They look like Journey.

They sound like Journey.

But they are not Journey.

This weekend, Revelation, a Journey tribute band, and Stairway to Zeppelin, a Led Zeppelin tribute band, will perform at the Kearney Amphitheater. City staff have booked several tribute bands this season.

“These bands, they are not the bands that people fell in love with,” said Ryan Marcotte, city of Kearney recreation coordinator.

He said in some cases there are so many original members of the band gone that fans don’t appreciate the band the same way.

“In a lot of peoples’ minds, Journey stopped being Journey when Steve Perry left,” Marcotte said.

In other cases, the band just doesn’t exist anymore.

“There is a yearning with people who grew up with those bands to hear the music live,” Marcotte said.

He said that’s why tribute bands have been successful and booked again at the Kearney Amphitheater in Jesse James Park.

Eric Marshall, parks director, added that if the band does exist, it’s often too expensive to book for Kearney. They tried to book the Doobie Brothers last year.

“You can’t afford them,” Marshall said.

The tribute bands are cheaper.

“They allow us to keep the ticket prices pretty low,” Marshall said.

The Revelation and Stairway to Zeppelin concert begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 10. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Paradise City, a Guns N’ Roses tribute band, and Dead or Alive, a Bon Jovi tribute band, will play at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 25. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate.

“It all really falls in line with our philosophy: putting on quality entertainment at an affordable price,” Marcotte said.

For more information on the Kearney Amphitheater schedule or tickets, visit www.kearneyamphitheater.com or call 628-4142.

Kearney Editor Kevin M. Smith can be reached at 628-6010 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .