NYS Music 20​14

Tag: Led Zeppelin

  • UPDATED: Robert Plant Turns Down Led Zeppelin Reunion Debunked

    Editors note: According to a report Nov 10 from The Guardian, Robert Plant’s publicist has denied any Led Zeppelin Reunion talks happened, calling it “rubbish”. I guess we can go back to hoping for a reunion someday? Original article remains intact below. 

    For those holding your breath for a Led Zeppelin reunion, you should probably give it up. Robert Plant reportedly turned down £500 million (approximately $795 million) to reunite with fellow bandmates Jimmy Page and John Paul-Jones for a 35 date tour that included stops in London, Berlin, and New Jersey. Son of the late John Bonham, Jason Bonham would have been behind the kit.Led Zeppelin Concert: Tribute To Ahmet Ertegun - Performance

    According to The Mirror out of the U.K., Plant ripped up the contract in front of promoter Sir Richard Branson. Branson, who is the biggest Led Zeppelin fan had arrangements for flights to all the venues with his jump jet rebranded as “The Mothership.” The rest of the band minus Plant signed the contract immediately while Plant decided during a 48 hour time frame that he is not interested what so ever.

    The surviving members of Led Zeppelin last reunited back in 2007 at the 02 Arena in London. Led Zeppelin disbanded back in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham. It’s pretty safe to say at this point Led Zeppelin is no more. Until then, enjoy their music that they have given to us and enjoy our parents and grandparents Led Zeppelin concert stories.

  • Led Zeppelin Releases Alt. Version Of Stairway to Heaven

    Thirty-three years later, Led Zeppelin has released an alternate version to their now uber-classic, “Stairway To Heaven”. This rendition, also recorded at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, offers a warmer, gentler version of the tune, with slightly less twang in favor of more subdued details. The tone seems to be more dream-like, with minor details added throughout and dialed in mid-range fuzz accompanying the definitive guitar licks. An overarching statement of “Stairway To Heaven” could be that this version ‘rounded the pointy edges’; some of the bite is gone from the original version, but the trade-off is more meditative and psychedelic.

    The new track precedes October 28 deluxe reissue of Led Zeppelin IV and House of The Holy, which were remastered by Jimmy Page and will include an additional record of new music. Both albums will be available in CD, digital and vinyl formats. The band also re-released Led Zepplin through Led Zeppelin III in June, so they appear to be making their way through the entire catalogue.

    Led Zeppelin IV Deluxe Reissue Tracklist:

    Disc One:
    01. Black Dog
    02. Rock And Roll
    03. The Battle of Evermore
    04. Stairway To Heaven
    05. Misty Mountain Hop
    06. Four Sticks
    07. Going To California
    08. When The Levee Breaks

    Disc Two:
    01. Black Dog – Basic Track With Guitar Overdubs
    02. Rock And Roll – Alternate Mix
    03. The Battle Of Evermore – Mandolin/Guitar Mix From Headley Grange
    04. Stairway To Heaven – Sunset Sound Mix
    05. Misty Mountain Hop – Alternate Mix
    06. Four Sticks – Alternate Mix
    07. Going To California – Mandolin/Guitar Mix
    08. When The Levee Breaks – Alternate UK Mix


    Houses of the Holy     Deluxe Reissue Tracklist:

    Disc One:
    01. The Song Remains The Same
    02. The Rain Song
    03. Over The Hills And Far Away
    04. The Crunge
    05. Dancing Days
    06. D’yer Mak’er
    07. No Quarter
    08. The Ocean

    Disc Two:
    01. The Song Remains The Same – Guitar Overdub Reference Mix
    02. The Rain Song – Mix Minus Piano
    03. Over The Hills And Far Away – Guitar Mix Backing Track
    04. The Crunge – Rough Mix – Keys Up
    05. Dancing Days – Rough Mix With Vocal
    06. No Quarter – Rough Mix With JPJ Keyboard Overdubs – No Vocal
    07. The Ocean – Working Mix

  • Hearing Aide: Let Go Daylight ‘Traditions Carved by Wounded Hands’

    let go daylight
    Traditions Carved by Wounded Hands, let go daylight’s first LP, drops on Saturday, June 14th.

    Heavily steeped in the sounds of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, let go daylight – they seem to market themselves in lower case – is an amalgamation of Troy musicians that have crossed over from several different bands to collaborate on this latest venture.

    Let Go Daylight’s first LP since forming in 2012, Traditions Carved by Wounded Hands successfully captures a reminiscent flare to the aforementioned Sabbath, such as with the opening track of “Honey Wagon” or “Leave Me Be”.  However, poised so close together at the beginning, it lends to some trepidation that the listener will be subjected to another Sabbath clone.  But then, a funky bass guitar played by Mike Shudt leads us into the fourth track, “The Guts and the Glory”.  As one continues to listen, you become more conscious of a transition into contemporary hard rock with “Let It Burn” to even toeing the line of punk. Ralph Renna’s bass to baritone vocals throughout the LP goes into Glenn Danzig territory with “A New Revolution”. However, a manic display of trippy guitar play by Dave White, accompanied with a strong performance by drummer Rocky Morey, at the introduction of “August Fire” showcases the band’s breadth of talent, but as it clocks in at under three and a half minutes, with a decrescendo to close out the album, I can’t help wanting more.

