For me, it had been a while.
Sure there'd been a few, terrific live shots of some great jazz, and even some R&B/Funk sprinkled throughout my life the past few months, but ultimately, I hadn't REALLY rocked since the David Bowie tribute at the Parkway Theatre in South Minneapolis, back on February 20th.
That all changed on Wednesday, May 25th at The Myth nightclub in St. Paul.
For those of roughly my vintage, The Myth was built on the same footprint as the former toy store, Children's Palace, out in Maplewood, a nothern suburb of Minnesota's capital city.
I'd never been to a gig at The Myth, so I was eager to check-it-out, especially for the chance to experience, what proved to be as authentic a Led Zeppelin show as you could dream of hearing and seeing, short of seeing the original line-up intact, and in their prime.
Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience is comprised of James Dylan on vocals, Tony Catania on guitar, Dorain Heartsong on bass, Alex Howland on keyboards & guitar and Jason Bonham on drums.
It's a fantastic collection of musicians that really stay grounded in themselves, but balance that along with their fandom for Zeppelin (Jason included, or leading the fan-charge, depending on your point-of-view).
Dylan does the shrill & shriek of Plant better than you've ever heard in a live setting, and as impressive as it sounds (and it is), imagine the reality that his prodigious talent gets eclipsed by his band mates.
Besides the obvious in Bonham's star-turn, (hey it's his show after all, and he earns that spot all throughout the night), the revelation for me, was guitarist Tony Catania.
Tony channels Page like nothing I've ever seen, but he somehow manages to remain grounded in Tony Catania, while channeling the mythic, guitar demi-G-d.
From head-to-toe he moves across the stage with that classic Page back-step-hop maneuver, and all the bravado in each stroke of the guitar strings on either neck.
Tony even incorporates a theramin into the show, during the "Whole Lotta Love" encore. While I was sadly unable to uncover a pic of Catania doing it, here's Page himself, famously writhing and wiggling around a theremin from a Zep show in the 70's.
It was quite an impressive and unexpected addition to the show.
The set-list was pleasing for a variety of reasons, including the infrequency the original band itself had ever played a given song live during their "Halcyon Days" of touring.
The execution by JBLZE, audience reaction, and fandom of the song coming through from the musicians playing it, made the night quite memorable.
JBLZE started the show with a rollicking "Rock'n'Roll" at a perfect tempo. The rest of the night included the following songs in order:
Set 1
Rock N Roll
Wearing and Tearing
Good Times Bad Times
Over The Hills and Far Away
The Wonton Song
What Is and What Should Never Be
The Lemon Song
Thank You
Since I’ve Been Loving You
Going To California
Moby Dick
Set 2
Kashmir
The Rain Song
The Ocean
Fool in the Rain
Trampled Under Foot
Stairway to Heaven
Encore: Whole Lotta Love
"Fool" was killer and a my favorite addition to the set list, filled with the requisite whistle-blowing by Bonham, that sounds-off the beginning of the song's bridge.
Fifth band-member Alex Howland is well-utilized for his clavinet use on a song
like "Trampled", but also for the strings on "Rain Song".
This is a fans' show and the sentimentality runs deep and sincerely. Jason Bonham isn't just Bonzo's son, he's Bonzo's #1 Fan! Just looking at him and his drum rig is an evocative exercise in tribute and fandom.
Albeit belatedly, here's the only footage I captured from The Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience at The Myth.
Here, during "The Ocean" you really feel the synergy between the band and the crowd. It created an electric environment that Bonham himself, praised on more than one occasion throughout the night.
Next Up, a post from Youtube user Justin Blessing, who also attended the Myth show. Here he's captured most of "Going To California" from Led Zeppelin IV, and all of the EPIC "Moby Dick" from Led Zeppelin II. Watch how Jason takes the art of the tribute to new heights, by incorporating old Moby Dick footage of his dad playing, with his in-the-moment performance.
I also found this chap (AmuzeMe on Youtube) who'd captured "Kashmir" as the opener to the 2nd Set.
Sadly, for those interested, it looks like the North American tour for JBLZE has concluded out in California. I STRONGLY recommend that you catch a show if the opportunity comes along. At $30 cost for general admission, you'll get back more than twice that value in the performance and feeling. Plus, we're talking about LED ZEPPELIN's music!! It's among the very best Rock'N'Roll that's ever been made, and The JBLZE recreates this classic sound with all the love and care a fan could hope for. With that, I leave you with one last clip, thanks to Youtube user "Libby Abdo" whom captured "Thank You"; an all-too appropriate tribute from son to father, and from fans the world-over, whom have always and will always love the music of this all-time rock band!
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