The Paul Green School Of Rock Boston Presents A Tribute To Led Zeppelin at the Middle East Upstairs, October 25, 2008
By DANIEL BROCKMAN | October 28, 2008
“WAYYYYY DOWN INSIDE!” Who says kids can’t play Zep? |
“Does anybody remember laughter?”
On this Saturday afternoon, the legions of the School of Rock (Boston branch) were pretty much indistinguishable from the real Led Zeppelin, who were themselves teenagers when they formed in the late ’60s. Except: switch golden gods like Plant and Page with awkward adolescents in oversized Tool T-shirts, sub in a petrifying terror of screwing up for Zep’s sexual bravado, and replace arenas filled with screaming nubile groupies with, uh, the performers’ parents. You’ll never realize how tedious a rock-and-roll song can be till you’ve watched a group of really young kids struggle to complete “How Many More Times,” the reckless juggernaut of the original stretching into one musical hurdle after another, the band members bracing for every change as if they’re running over traffic cones on a highway.
The net effect of this was exhilarating, perhaps because it was more of a recital than a rock show — and had all the requisite drama and anxiety. It struck me more than once in this room filled with kids forced to play old rock and parents clearly unschooled on deep cuts like “The Rover” and “Night Flight” that I might be one of the few actual Zep fans in attendance. When Harley Spring sang, in “Rock N Roll,” “I don’t know but I’ve been told/A big-legged woman ain’t got no soul,” he was oddly convincing — though it felt messed up to be in a room with a child singing the orgasmic breakdown of “Whole Lotta Love,” complete with “wayyyyy down inside, woman you need it,” right in front of his folks.
I was especially impressed with the powerhouse drumming of Ben Dealy, who was able to channel the galloping whump of John Bonham even though he could probably have fit his entire body inside one of Bonzo’s legs. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that any of these kids who goes on to play in a band in the real world — that is, sans parents — will shudder at the memory of this gig.
Related:
Chaos theory, Fortunate one, Four play, More 
- Chaos theory
Health are a rock band composed of four earnest and ambitious Los Angelinos.
- Fortunate one
It was no surprise to find Chris Brokaw in Hawaii last week, just two Saturdays before he’s due back in Cambridge to pull a double shift upstairs at the Middle East.
- Four play
There’s a ton of imagination and energy at work in town redefining (for the umpteenth time) what Boston sounds like.
- Noise in the hood
A knowing sense of humor emerged between songs, legitimizing the chicanery as mere friendly artistic expression.
- RIP 3516
Over the years, hordes of bands have played 3516 (Darkbuster and many more), and this Monday at the Middle East upstairs, there’s a benefit for the displaced rockers.
- Arresting developments
Lack of talent, charisma, and/or personality can prevent a good band from achieving greatness — but too much of a good thing can also be a problem.
- Sweet release
I don’t want to waste your time waxing philosophical about the problematic logic behind qualifying music “good” or “bad,” much less pontificating on whether “sophisticated punk” is an oxymoron.
- Adoring public
If the goal was to bring to life for a night the strange beast that is cable access, they nailed it.
- Boo-ya!
Maybe it’s because dressing up as the economy would be kind of lame, but I’m haven’t heard Jack O’Shit in the way of truly scary costume ideas this year.
- Heavy mettle
It might have been in Lake Station, Indiana, that Hel Toro realized that, no, they were not all that metal.
- Best week ever!
Edgy gigs likely to be booked solid
- Less
Topics:
Live Reviews
, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin, John Bonham, More
, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin, John Bonham, middle East Upstairs, Less
