Although cover bands get little respect, they are one of the hottest trends in music today. Once found only at parties or dive bars, tribute groups have now become headliners themselves at the Southland’s top venues.
The phenomenon includes musical doppelgangers for artists both ongoing and defunct, with fans lining up in record numbers at area clubs to see and hear re-creations of their favorite artists’ live performances. Such is the case with Led Zeppelin tribute act Dazed and Confused, which will appear at Winstons Wednesday, March 28.
Led Zeppelin was no stranger to San Diego. Hugely popular locally, the group played in town on every U.S. tour during its existence. The various band members also continued to visit on solo outings. Lead singer Robert Plant even “borrowed” the name of his mid-’80s band, The Honeydrippers, from local R&B legend Joe Liggins’ own backing group.
However, the British quartet’s most famous connection to the city is its championing of ’60s one-hit wonders Rosie and The Originals. The National City-based combo was mentioned in the lyric sheet from the 1973 album “Houses of the Holy,” with frontwoman Rosie Hamlin’s name showing up in the song “How Many More Times.”
While relatively minor, these facts have been taken to heart by local fans of classic rock, strengthening the area’s bond with Zeppelin’s music. While most cover bands know a tune or two from the British rockers, Dazed and Confused is the first major local tribute act in their honor.
Together just over a year, the band includes frontman Jason Ott, guitarist Dave Casey, bassist Andy Hinson and drummer Jeff Smith. Ott is well aware of the impact the band has had locally.
“All of the guys in the band are die-hard fans,” he said. “Personally, this was the band that inspired me to become a musician.”
While some might find it limiting to performing only one band’s repertoire, Ott disagrees. “Our set list covers almost half of Zeppelin’s catalog,” he said, noting that they mix rock evergreens such as “Stairway to Heaven,” “Kashmir” and “Immigrant Song” with lesser-known album cuts.
“Their music covers so many different genres and the songs have an extremely wide variety of styles. The challenge of performing them all has been exciting,” he added.
Ott names “That’s the Way” as his favorite song to play, citing “Achilles’ Last Stand” as the most difficult. “It’s 11 minutes long and has so many different parts that it will make your head spin,” he laughed. With songs of that length in the set and such a vast catalog of material to choose from, some nights Dazed and Confused has played for up to five hours.
Despite the band’s loyalty to Led Zeppelin, there is a little wiggle room in the format. Dazed and Confused occasionally covers tunes that Zeppelin performed during its on-stage jam sessions. At the moment, the band features a version of rockabilly star Wanda Jackson’s 1958 hit “Let’s Have a Party” in a “Whole Lotta Love” medley, as Led Zeppelin can be heard doing on their album “How the West Was Won.”
Dazed and Confused takes meticulous care in getting its musical re-creations just right, even using some of the same equipment, such as Smith’s replica of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham’s kit. But the musicians don’t make any attempt to look like the four original members of the band. “[That] just seems too much like an Elvis impersonator,” Ott joked.
Recently, there have been rumors that Led Zeppelin might reunite for a tour. While Ott would love an opportunity to see them live, he is a little wary. “It would be awesome if that rumor came true. But on second thought, it might put us out of work,” he joked. “I hope they enjoy their retirement.”
Dazed and Confused plays at Winstons, 1921 Bacon St., on Wednesday, March 28. For more information, visit www.winstonsob.com.