“And a new day will dawn for those who stand long, and the forests will echo with laughter.”
Lez Zeppelin is an acclaimed all-female Led Zeppelin cover band known for technically precise, high-energy performances. They gained international attention for their virtuosic, note-for-note renditions, and were personally complimented by Jimmy Page.
Founded in 2004, they quickly moved from NYC clubs to international fame, being one of the first all-female acts to gain serious recognition for paying tribute to Zeppelin. In 2005, SPIN magazine hailed them as a major force in rock.
Created by Steph Paynes, (guitar, mandolin, theremin), the band has featured various members, including currently – Dana Athens, (vocals), Joan Chew, (bass, keys, mandolin), and Hillary Blaze, (drums, percussion). They are noted for capturing the “androgynous and sexy” aura of the original band.
They have toured globally, appearing at festivals like Bonnaroo and in cities like Tokyo and Mumbai. They released a self-titled album and a re-recording of Led Zeppelin I, produced by Eddie Kramer, (who worked with the original Led Zeppelin).
Paynes has described the band’s approach as more of a “she-incarnation” than a traditional tribute, focusing on capturing the nuanced, “behind-the-beat” feel of the original, particularly Jimmy Page’s guitar style.
This past Saturday, February 21, The Pear Tree Project had the honor of witnessing this one of a kind all female powerhouse band in action. And boy, did they bring down the house!
Lez Zeppelin started the night off strong with Rock and Roll. Immediately, we knew this was more than a cover band or a tribute band, this was raw talent!
Every seat in the Union County Performing Arts Center rocked and the audience just could not get enough. Each performance was delivered with charisma and it was clear that each member of this nucleus was individually blessed with the gift of musicianship.
Throughout the night, the vocalist, Dana Athens disappeared off stage and allowed other bandmates to take center stage. These ladies merited an audience just for themselves and made everyone feel like they were being treated to a separate show. The marriage of this band works; it just works!
However, as the night went on, one enthusiast held out hope for one song, and one song alone, “All My Love,” which they did not play. And honestly, the preference for this song was not their obligation.
To close out the night, Lez Zeppelin delivered “Heartbreaker,” “Whole Lot of Love,” and “Kashmir.” Everyone was on their feet! The band exited the stage under the roaring umbrella of applause, whistles, and cheers.
It was wonderful to partake in an energetic, fun, peaceful crowd gathered for the love of music.
It was an incredibly fitting tribute to the architects of modern hard rock. They were a versatile, four-piece ensemble, who mastered “light and shade” – alternating between thunderous, high-volume rock and delicate, acoustic arrangements.
Accomplishments include:
Massive Sales – Ranked as one of the highest-selling bands, with more than 300 million records sold worldwide.
U.S. Success – 112.5 million certified units in the U.S. make them the 5th best-selling artist in history.
Album Dominance – They achieved 8 consecutive UK number-one albums and 6 number-one albums on the US Billboard 200.
Diamond Certification – Five of their albums, Led Zeppelin II, IV, Houses of the Holy, Physical Graffiti, and the boxed set, are certified Diamond.
Record Attendance – They broke the Beatles’ Shea Stadium attendance record in 1973, (56,800 fans), and again in 1975 with 76,229 in Pontiac, Michigan.
The list goes on & on …
“And as we wind on down the road / Our shadows taller than our soul / There walks a lady we all know / Who shines white light and wants to show / How everything still turns to gold.”
Did You Know? The solo in “Stairway to Heaven” was completely improvised. Jimmy Page’s soaring solo showcase, which was ranked by Guitar World as the greatest solo of all time, features 50 seconds of face-melting glory. Turns out the legendary axman was flying by the seat of his bell-bottoms. “The solo sounds constructed – and it is, sort of, but purely of the moment,”Page told Rolling Stone in 2008. “For me, a solo is something where you just fly, but within the context of the song.” Page did three takes, all different, and picked the best one. Zeppelin’s lead guitarist was known to dabble in the occult, but the so-called “magical” instrument he used for his “Stairway to Heaven” solo was not infested with demons, blessed by witches. It was simply a1959 Fender Telecaster he got from fellow British shredder Jeff Beck. Page also used that Telecaster during his days with the Yardbirds and on sessions for the first Zeppelin album.