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Press Review: Zeppelin: Slow to Start, but Hot!

RICHFIELD - Led Zeppelin spent their first hour on stage at the Coliseum Friday night playing music that was howlingly loud, but soggy and spiritless. It may have been the effects of guitarist Jimmy Page's intermittent slugs on a Jack Daniel's whisky bottle, or they might just have needed to get some adrenalin moving, but after that first hour the band caught fire and soared through the rest of the concert.

In their seven years together, the members of Led Zeppelin have perfected a raucous, straight-ahead form of rock and roll steeped in blues and heavy metal overtones.

THE HEAVIEST musical weight falls on the shoulders of Page, whose incomparable guitar work overshadowed the efforts of his three cohorts. Rail-thin, with a frazzled mop of black hair, Page dominated the evening with solos and fills that alternately screamed in intricate anguish or roared through dense, monstrous chordings.

Strutting and stalking across the stage, he directed most of his intensity toward his Gibson, slung almost knee-level. Simply, he proved he is one of the premier rock guitarists. Initially, a disappointment was vocalist Robert Plant who demonstrated his vocal pipes are almost shot from years of abused singing in the alto range. After an hour of rasping and shouting his way through several songs, though, Plant showed the audience he can still sing like a banshee.

DRUMMER John Bonham and bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones filled in the bottom of Zeppelin's sound. Bonham delivered a 15-minute version of the drum Solo, during which he abused his drum kit with sticks, palms and fists, all at a thundering volume. Jones demonstrated unexpected keyboard work with some neat, electric piano solos.

And, yes, they were loud. Pushing their music through a quadrophonic sound system that carries an estimated 8,000 watts, the band produced a sound that bypassed the ears, settling in the chest cavity and exploding into the cerebral cortex of a listener.

Their offerings from the yet unreleased album were greeted politely by crowd members, most of who roared in frenzied appreciation as they recognized the opening phrases of a familiar song.

IN QUICK succession, they blasted out their well-known numbers: "The Song Remains the Same," "How Many More Times,", "Whole Lotta Love" - gathering strength and momentum with each.

The last number of their prepared set was "Stairway to Heaven," a piece that has become almost a litany to rabid Zeppelin listeners. They shouted for it, then quietly sang the words with Plant. It began quietly, gently and gathered force through its 10 minutes until it peaked amid a din of bellowing listeners who had shot to their feet even before the song had ended.

The audience demanded and got two encores. And watching the dazed exhausted listeners leave the hall, it was obvious the band had succeeded. [By B.VON STERNBERG | Beacon Journal. Jan 1975]

Press Review (2) High Energy Group Performs - Capacity Crowd Jams with Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin sold out the Coliseum in Richfield In a reported two days on a mail-order basis. For those fortunate enough to get tickets it was worth the price. This was especially apparent during the concert as the energy level was really high.

The English quartet waited until most of the estimated 21,000 fans were seated before coming out about 75 minutes late. They didn’t waste any time however as they quickly broke into “Rock and Roll” and set the mood for the evening.

A new song from the forthcoming “Physical Graffiti” album followed, and then quickly into “Over the Hills and Far Away.” The first two songs were ragged as the sound crew compensated for the crowd. Robert Plant’s voice sounded ragged as if it might give out but a little way into “Over the Hills” it smoothed out and everything became fine.

Another new song, a rocker the name of which I didn’t catch, and then a medley of “The Song Remains The Same” and “The Rain Song.” These two songs start the “Houses of the Holy” album and fit well together also in the context of the concert.

After the medley everything became, “A bit more loose,” as Plant put it. Although the show was run extremely well, with a minimum of onstage hassle, the musicians were clearly loose. Jimmy Page quenched his thirst frequently from a bottle of Jack Daniels, with Plant and John Bonham joining him.

Two new songs were next, identified as best as possible as, “Cashmere,” and “The Wanton One.” A forth song from, “Houses of the Holy”, was next as John Paul Jones laid down his bass and sat behind the Mellotron keyboard. The song, “No Quarter,” was highlighted by a solo by Jones, As the solo closed Bonham began drumming and the two worked together for a while before being joined by Plant and Page for the conclusion. Jones continued on keyboards as the band began another new song titled, “Trampling Underfoot(?).”

Then Plant began talking about the, “old music,” as the band made ready to play, “Moby Dick.” John Bonham provided the fireworks this time with a drum solo. Fine stereo effects accented the drummers efforts and towards the end Bonham threw away the sticks and played with his bare hands.
 
After, “Moby Dick” Plant continued talking about the “old music,” saying that the next song was one that until the preceeding concert they hadn’t played for five and a half years. Page picked up his violin bow and began stroking his Fender with the opening lines of, “How Many More Times.” On this second, “old song,” the crowd really came alive. Page and Plant responded with a guitar-voice duet and Page ripped the bow to shreds as he beat it against his guitar.

As Page traded the Fender for a twin neck six-twelve string, Plant talked about how the next song was the cumulation of what they had been trying to say for the past six and a half years. The stage darkened to deep blue and a gold spot glistened on Plant’s wild blond curls as, “Stairway to Heaven,” began. The crowd had been waiting and it wasn’t disappointed as the foursome did a very close rendition. As Plant sang the last word of the song a white spot was trained on a reflective, faceted, spinning silver ball and the entire hail was a mass of rotating white spots as the band left.

Applause and lighted matches brought Zepplin back for an encore of “Whole Lotta Love.” During this song they played bits and pieces from a lot of their songs. Then the band made their exit but were brought back by 21,000 shouting fans.

This second encore was a medley of, “Communication Breakdown,” and “Lemon Song.” Again snatches of other songs were thrown in so at least a few bars of everyone’s favorite were played.

Led Zeppelin has been together for six and a half years and the reason is obvious. There are four talented musicians who play together, not just on the same stage. No huge egos are seen and for all the “heavy metal,” hullabaloo surrounding the band at times it seemed as though Page’s guitar was not loud enough. If I was pressed to find a complaint it would be that Plant didn’t play harmonica, but in total I would have to say that Zeppelin played one of the most enjoyable, professional and, best of all, fun concerts I’ve ever attended. [P. Sandmann / Pulse / Jan. 1975]