Ozone Baby – Concert Review December 28 2012

Ozone Baby

 Dec 30 2012 – As Toronto’s biggest classic rock focused website we inevitably ran into Phil Naro a large number of times in 2012. If you have never heard of Naro and are into classic rock (and especially live in Toronto) shame on you. We have labeled Naro “The Chameleon” of rock and here is why. In 2012 we reviewed three different CD’s from three different bands he sings for. Velvet Crush from Jim Crean, Druckfarben (self titled album), and 3D by D-Drive are all very good offerings so have a peek at the reviews. On the live front we have seen Naro do Freddie Mercury at Classic Albums Live presents Queen – A Night At The Opera as well as doing Robert Plant at Classic Albums Live presents Led Zeppelin IV and Classic Albums Live presents Led Zeppelin II, and last but not least he does Roger Hodgson of Supertramp in Dreamer.

Phil Naro with Ozone Baby

Let’s do the math – lead vocalist on three very good bands, and tribute vocals to Plant, Mercury and Hodgson. Nobody at T-Mak World is involved in more than 2 unique projects we reviewed – Naro is in 8 just that we have reviewed!  Aside from working hard his vocal range is beyond belief and his on stage presence reaks of charisma. The man is a rock legend and if you ever run into him at a gig and say hi he will stop to talk to you and genuinely thank you for supporting his efforts. A sign of a true professional is how he treats his audience and we can say Naro is the best we have seen.

Enzo Lapadula and Phil Naro of Ozone Baby

A few weeks ago The Chameleon dropped us an email notifying us that yet another of his bands will be playing. This time the band is Ozone Baby and the venue is Roc N’ Docs in Missisauga. Ozone Baby consists of Steve Major on guitars, Enzo Lapadula on bass and keyboards, Glenn Nash on drums and Phil Naro on vocals. The band is a Led Zeppelin tribute band (Zep is the favorite band of most of T-Mak World’s editors) and we were looking forward to this one. We have seen quite a few Zeppelin tribute bands in the past year and we had sky high expectations from Naro and his band mates. Let’s get to the conclusion – WOW! This band has the full goods and seeing them in a small bar seemed like a bonus. I really hope this band gets on the monthly circuit of Toronto and feed the insane Zep hunger Toronto has.

Steve Major of Ozone Baby

The band played 3 sets on the night for well over 2 hours of music. It goes without saying that Naro does an incredible Plant (we already knew that from his Classic Album Live shows), but this is the first time we saw the other three musicans. Not only did they deliver the carbon copy of the music of Zeppelin they collectively got the bar patrons engaged in singing along and even dancing. Major solidly delivered Page’s wizardry including the violion bow and the theramin. Nash evoked Bonzo for the night and pounded the drums with electfified energy (and we were told he was feeling sick that night). Last but not least Lapadula delivered perfect bass all night and even more impressive keyboard work.

Glenn Nash of Ozone Baby

Highlights of the night included a very strong Since I Been Lovin You, a seeminlgly endless Dazed & Confused, and a hypnotic Kashmir. The band was not allowed to leave after their last song as the audience demanded an encore and they got it in the fom of Ramble On.

Ozone Baby

Verdict: 5 out of 5. I will never miss a future Ozone Baby show, and can only give this band the strongest possible T-Mak recommendation. These four guys are incredible musicians and together they deliver an magical Zep experience.