We remain in Japan 1971 and listen to a new matrix by Not Oscar, of Sept 29, 1971 in Osaka. This is a legendary show and we all know it's awesome, so this is about the sound and the mood of this new matrix. Not Oscar utilizes several sources to form the best sounding recording, song for song, as possible. I play the gorgeous epic Going To California, a sublime Thank You, and a tight as a drum Rock and Roll. Have fun.
We have been blessed not once but twice in the last week by, first, a lovely close stereo stage mic'ed recording of Tangerine from 9/24/71 (which I covered last week). This one includes stage banter and it's absolutely lovely. Then a few days later Led Zeppelin Boots drops a truly incredible holy shit rehearsal of Since I've Been Loving You from May 1980. I know. But it's ridiculously great. Tight but loose. Bonzo sounds incredible as does Jimmy. Jimmy sticks every landing in this insanely sophi...
This is a good one. Sept. 24, 1971 is the when, Tokyo is the where, and Led Zeppelin is the who. Not The Who (the band). This show is part of the glorious 1971 tour of Japan, and as such it is bonkers good. I play a thirty minute Whole Lotta Love in which is sandwiched Ramble On, Your Time Is Gonna Come, Rave On, and How Many More Times, as well as the kitchen sink. Just pure joy and celebration. Then I wrap it up with a tender and sublime That's the Way, with very sweet mandolin from Jonesy, an...
This week we listen to an out of this world show from Jan. 25, 1969 featuring a young and still unknown Led Zeppelin rocking the Boston Tea Party. This show is amazing. I play howling versions of As Long As I Have You (with medleys) and How Many More Times (with medleys). Fantastic performance from the halls of legend.
We listen to a few songs from Nov 6, 2025 at the Schubert Theater in Boston, where Robert Plant and Saving Grace played a delightful show. I play Gallows Pole, Everybody's Song (cover of a Low song), and Black Dog. Good times. Good show. Good voice. Enjoy.
We hear 3 tracks from Led Zeppelin's afternoon performance at Madison Square Garden on Sept 19, 1970. I use three different sources to provide the best sound for each song. Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, and What Is And What Should Never Be are played. Just before What Is... Robert talks about the recent death of Jimi Hendrix, as it had occurred the day prior. Enjoy.
This week I play songs from Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes show at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA on July 2, 2000. I play Hots on for Nowhere, Gone (BC tune), and The Lemon Song. This is a great performance with great energy and I hope y'all enjoy it.
We dip back to May 26, 1986 when the Firm held their final concert ever, in Seattle. It was a great show with incredible energy from the band, and audience. I play scorching versons of Tear Down the Walls, Live In Peace, and Phil Carson even sits in on a rollicking performance of Money. It's awesome.
We hear a fantastic recording of Robert Plant with one of his lesser known projects, The Priory of Brion, playing the Copredy Festival on August 11 , 2000. This is a cover band playing beloved songs from Robert's pre-Zep days. I play This House is Not A Hotel, If I Were a Carpenter, and a haunting Darkness Darkness. A good time was had by all. Hooray!
We hear a very nice matrix of Led Zeppelin in Long Beach on March 11, 1975. The sources are the exquisite Mike Millard audience recording, coupled with the soundboard to create a truly glorious sounding concert. I play Sick Again, Trampled Underfoot, and a sweet marathon Dazed, all of which sound fantastic. A very nice show indeed.
This week hear a gem from JEMS; a wonderful recording of Led Zeppelin at the LA Forum on May 31, 1973 (Bonzo's Birthday), from Barry Goldstein's excellent master tape. The atmosphere is brilliant as are the performances. I play a chill and evocative No Quarter, followed by a flawless Dazed and Confused. A great upgrade!
We hear three songs from Led Zeppelin playing in Liverpool on Jan. 14, 1973. I use the second source of this show and I play a medley filled, bluesy Whole Lotta Love, a frenetic Heartbreaker, and a gut punchingly powerful performance of The Ocean (which the audience was hearing for the first time, as it'd not been released yet). Fun fun fun. Enjoy.
We finish up with the exquisite audience recording of 4/24/69 with Led Zeppelin at the Fillmore West. I play the last two unplayed songs on the recording, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, and White Summer/Black Mountainside. Both are hungry young Zeppelin on the rise. Good stuff.
This show was a suggestion of a listener, April 24 1969 at the Fillmore West. Led Zeppelin put on a powerhouse performance captured on an incredible stereo recording. I play As Long As I Have You, Killing Floor, and an unbelievable Pat's Delight. The quality of the sound is matched by the quality of the performance. Top Tier.
We listen to a 20 minute Whole Lotta Love with a screaming theramin section, as well as a bass heavy, almost funky Communication Breakdown, from Led Zeppelin's performance in Tulsa, on August 21, 1971. This is a fantastic show with incredible interplay and energy from the audience. Not one to miss!
This is a more quiet, pastoral, episode. I play three(four) tracks from Led Zeppelin's Aug 21, 1970 concert in Tulsa, OK. It's a very nice recording and a great performance. I play That's The Way, Bron-yr-Aur, Jonesy's Organ Solo, right into Thank You, which finishes with a flourish. Very nice indeed.
