Nov 17, 2013 – Classic Albums Live is a concert series where the musicians perform a classic rock album in its entirety, note for note, cut for cut. The musicians faithfully recreate every sound on the original album. Unlike tribute bands, Classic Albums Live does not recreate the band’s stage experience, they employ as many musicians as is necessary to precisely replicate the album. Like almost any band, in the studio Page would add multiple layers of guitar parts, impossible to play live with a single guitar for even Page himself. These shows are treated like recitals with the album being performed in its entirety followed by a ‘greatest hits’ set of the featured artist and Thursday night it was Led Zeppelin! See a list of other Classic Album Live reviews at the bottom of this article.
The audience at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts were treated to a special evening with the studio reproduction of Led Zeppelin II. This show was a cut for cut and note for note performance by Phil Naro (vocals), Dominic Polito (lead guitars and theremin), Rob Phillips (guitars), Mark Yannetta (bass), Rick Vatour (drums), and Will Hare on keyboards.
The show started with Whole Lotta Love, one of Zeppelin’s heaviest songs. Naro’s voice was particularly strong this evening and was able to easily deliver the powerful scream at the end of the song which must have sent goose bumps to everyone in the audience. It certainly did for me!
What Is and What Should Never Be a song that beautifully balances light and shade was performed to perfection and the stereo effect between the two guitarists at the end of the song was a real treat!
The third song on this heavyweight album The Lemon Song is the longest track on the album and the band captured the jam like performance wonderfully.
The final cut on side one is Thank You the softest tune on the album. These musicians played this one so perfectly it almost sounded like someone dropped the needle on the track except there was no pop or hiss to be heard.
Side two starts with Heartbreaker which is a excellent way to start after the melodic “Thank You”. The track has what has to be one of Page’s most recognizable and best solos, and Polito nailed it! The band went right into Living Loving Maid just like the studio album and even though this is the shortest song on the album it is an upbeat and catchy song that everyone loves.
As the band starts playing Ramble On the audience is simply mesmerized. Vatour taps softly on his drums that goes throughout the whole song just as you would image Bonham doing. Yannetta plays the bass line wonderfully. Naro again is singing the mystical Lord of the Rings-inspired lyrics beautifully.
Moby Dick This is the song that contains Bonham’s epic drum solo. Vatour starts the solo by playing with his hands and bangs on the gong a couple of times before grabbing his sticks and treating the audience with an entertaining solo that really is indescribable! Simply AMAZING!
Bring it on Home, the final cut on the album starts off with Naro playing the blues harmonica and features one of Page’s greatest riffs.
Led Zeppelin II is one of Led Zeppelin’s best albums and this group of musician was able to recreate the tunes to absolute perfection and the night is not over yet…
After the intermission, the band returned to play some of Zeppelin’s greatest tracks from Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV, Physical Graffiti and In Through the Out Door. With the recital section over, the show continues much like a normal concert with interactions with the audience. But that doesn’t mean the standards have changed, they play the songs with the same note-for-note precision as the featured album. Unless, you’ve heard Classic Albums Live play, you’ve likely never heard the songs quite the same way outside of the original studio recordings themselves. When they play Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You, Polito plays the main chord progression on acoustic and Phillips plays the Spanish lead on acoustic while taking breaks to play the eerie slide guitar sections on his Telecaster. It’ll give you goosebumps.
Classic Albums Live is a must see and hear experience!
The set list:
Led Zeppelin II
Whole Lotta Love
What Is and What Should Never Be
The Lemon Song
Thank You
Heartbreaker
Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)
Ramble On
Moby Dick
Bring It On Home
Fool in the Rain
Misty Mountain Hop
Dazed and Confused
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Going to California
Immigrant Song
Since I’ve been Loving You
Kashmir
Encore
Black Dog
How Many More Times
Review by John Perfetto, Photos by Steve Mallinson
Classic Albums Live Coverage:
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II November 2013
Supertramp Breakfast In America February 2013
AC/DC Back in Black April 2013
Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon March 2013
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II November 2012
Queen A Night at the Opera October 2012
Queen A Night At the Opera April 2012
Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin IV Febraury 2012
