Project Description

JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN

@ Perth Concert Hall

(26/5/18) Live Review

Reviewer: Vicky Hebbs 

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Endorsed by Led Zeppelin themselves, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening has been touring for eight years now. The tribute group is comprised of Jason Bonham, the son of Led Zeppelin’s late legendary drummer John Bonham, as well as recent addition Jimmy Sakurai taking the reigns of Jimmy Page and James Dylan singing the part of Robert Plant. There is a pianist and also bass player Michael Devin, who fills the hippy role appearance-wise to a tee.

Just before the concert starts, Here Comes the Sun played fittingly before the arrival of the son, Jason Bonham. After a short black and white video intro showing the post-war Britain his dad grew up in, Bonham quips to the mostly ageing crowd, “We’re gonna take you back to a time when you had more hair.” Then the band launch into Immigrant Song, which immediately stretches the vocal chords of American lead singer, James Dylan.

Bonham dedicates the performance to his father John, before launching into Good Times Bad Times, with that memorable opening line, “In the days of my youth, I was taught what it means to be a man.”

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Over the Hills and Far Away showcases Dylan’s powerful imitation of Plant’s voice. On lower notes, he does not always sound exactly like Robert Plant, adding his own spin to the iconic voice, but on the high notes, it is uncanny just how closely Dylan imitates Plant. Shut your eyes, and most people probably wouldn’t notice Robert Plant himself wasn’t singing.

With his charisma and drummer’s physique of his father, Bonham is a natural born performer, entertaining with his witty stories about Led Zeppelin and his father in between songs.

Jimmy Sakurai absolutely steals the show imitation-wise. He emulates the attitude and guitar playing mannerisms of Jimmy Page, and even looks uncannily like him, lean and tall with big permed black hair and flared jeans.

An clear show highlight is when Jason duets Moby Dick from the Led Zeppelin II album with the deceased John Bonham. A video of his dad on the drums at the Royal Albert Hall plays on the screen behind Jason as he drums along.

They play classic after classic, from The Lemon Song and Thank You to Since I’ve Been Loving You off Zeppelin’s third album. The show was a reminder of just how iconic their songwriting and guitar riffs were, especially on tracks like the 1960’s flower-power inspired Misty Mountain Hop and again on Kashmir. For a band that only lasted twelve years, the back catalogue they have amassed is phenomenal and like no other band.

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Going to California is a beautifully played departure from the rock and roll, featuring acoustic guitar and mandolin.

They come back for the encore, ending the night with Whole Lotta Love followed by upbeat Rock and Roll.

While the show isn’t exclusively about Jason Bonham, many of the songs are well-selected for him to flex his drumming muscles, and any criticisms of the show seem to me insane. For fans, it is a unique opportunity to experience the music of Led Zeppelin in the flesh. Especially for someone who has never had the chance to see Led Zeppelin in the flesh, its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the music of one of the most legendary bands of all time.

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