Although the music business in general seems to be in a downward spiral, one genre is bucking the trend and actually increasing in popularity: the tribute band. By sticking to the music of one artist, a tribute band not only draws on the fans of chosen performers, they can build a following that would make anyone performing original music green with envy. Such is the case with Dazed and Confused, a quintet paying homage to the music of Led Zeppelin. Winners of the 2009 San Diego Music Award (SDMA) for “Best Cover or Tribute Band,” Dazed and Confused performs at Gallaghers’s on Saturday, Nov. 14. Featuring frontman and Ocean Beach resident Jason Ott, guitarist Joe Walker, bassist Andy Hinson, drummer Jeff Smith and keyboardist Mike Davenport, the band’s success is striking when one considers that all the band members are transplants to the area. The band formed in 2006 with Walker as the newest member in 2008. “We all moved to beautiful San Diego at some point because it rocks here,” said Ott. It was Smith and Ott who first sowed the seeds of the band with a cover group called Riot House. “We did rock classics and at some point did a Zeppelin medley,” Smith said. “The crowds started rocking at a whole new level. Jason and I clearly knew something was going on there.” Despite sticking to the catalog of just one band, Hinson doesn’t find the constraints limiting. “Led Zeppelin were such a diverse band with so many styles that sometimes it feels like we’re playing many different bands at once,” Hinson said. Smith agrees. “Their catalog is broad enough that after three years we have just about 60 percent of their studio tracks down,” Smith said. “When you consider all the Zeppelin bootleg concerts, we’ve got another 20 years before we’ll be done.” The band changes its set list as much as possible, according to Ott. “We can vary sets pretty well so that back-to-back shows can have a limited number of duplicates,” Ott said. “We want the sets to appeal to diehard fans and the casual listeners, so we try to put the hits in and some bonus songs for ourselves and the hardcore Zep heads. There are core songs. ‘Rock and Roll.’ ‘Whole Lotta Love,’ ‘Dazed and Confused’ and ‘Kashmir’ are typically part of most set lists.” In addition to playing albums in their entirety, the band also re-creates Led Zeppelin sets. “We try to find set lists from shows played on the same night as our shows 30-plus-years prior,” said Ott. To a man, Dazed and Confused appeared shocked by their SDMA win. “The bands we were up against are pretty awesome and we did not plan on winning at all,” said Ott. “I know this sounds cliché, but it was an honor to be nominated. When they called our name, I almost had a heart attack. Our fans made this happen and we are eternally grateful. We put a lot of work into this band and it is such an honor to be appreciated and rewarded.” Smith said he is still a little overwhelmed by the award. “When they stated our name, we were shocked,” Smith said. The band’s collective disbelief almost cost them their chance to accept their trophy onstage. “It took us a minute to regroup and realize that we should go and accept the award,” Smith said. “The announcer even announced, ‘I guess they are not here,’ until they saw us jumping up and down the aisle as we approached the stage. Flabbergasted sums it up just right.” For Ott, Dazed and Confused’s win is the culmination of a life in music. “Led Zeppelin inspired me to become a singer,” he said. “The music moved me when I was younger, and having the ability to play this stuff for an enthusiastic audience is quite a reward.” Hinson agrees. “Making an audience remember the greatness of Led Zeppelin and seeing them have a great time is awesome,” Hinson said. As for the SDMA trophy, Ott jokes that it’s “hidden in a secret location with around-the-clock guards and secret surveillance equipment,” allowing the band members to rotate it between homes. “It’s kinda like the Stanley Cup,” teased Hinson. “Everyone gets a turn to show it off for a little while.” Dazed and Confused performs on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Gallagher’s, 5046 Newport Ave., at 8 p.m. The show is for those 21 and up. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/dazedandconfusedband.