    This four-piece band, though together for a relative short time, each is a veteran of his trade, having cut teeth with other bands (Last Call, Flate Broke, and Thrust). Nonetheless, they compliment each other well.  After listening to this LP several times, you will start to hear a distinct sound germinated from the icons of the past and blossoming out with flashes of brilliance. Traditions is a good LP on its own, but it makes this listener perhaps more excited to hear how they progress further with their sound. If indeed the progressions realized throughout the chronology of this LP continue out to the next, that could be the makings of a standout performance.

    The band drops the LP on June 14th, coinciding the release with a live performance at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Troy.  If you’d like to listen to the album in full or purchase the album, click on the respective links.

    Key Tracks: The Guts and the Glory, Let It Burn, August Fire.

  • Dirty Birds at The Bowl

    Last Friday, one of the most iconic music venues in Brooklyn played host to a musical homecoming of sorts. Hometown heroes Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds put their unique blend of soul, funk and rock on full display to a sold out Brooklyn Bowl. As an added bonus for their loyal and local fans, the group announced they would cover one of ten legendary rock albums in its entirety for this special show and would allow the final selection to be voted on by the public. With Led Zeppelin IV emerging as the winner after all votes were tabulated, this was guaranteed to be a noteworthy affair.

    Another local product of the thriving Brooklyn music scene started things off shortly after 8 p.m. Zongo Junction, an up and coming eight-piece Afrobeat band, delivered several smooth flowing instrumental songs highlighted by some impressive percussion work and a mustachioed bassist who resembled a young and spry Frank Zappa. The opening act later brought on a female vocalist to add another element to their steady groove based music.

    Then it was time for the main course in the form of Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow) and her seven Dirty Birds which includes her brother Jackson on harmonica who complemented the group’s blaring brass section all night with a string of rousing harmonica solos. Amidst the sounds of nearby 7-10 splits and a hungry Brooklyn Bowl crowd, the group first went through a number of originals that served as a showcase for Kincheloe’s powerful singing voice that rested on top of a bed of aggressive and cohesive funk rock.

    Once the originals were out of the way, a certain distinctive “Hey, Hey Momma” followed and The Birds were off and running with their ‘dirty’ take on Led Zeppelin IV. The rest of ‘Black Dog’ was played to perfection and ‘Rock and Roll’, which followed, gave the three piece horn section another chance to shine in this uptempo rocker. One of the true highlights of the show was the justice that the band did to perhaps the most well known song on the album, ‘Stairway to Heaven’. The group moved deftly though the slow, emotional beginning sections and seamlessly progressed to the frenetic finish that’s the signature of this classic number. In doing so, the group managed to mold the song into something different by spinning it with their version of soulful and heartfelt rock.

    Sister Sparrow and her Dirty Birds continued to go through each track on the album and give the increasingly rabid Brooklyn Bowl crowd a new taste on some old classics. The group continued to show off their musical chops with a fun take on the ending of Paul Simon’s ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’ that was placed right in the middle of a memorable ‘Misty Mountain Hop’. With a legendary full album cover now in the books, the Zeppelin tribute carried on with ‘D’yer Mak’er’ serving as an encore of sorts before the group left the stage to a hearty standing room only ovation.

    With a total set time of just over 80 minutes, there were hopes that another set of music would follow but it was not to be this night. An informal dance party of sorts soon began on the dance floor and once Sister Sparrow herself joined in, it was clear that the rock and roll portion of this evening was now done. Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds had accomplished their goal of delivering a memorable night of music that served as both a showcase of the group’s infectious big band sound and a tribute to one of the most collectively revered rock albums of all time.

  • Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds Flock to Brooklyn Bowl this Friday

    One of the true up and coming bands in America is taking its act back to where it all began for them. Brooklyn’s own Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds play Friday night at the venerable Brooklyn Bowl and they have a special treat in store for those in attendance in the form of a musical cover. The powerful eight-piece, brass infused musical outfit will present their take on one of the more iconic rock albums of all time: Led Zeppelin IV. In a “thank you” of sorts, the band gave their fans the opportunity to pick their choice of the musical cover with an online poll that offered 10 different album selections.

    This performance is bound to be memorable not only because of the musical content, but also due to the deep ties Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds has with Brooklyn. The group, which is the brainchild of Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow) and her brother Jackson, honed its craft with gigs at small bars and musical residencies throughout Brooklyn. Their unique hybrid of soulful rock and infectious funk is now being met with critical acclaim nationwide. Throw in cover songs of one of the most revered groups in rock history and Friday’s performance has the potential for greatness.

    Zongo Junction will be opening and doors will be open at 6 p.m. with a start time slated for 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.