By: Evster2012

In January of 1969, the Sunset Strip was in its prime. Groupies and colorful characters paraded down the boulevard in full glorious regalia. The infamous riot of '67 was years past and the shadow of Altamont was still on the distant horizon. On the second day of the New Year, four English rockers turned the audience at the legendary Whiskey a Go-Go on its collective ears. Led Zeppelin had descended on the City of Angels. L.A. would never be the same. They returned in April, and by March of the following year, had graduated from the intimate club to the 18,000 seat Forum in nearby Inglewood. Led Zeppelin's affair with Los Angeles is the stuff of rock legend.



It's now the year 2006. Hollywood is a very different scene than it was over 35 years ago. The groupies remain, albeit in a far less overt fashion. But that feeling of a magical time is long past. On this occasion, however to the crowd standing outside what has become a legendary Temple of Rock, there's definitely something in the air. Led Zepagain, Southern California's premier Led Zeppelin Tribute band, is returning to the very stage where Led Zeppelin had introduced themselves to L.A. to treat a sold-out house full of starving, rabid Zepheads to a full course meal of their favorite fare.

I arrived early so I could be available to guitarist Steve Zukowsky for a photo and a chat amid the hectic schedule of preparing for the evening's show. Luckily, there was a sushi bar three doors down from the Whiskey where my friend and I could hole up (and sample various sakes) for the six hour wait until Zepagain hit the stage. Finally, it was Showtime.


Kashmir

This lifelong, dyed-in-the-wool Ledhead was floored! Absolutely stunned. I've seen many a Zep tribute act and there was always a glaring "something" you can't push beyond however hard you try. Not so with Led Zepagain. To truly express the sheer elation I felt watching and listening to this band would result in a cluster of superlatives so dense it would lose all meaning. For myself and the entire audience - did I mention the audience? Absolutely fervent! Arms outstretched singing every word. Singing and dancing in celebration. To quote singer Swan Montgomery from the stage: "Wow! This is real!"

To document every song-by-song detail would take more space than I have here. If you've heard Zeppelin's live releases, suffice it to say they would serve as a valid point of reference. Yes, they're THAT good! Swan's vocals were spot on. The timbre, the shaping of the words, the range, and just the right amount of grit. His appearance and gesturing are so well affected one need not blur one's eyes to believe. Steve, one of the very few who can wear the trousers from the 1973 tour and not look foolish, nails Page's licks to perfection, with just the right blend of studio and lives variations to make the most discriminate Zep aficionado grin from ear to ear. He also somehow manages to make it look easy. Oh, and his work with bow and Theremin are first rate. Bassist/Keyboardist/Mandolinist Jim Wooten epitomizes the confident and competent role of the illustrious John Paul Jones. His keyboard work on Since I've Been Loving You conspired to draw this Page loving guitarist's attention away from Steve and Swan during one of his all-time favorite Zep tunes, presented live style as featured in the concert film The Song Remains the Same, launched straight out of Misty Mountain Hop as it should be! Drummer Jim Kersey pounded the Amber Vistalites with authority, with just the right bit of swing behind the beat to make a Bonham fan nod with approval. If there was so much as a hiccup in the band's entire performance, I failed to pick it out.


Bron-y-Aur Stompin'

They opened with Rock and Roll, and then a change-up: Good Times Bad Times. Fantastic! Swan demonstrated his vocal power in Over the Hills and Far Away, with a great jam from the band in the solo section. Misty Mountain Hop followed into the beautiful performance of Since I've Been Loving You. Then, out came the chairs for Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, with the whole crowd clapping and singing along. When Wooten got up to take up the mandolin, I must admit I was a bit giddy. I knew it would be Going to California and it was gorgeous! They ditched the chairs and out came the Danelectro. Kashmir was delivered with all the power and majesty its pedigree demands. Truly epic! The Song Remains the Same led into Immigrant Song with Steve wielding the Gibson doubleneck like the gods' own hammer. Dazed and Confused was everything Dazed and Confused could be hoped to be. Smoldering and stinging, the band stretched out and jammed. As stated above, Steve is a master of the bow solo, the crowd reaching out as if to catch the echoes. The twin-neck returned for a Stairway to Heaven that brought chills in its delicacy and climactic finish. Whole Lotta Love brought with it a surprise. Suddenly, on a dime, the band took a detour through Achilles' Last Stand that was so perfectly executed one could easily imagine some other power being channeled. Then back into Whole Lotta Love for the big finish. The crowd left drained and satisfied, knowing something profound had just occurred.


Stairway

Led Zepagain are absolutely tops. I can't conceive of there being a better Zeppelin show to be found. Whether you're a diehard Zeppelin fan like me, or merely wondering what the fuss is all about, Led Zepagain brings the whole experience in spades. Tour info and much more available at Zepagain.com.

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