Led Zeppelin 2
February 13, 2016
Emo’s, Austin, TX
There are very few bands as important as Led Zeppelin. Chuck Berry, Elvis, The Beatles, Stones, U2, Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix would likely be in the same paragraph, preceded by an introduction that explains historical significance and impact. Things were different after these artists came along. They each pretty much took the world’s stage.
Zeppelin ruled the airwaves in the decade of their lifespan – 1969 to 1980, to be specific. They were a staple on FM radio when this band became the only stereophonic choice. They had a magic about them that was so massive and without dispute that people did not have to argue whether or not they were cool. They were cool. They still are. And they bravely played the game on their own terms – thanks, in no small part, by a strong-handed manager that fought for his blokes as if they were his own kids. (Note to self: hire a former wrestling manager to manage Lust Control. Maybe we’ll go places. Ha!)
With Led Zeppelin long gone, we only have recorded music (as digital files, on vinyl, CD, cassette and 8-track if you’ve still got it). There’s a couple DVDs and a barrage of live video footage on YouTube, but by and large the Led Zeppelin experience is one to be had aurally. There is no live band anymore. This is not an option.
“Tribute bands? Give me a break!”
Not so fast! Maybe watching a Zeppelin tribute band live is worth your time. Maybe an astute group of devoted musicians can conjure some of that magic on stage and bring a blues-heavy smile between your ears. Given the small-time circuit and phenomenon of tribute bands, is this idea even possible? You bet your tight blue jeans it is!
Led Zeppelin 2 is one such tribute band. Hailing from Chicago, they come through Texas about once or twice a year and play a single act show. This particular tour is titled How the Midwest Was Won, paying tribute to Zeppelin’s live disc (How the West was Won) and phenomenal run across America in those early years.
The Emo’s club was crowded with expectant fans, ready to get rocked hard. There was a giant red Led Zeppelin 2 banner behind the stage, towering over the instruments with giant blimp illustration. While the band’s name betrays a notion that the band will stick to the second album material only, it is a cool concept that many of these tribute bands stick to in trying to capture and represent an era – as opposed to playing a “Greatest Hits” or “by request” set. This plays into the nostalgic notion of a moment in time, but the secret is to let each song breathe on its own and come to life. This is the mark of good material – if it can be translated and performed by others, too.
The band takes a dimly lit stage and jumps into “Immigrant Song” and they’re off to the races. It was a cool idea to take this approach, as each member resembles in silhouette form his proposed likeness. Bonzo has the long beard and big white headband. Plant is bare-chested and sports a blonde lion’s mane. The guitarist certainly looks like a young Jimmy Page, with slightly shorter hair; while the John Paul Jones of the group looks like the biggest hippie of them all. If the lights were brightened up and we got a good, scrutinizing look at each member, we’d find they were fairly similar to their counterparts, but this dimly-lit portrayal was perfect, creating the illusion that it was them.
Sonically, they pull it off. Staying true to the band’s early setlist, which closely resembled the 3-disc How the West Was Won live album, they even through in the little particulars, like starting off “Black Dog” with the first few measures of “Out on the Tiles,” asking if “anyone remembers laughter” during “Stairway to Heaven,” and then yelling “Strider!” at the tail end of the lively “Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp” (one of many Lord of the Rings references in Zeppelin’s repertoire).
All the major elements of this classic live show were there – the bombastic attack at high volume, the tight-yet-loose take on riffs and fills, the acoustic set with barstools, mandolin and guitar, the might drum solo that is “Moby Dick” and the old blues medley at the end of “Whole Lotta Love.”
“Stairway to Heaven” was good, but probably the weakest point in the night in terms of vocalist Bruce Lamont not being Robert Plant. In all fairness, though, even the real Plant isn’t what he used to be. Like an aged wine, he’s great, but he doesn’t even try to wail like the twenty-something he was in those days. This Lamont dude is a great vocalist in his own right, fronting more than a few bands in and around his Chicago home. Drummer Ian Lee probably doesn’t hit as hard as John Bonham did, but he certainly didn’t shrink back from the task. Guitarist Paul Kamp did an excellent job holding the whole ensemble together, but (like the original), without really having to. Matthew Longbons certainly held his own on bass and organ, much like the old Jonesy.
They’ve done their homework. They’re up to the task. It’s much more than just being a cover band. They certainly do all one could do to be a great tribute band. The best (and probably most important) part was that you weren’t consciously aware that these were actors. You might not close your eyes and truly believe that you were truly hearing the original, but it was about as close as you’re gonna get in 2016.
For one brief night, it was a way to re-live the magic of Zeppelin without having to camp out for days, but also, of course, sans the added excitement that the “real deal” brings to the stage. By the time they came out for the final encore of “Bring it On Home,” they wrung out most of the energy left in the room like a sweaty wet towel. In their own way, they replicated the marauding ways of their immigrating blues-rock forefathers like conquering Vikings. Nice job, lads.
—Doug Van Pelt
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