People Think We're Bonkers

The just-released Madonna tribute Through the Wilderness includes the Prayers, who cover her 1989 single "Cherish."

"We originally wanted to do the song 'Like a Prayer,' " says singer/sax player Brandon Welchez, "not only because of the name relation, but because it's a great tune. Unfortunately, another band had it already, so we chose 'Cherish' because it kinda has that nice Motown beat already.

"We don't consider it an offbeat cover at all," he says. "People think we're bonkers over the '60s or something, but we like all sorts of shit. And a bunch of Madonna's back-catalog is great songs. Have you ever played 'Holiday' on an acoustic guitar? It's perfect pop songwriting."

Welchez says the band has yet to perform "Cherish" live, though they've been known to play other covers. "We did 'A Well-Respected Man' by the Kinks as part of our nightly set on a U.S. tour. It seemed to go over fine.... We once did a set of Smiths and Morrissey covers."

The Prayers -- founded in late 2005 by Welchez (formerly of the Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower) and Andrew Miller (from Gasoline Please) -- are currently on a U.K. tour.