Led Zeppelin is easily one of the most iconic bands in the history of rock ‘n roll. Not only are all four members considered among the best musicians of all time, but they successfully combined their talents to create a unique style of blues-influenced hard rock
Tribute band and perennial Jefferson Theater visitor Zoso, named after Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page’s identifying symbol, replicated the atmosphere of a 1970s Led Zeppelin show. Each member of the band perfectly embodied the persona of his Led Zeppelin counterpart, capturing both appearance and playing style.
Zoso’s lead singer Matt Jernigan fully embraced the charismatic role of frontman Robert Plant, imitating Plant’s vocal pitch and tone.
Jernigan mimicked Plant’s nonverbal stage presence, too, suggestively swaying his hips at any given opportunity and banging his moppy blonde hair around during the many guitar solos. Even the way he holds his arms out in a shrug while reciting the introductory verses to “Stairway to Heaven” alludes to Plant’s onstage demeanor.
To further the authenticity of their experience, Zoso performs on guitars and drums identical to those used by Led Zeppelin.
Drummer Greg Thompson sits behind a Green Sparkle Ludwig drum set that mirrors the exact setup Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham used in the 1970s, complete with Bonham’s signature borromean rings emblem painted on the front bass drum head and an excessively large Paiste gong flanking him from behind.
Guitarist John McDaniel likewise played on the same style of Gibson Les Paul guitar Jimmy Page played on, transitioning to a red Gibson double neck guitar for songs such as “Stairway to Heaven” and “The Song Remains the Same” in order to remain consistent with Page’s style.
After years of perfecting their crafts, the members of Zoso have fully assumed not only the appearances of their Zeppelin counterparts but their playing styles as well.
“Moby Dick,” a song that is effectively one long drum solo, gives Thompson the ability to showcase his mastery of Bonham’s distinctive playing style. Although he didn’t perform the solo exactly as Bonham did, his approach was still in line with how the Led Zeppelin drummer would have done it. Thompson executed all of Bonham’s signature drum fills, eventually putting his drumsticks down and finishing the solo using only his hands and feet, just as Bonham did.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Zoso’s production was their ability to seamlessly transfer between Led Zeppelin’s contrasting electric and acoustic styles.
After finishing a set of traditional Led Zeppelin rock songs, bassist Adam Sandling dismounted his electric bass and traded it for a mandolin, and McDaniel likewise transferred over to his acoustic guitar. They perform a set of more mellow songs including the Zeppelin IV hit “Going to California,” in which they perfectly capture the essence of Led Zeppelin’s acoustic side.
Thoroughly and flawlessly replicating the experience of a traditional Led Zeppelin show, Zoso offers a spectacle any Zeppelin fan should see.
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