Get The Led Out, set to perform at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Sept. 20, celebrates the music of one of Britain’s most legendary bands: Led Zeppelin. Touring extensively across the United States, their Durango show follows a performance at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre the previous night. Formed in Philadelphia, this group of six to seven musicians expertly re-creates Led Zeppelin’s recorded music, including tracks never performed live.
When Led Zeppelin toured, the band included singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. Their live performances, however, didn’t feature the layered instrumentation or additional studio musicians found on their recordings. Get The Led Out focuses on replicating the intricate details of Led Zeppelin’s studio recordings without attempting to mimic the appearance or mannerisms of the original band. So, is Get The Led Out more of a tribute or an imitation? Examining history might offer some perspective.
Looking back to classical music of the 17 and early 1800s, two of the most famous composers and performers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig Von Beethoven, continue to have their music performed all over the world. One of the amazing things about both musical geniuses is that their music is still revered over 200 years after their deaths and will probably continue to be performed well into the future.
Performed by symphonies all over the world, today we do not expect to see the musicians copy how the artists looked or played from that period. Although recordings didn’t exist back then, modern instruments and techniques differ from the originals. Today, the instruments played, how the music is played and the interpretation of the works are quite different than the music as originally performed. Rather than imitating how Mozart or Beethoven’s music was performed, modern symphonies honor their artistry, making them perhaps the ultimate tribute bands.
So back to Get The Led Out. Without costumes, wigs or imitations of British accents and focusing solely on one band’s music, Get The Led Out pays homage to the songs and compositions of the 1960s and 1970s. Will the music be an exact re-creation of the originals? While it may not be perfect, thanks to contemporary recordings, it will be close. Regardless, this concert promises to be a nostalgic experience for some, an introduction to an iconic rock band for others, and a true rock ’n’ roll event.
For tickets to Get The Led Out and to learn more about events at the Community Concert Hall, visit durangoconcerts.com or call 247-7657, 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Charles Leslie is director of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
