Part 1, Monday Night:
I am eagerly stalking the internet to catch the first reviews of the long awaited Led Zeppelin Reunion concert happening in London even as we speak, or -as I write this, I guess. It's 4:49pm on Monday afternoon which means that it's midnight there, or close to it. The show must be over by now and all the special VIP's who paid hundreds of dollars to see the show are probably filing out of the arena now.
I am not familiar with this arena, as I don't think it was complete by the time I left London in 1999 after three years in country. (If I am wrong and it is older than that, please let me know and I will send you nothing!) But it is huge, so big in fact, that the Eiffel Tower could fit inside it lying down. And you could fit 18,000 double decker busses inside it. That's big. Here's a picture.
So, I just perused aol.com and stole some pictures and quotes about the show. And here they are:
"After the lights went down at London's O2 Arena, newsreel footage of the band arriving in Tampa, Fla., for a 1973 performance was projected onstage. With thousands of fans worked into a frenzy, drummer Jason Bonham, son of the late John Bonham, began thumping the skittering beat, soon to be joined by guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones and singer Robert Plant." Sounds good so far.
But here's my favorite quote: "While Page and Bonham both sported sunglasses, Plant mercifully kept his button-down shirt buttoned up." Hey David Lee Roth, TAKE NOTE! I'm only half kidding. If you got it, flaunt it. And David Lee didn't look too bad, nor did Eddie. I'm going to check out the web again first thing tomorrow morning and see what else is being said.
Part 2, Tuesday Morning:
This morning, as I scan the Zep sights, all I see is RAVE reviews. Here are a few quotes:
(Reuters) "At 59, Robert Plant may have strained for some of the higher notes, but his performance through a 16-song set lasting just over two hours was better than some had dared to expect. "Older equipment may take a while to get going, but once the requisite valves heat up, the quality is unmistakable," wrote Pete Paphides in the Times. Ain't that the truth, brother!
(AP) "Playing a full set for the first time in nearly three decades, the authors of "Stairway to Heaven" and "Whole Lotta Love" rocked the O2 Arena on Monday for more than two hours, leaving fans from around the world gasping in delight." And, "Page dispensed power chords like an aged Thor lobbing down thunderbolts for kicks," Paphides wrote about "Black Dog," the band's third song of the night." This sounds pretty damn good! I have not come across one negative review yet, though I doubt anyone would dare. Check out this video and pretend you're there at the concert. Actually, the link I had up for the past two days has been removed from You Tube due to a "copyright claim by Warner Music Group." Thanks, ya big jackasses!
And thanks to listener/website browser John Stassens for letting me and Iris know!
I am trying to check out what David Fricke from Rolling Stone posted two hours ago but I can't get on the site, dammit.
Anyway, after reading the cover story article in the last Rolling Stone, I was discussing with Iris yesterday in the studio whether or not Led Zeppelin would tour next year. They all seem hip to the idea, except maybe Plant, who is touring with Alison Krause all next year promoting Raising Sand, the album they recorded together. I want them to tour. Please. Iris has doubts. She's probably right, she usually is.
Oh, and Gina (cubicle neighbor-see Journey post) just sent me the set list. I kinda like it when she does my leg work. Thanks G. And it's complete with commentary-very cool.
(ps-we stole this from http://www.nme.com/news/led-zeppelin/33075)
‘Good Times Bad Times’"The set started with a clip from 'The Song Remains The Same' DVD with an American news clip telling of they broke The Beatles' attendance record for a gig in 1973 in California. Simple stage set, video screen behind the band."
‘Ramble On’ done in extremely slow, bluesy manner, with shards of electric guitar from Jimmy Page."
‘Black Dog’ "Page wearing dark shades, quite muddy sound. Crowd singing the 'ah-ah' bits back at Plant."
'In My Time Of Dying' "Page is playing bottleneck guitar. Plant spoke for the first time before song, saying 'Good evening'."
'For Your Life' "That's not something you get to hear often these days, Led Zeppelin giving a song its live debut."
'Trampled Under Foot' "Before starting Plant told the crowd it was the band's attempt to sound like Robert Johnson's 'Terraplane Blues'." 'Nobody's Fault But Mine' "There are huge screen's dominating the O2 Arena, they split into four sometimes, goes monochrome, colour etc...quite spectacular."
'No Quarter' "Following the song Plant paid tribute to John Paul Jones, who played keyboards and bass on the track."
'Since I've Been Loving You' "A bit of a style guide for you, all the band are dressed in black bar Page who is rocking a white shirt. As for the song they gone for the epic version....very bluesy."
'Dazed And Confused' "Settle yourselves in, we're expecting a ten minute version of this classic... it was. At the end of it of the song Plant told the audience 'On guitar Jimmy Page, just as he did on 'The Song Remains The Same' DVD which was filmed in Madison Square Garden in the 70s."
'Stairway To Heaven' "What do you think happened? Right! From the moment those opening notes rang out the whole audience went absolutely crazy. The atmosphere is electric. Afterwards Plant said "Ahmet, we did it!"
'The Song Remains The Same' "A fairly straight version of the classic. The sound is still a bit muddy and quiet though."
'Misty Mountain Hop' "Plant kicked this one off by praising the job drummer Jason Bonham has been doing, stepping into his late father's shoes tonight."
'Kashmir' "Yet another epic, as this song cracks the ten minute mark. Plant introduced this one declaring 'We've got people from 50 countries here and this is the 51st'. Afterwards they left the stage to loud applause. Will they do an encore? What do you reckon..."
'Whole Lotta Love' "... of course they come back to deafening applause. And it's an extended version of the old 'Top Of The Pops' theme. Then once more the band leave the stage with a visibly emotional Plant declaring: 'Thanks to everybody. Thanks Ahmet Ertegun, this one for is Ahmet Ertegun as we remember the days when Atlantic Records was the best label on the planet!'."
‘Rock And Roll’ "Just time for one more, as after two hours the night reaches its climax, and what a stomper to go out on. And after the hype, the millions of people who entered the ticket ballot and the speculation, Led Zeppelin's reunion show is over. A one off? We dearly hope not."
And that, ladies and gents, is a hell of a set list!
|