We return to the well for a third time (the last 2 being 5 years ago) with Led Zeppelin in Detroit, July 13, 1973 with an amazing, blazing show. I play a beautiful Since I've Been Loving You along with a powerful twofer of Heartbreaker into Whole Lotta Love. There's a lot of funk involved and Jimmy, Jonesy, and Bonzo are in the zone the entire time. A good one.
Led Zeppelin played the Schaefer Music Festival on July 21, 1969 in Central Park, NYC. This is early into the Les Paul days and the band were already recording their second album while on the road promoting their first. I play the three opening numbers, back to back, Train Kept A Rollin, I Can't Quit You, Baby, and Dazed and Confused. Even though they're still making a name for themselves they're already famous. They'll keep rising throughout the decade to heights unimagined.
We revisit the master recording of Led Zeppelin in Charlotte on June 9, 1972. It's a great show and on this episode I play virtuoso performances of Since I've Been Loving You, Dazed and Confused, and a truncated but still powerful Whole Lotta Love. You can't go wrong with a June 1972 show by Zep and this is no exception.
I choose an easy one this week with a Winston Remaster of 3/17/73, Led Zeppelin in Munich, at their musical peak. I play Over the Hills, a sublime SIBLY, and of course an epic Dazed and Confused. Can't go wrong.
Them Crooked Vultures are a super group's super group, with John Paul Jones, Josh Homme, and Dave Grohl (from Led Zeppelin, Queens of the Stone Age, and Foo Fighters/Nirvana respectively) playing insanely well together. I play Elephants, Caligulove, and Warsaw from the April 17, 2010 show in Las Vegas. This is good stuff from a band who should have released more music, imo.
The 1996 tour of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page is universally regarded as being amazing. Great energy, great performances, and great setlists. All these conspire to create great gigs. This show in Nagoya on Feb. 17, 1996 is one such great gig. So great in fact that I'm focusing solely on the three encore songs performed. All three are awesome and completely tight and glorious. I play a tender and delicate acoustic Rain Song, a breathtakingly poignant Tea For One, and an absolutely perfect and amaz...
I play a couple of tracks from the Source 1 stereo tape of Led Zeppelin playing the Alexandria Palace, on Dec. 22, 1972. This is the first show of their UK tour and it absolutely rocks. I play a rapturous Whole Lotta Love (with many medleys thrown in) and one of the sweetest Stairways I've heard. Very beautiful solo from the Zosophonic one.
We listen to the incredible Winston remaster of this iconic show. Led Zeppelin at the LA Forum June 23, 1977, in all their scandalous glory. I play what may be the best No Quarter ever. 31 minutes of off the charts improvisation and tight but looseness. I also play Sick Again because it's awesome.
We hear a banger of a show from Jimmy Page/Robert Plant from March 11, 1995 in New Orleans. This show had some unique performances and great energy. I play House of The Rising Sun/Good Times Bad Times, a lovely Thank You, and a super groovy Dancing Days. A good one!
This is a North Bridge remix/remaster of Led Zeppelin playing Frankfurt on June 30, 1980. This is a fun, very good show with flashes of magic. North Bridge did a hell of job fattening up the soundboard recording, and making it sound almost professionally recorded. I play In the Evening (which benefits the most imo from the North Bridge treatment), Trampled Underfoot, and a glorious, fun, joyous, playful Whole Lotta Love with Jimmy playing sweet blues licks in the Boogie Mama section, along with ...
This is a show I covered in a two parter about 5 years ago. Led Zeppelin in Cleveland, Ohio on April 28, 1977. I'm revisiting it now because it's an amazing show, worthy of another listen. The band is on and the power and mystery are on display. Bonzo seems locked in a little tighter, Jonesy seems a bit more front and center, and it makes for a glorious show. I play The Song Remains the Same, Achilles Last Stand, and a rare encore performance of Trampled Underfoot. This is a fantastic gig and a ...
This is a fantastic Two of Us recording of Lou Reed at NYC's St. James Theater, on March 21, 1989. He plays the entirety of the New York album before playing a second set of Lou faves. It's glorious.
You may be wondering about Part 1 of this series. No worries, I don't blame you. Part 1 was a couple years back, Ep. 188. I play different songs so there's no overlap if you want to 1, 2 it. This is June 28, 1972 in Tucson Arizona (such a fine sight to see) which was the last show of the US 1972 tour. They're playing Houses of the Holy material to an audience completely unfamiliar. Can you imagine hearing Over the Hills for the first time ever, and it's live? I play Over the Hills and Far Away, ...
This podcast has introduced me to some wonderful and amazing people. One of them provided this recording of Robert Plant and Saving Grace with Suzi Dian, in Malmo, Sweden on May 9, 2025. I play a strong acoustic Four Sticks, a lovely Down to the Sea (off Fate of Nations), and a haunting Gillian Welch song, Orphan Girl. It's nice to hear Robert out and about and enjoying himself.
