Stairway to Heaven on Eleven(th)

Last night I had the opportunity to climb to the top of stairs and experienced a little bit of heaven.  I showed up at the Montana Studios in midtown Manhattan to watch a new found friend’s Led Zeppelin Tribute Band’s (“The Song Remains the Same”) weekly Saturday night practice and…… was blown away.  Prior to accepting the invite to go, I didn’t know what to expect.  I figured I’d probably have fun, see a garage band type pull together a few Zeppelin tunes, support my friends efforts and that would be that. 

Well, surprise, surprise.  Little did I know that I would be watching a band that is seriously authentic in portraying the sounds, sights and the “who, what and where” of Zeppelin.  

I knew I was going to be in for something good when upon arriving at 56th & 11th in search of the address where this practice was taken place (and that had also been the practice space for the likes of Zeppelin themselves along with a host of other well known Rock & Roll bands) when I hear a kind of riff coming from a window somewhere.   The kind of riff that even though you are crossing the streets of New York City trying not to get hit by a taxi, makes you stand up and take notice.  I’m thinkin’, “hey I know that sound”…………”da da dunt, da da dunt, da da dunt, da da dunt…” and as I let the “da da dunts” (Kashmir by Zeppelin) be the sound guide to lead me to my destination I say to myself…..”geez, this is going to be good”.  Little did I know how good.

What I saw was a band who is adamant on recreating the Led Zeppelin experience authentically.  A powerhouse band of perfectionists who gave me a taste of what it must have been like to experience Led Zeppelin live.  There’s a reason Zeppelin is like no other and this band shows you why.  And, this was only their band practice……! www.myspace.com/thesongremainsthesame44