, The Supremes, Joe Nichols, Vince Neil, Al Green, Sting and even landed an audition with Ozzy Osbourne.

John has a diverse range of musical influences from Bach to the Beatles, Miles Davis to Motown, Led Zeppelin to Living Colour, Elton John to ELO, Parliament to the Police and James Brown to Jellyfish, while his drumming influences range from Ringo, Bonham, Buddy Rich, Tony Williams, Terry Bozzio, Steve Gadd, Stewart Copeland, Vinnie Colaiuta and of course, Steve Smith.

DRUMS

For ESCAPE shows, John tries to replicate Steve Smith’s kit with a 1986 Yamaha Recording Custom Kit (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 2 x 22 BD and 6 ½ x 14 SD in cherry wood finish) or the same set up in a DW Collectors Series Kit (broken glass finish, but with single BD set up). Also in his arsenal: 8 drum kits, 30 snare drums, marimba, timpani, congas, bongos, misc. Latin Percussion instruments and even his own Yamaha marching quads (yep, band nerd).

ELECTRONICS/EFFECTS/MISC.

Shure WH30TQG wireless headset mic, Berringer mixing console (sub mix), Westone ES50 in ear monitors, Roland TD20 module, Roland PD-100 pads, LP cowbell/tambourine and May miking system.

HOBBIES

In his spare time, John is an avid soccer fan and player, enjoys cooking, good flicks and most of all, spending time with his beautiful wife, Shandy and their two boys, Joshua and Noah.

Photo: John Gurke

MIKE HEUP | BASS GUITAR, VOCALS

 

"Militia" Mike Heup has been slapping bass for over 20 years.  A veteran of the DFW music scene and now residing in Austin Texas, Mike has been involved in musical projects ranging in genre from original Alternative Rock to Funk/R&B to  theatrical stage productions (Rocky Horror, Godspell, Pink Floyd's "The Wall") and several tribute band projects (Pink Floyd, Journey, Pat Benatar).  Mike has performed to festival crowds of over 9000, played live on the radio, and has appeared and performed on live TV in Dallas.

Mike's influences include such bass guitar gods as Victor Wooten, Flea, Les Claypool, and Geddy Lee. His favorite musical genres are modern Alt-Rock (All-American Rejects, Linkin Park, The Strokes) and the various shades of modern Metal (Tool, Lamb of God, Dimmu Borgir).

BASS GUITARS

Music Man Stingray-5 (5-str)
Music Man Stingray-4 (4-str)
Custom Modulus Flea Bass (4-str)
Warwick RB Corvette Bass (5-str) 
Fender Victor Bailey Acoustic Bass (5-str)

AMP/SPEAKERS

Gallien-Krueger 1001RB amp
Mark Bass CMD 102P Combo
4x10 Mark Bass 104HF cab
4x10 Ampeg (Vic Wooten) cab
1x15 Ampeg (Vic Wooten) cab

EFFECTS

Line6 Bass Pod XT Pro processor
Shure wireless - Guitar
Shure wireless IEMs PSM600 - Guitar

Photo: Mike Heup

Copyright © 2024 ESCAPE LLC. All rights reserved. All photography and video by Terri Rapp, Rappsnapper Photography, except where noted.

 

TERRY MURPHY | LEAD VOCALS

 

Raised in Big Spring, Texas, Terry started his musical journey at the age of 14 on bass guitar. Since relocating to Dallas area, he has played with acts such as Minds Eye, Vintage, Company V, and various solo projects. Terry joined Escape in 2007 as the lead vocalist.

Terry's musical influences include Lou Gramm, Brad Delp, Peter Cetera, Paul Rodgers, Mickey Thomas, Sammy Hagar, David Coverdale, and of course...Steve Perry.

 

Photo: Terry Murphy