May

20

2009

Grok ‘n Roll: Get the Led Out

by greg

GTLO

GTLO photo by Scott Weiner

by Greg Salts

If you’re like me, you were devastated in 1980 when you found out that John Henry “Bonzo” Bonham, the drummer of Led Zeppelin died in his sleep after consuming 40 measures of vodka in a 24 hour period.

I was not surprised when I went to school the next day at CVHS to see  a half a dozen of us wearing black armbands. We were all looking forward to the upcoming American tour of Led Zeppelin with much anticipation.

I had the pleasure of seeing the Page and Plant tour in 1994 but without John Paul Jones and John Bonham, it lacked the anticipated energy from the footage seen on The Song Remains the Same http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcYZlRWWxO0 .

Imagine my thrill a couple of weeks ago when I stumbled across a radio station promoting a Led Zeppelin cover band called Get the Led Out http://www.gtlorocks.com/ that was going to play at the Capitol Center in Concord. I took me all of ten minutes after getting home to plunk down $98 for two tickets for row three dead-center.

I went as a skeptic, even though I had visited their web site and watched footage of them on You Tube, I was expecting them to sound like an amateur copycat.  I was wrong. They completely blew me away. They sounded about as exact to the actual recordings as you could hope for in a live concert.

O.K. it’s not comparable to my brother seeing the Zeppeliin reunion tour in England in December of 2007 but I can assure you, the quality and mannerisms were every bit as good.

Unfortunately, if you’ve ever seen a concert at the Capitol Center, you know that as a seating establishment with season ticket holders, they tend to run a tight ship. I was stunned when a couple of cougars went up front to shake their collective booties when an usher showed up with a flashlight scattering them like a couple of roaches.

I vowed right then and there to go see this band in a real venue. One that is more conducive to the energy that GTLO emanates.

 

What I got was five tickets to the best of the best! June 12th, GTLO is playing at the House of Blues in Boston and this time, I don’t have to pay an arm and a leg, tickets are only $22.

This particular HOB has quickly established a reputation of having a superb sound environment that is said by some, to have the best acoustics for a concert venue in all of Boston.

Don’t tell that to Boston Symphony hall. The BSO hall is said to have the second or third best sound in all the world. After the 12th, I will be able to say I’ve been to both, I guess that will make me the judge…I’ll get back to you on that!

I’m the first to admit that there is nothing like the real thing but this talented bunch of musicians from Pennsylvania is developing a cult following that is sure to grow the longer they tour.

This is one concert that I highly recommend.

Greg Salts
Manchester, NH

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  • Moo Kahn

    Absolutely correct, sir.
    We’ve seen Get the Led Out twice at (of all places) Tag’s Summer Stage (a big stage in the middle of a field, adjacent to a local saloon run by a guy named “Tag”) – in Big Flats NY.
    These guys BRING IT – period. When Paul Sinclair steps up, he owns the mother-f*@#$ing stage….. and doesn’t give it back for 2 1/2 hours, except for (maybe) a couple of cool-down acoustic breaks. There are no weak players, and a unique chemistry among these guys –> They either actually do love what they’re doing or they deserve an acadamy award. From the ground it looks like the guys (and guest singer Diana DeSantis – who steps up for “The Battle of Evermore”)
    BTW – GTLO is the only band I know of where half the band is named “Paul”. Paul Sinclair, Paul Hammond, Paul Piccaro… how does that work at band practice..”I dunno…. ask Paul…”
    The other night they were headlining a two-band bill at Tag’s with “Hotel California” – Eagles Wannabes who were having a terrible night. Paul Piccaro (GTLO Bass) stepped up to help “Hotel’s” voiceless drummer make it through the Don Henley numbers… alas, he did not remember the words, but it’s the thought that counts. “Hotel California” made the fatal mistake of trying to use sequenced canned backing tracks. OK for a lounge gig somewhere but definitely does NOT cut it in a live concert venue. Of course, disaster struck…the sequencer got out-of-whack and exposed the folly… (wait… there’s no string section…no grand piano…on stage….where is this noise coming from?)
    Anyway… once amateur hour was over, after a short break Get The Led Out came on and rocked the house until pretty close to midnight. And it got COLD… I mean DAMNED COLD… 40 degrees or so cold…. and they were still rockin’. No corners were cut from the show we saw the previous year, even though I’m sure everyone on the stage was at least uncomfortable, and probably miserable.
    Anyway – I normally hate tribute bands… for all the “Hotel California” phony canned backing track reasons… but Get the Led Out is somehow different. So it’s no wonder they are developing a cult following – I’d like to see it become an actual following with some original material mixed in.
    Peace out
    MOo

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