Since I've Been lovin' You

September 13, 1971
Berkeley, CA US
Community Theatre


Immigrant Song,
Heartbreaker,
Since I've Been Loving You,
Black Dog,
Dazed and Confused,
Stairway to Heaven,
Celebration Day,
That's the Way,
Going to California,
What Is and What Should Never Be,
Moby Dick,
Whole Lotta Love (medley incl. Let That Boy Boogie, Hello Mary Lou, Mess of Blues, You Shook Me), Communication Breakdown (incl. Gallows Pole), Rock and Roll (aka "Been a Long Time")

Led Zeppelin, tabbed a supergroup by many rock critics, proved itself only to be loud, boisterous and very deafening at their first Bay Area appearance in over a year last week.

Filling the Berkeley Community Theater with some 40 amplifiers and speakers, the English group apparently mis-judged its sound projection because its effect was almost unbelievable, and often unbearable. It is well known that Led Zeppelin is a talented group. Jimmy Page is without a doubt one of the best guitarists in the musical world, John Bonham is a great drummer, bassist John Paul Jones is an above-average performer and Robert Plant,well, he has been called a male Janis Joplin.

The concert, which started 20 minutes late, began with the barely recognizable "Immigrant Song," with Page improvising to the hilt throughout the number and Plant dancing around onstage spastically to the tune.

"Since I've Been Loving You," was moving, dramatic and gutsy, but absolutely too loud and so was "Black Dog," from the newest album. Their mystic and haunting "Dazed and Confused" has improved by Page and his guitar. Zeppelin's "Celebration Day," a hard, driving number that was unbelievably loud, shook the auditorium and the people in it.A quiet and peaceful interlude where the group sat down and performed a couple of tunes including the lyrical and soothing (to the ear) "Going to California" almost saved the evening. They played acoustic guitar, but even it was plugged in.

John Bonham, the drummer in the group, presented one of the most phenomenal drum solos this reporter has ever witnessed. The half-hour solo had the crowd in a frenzy and they roared its approval until his conclusion. From then on, the crowd stood until the end of the performance, apparently hypnotized by the music, and danced Whole Lotta Love", a fast moving tune, interspersed with oldies but goodies like Rick Nelson's old hit, "Hello Mary Lou.When called back for an encore, they went into "Been a Long Time," also from their upcoming album and again blasted the audience out of the auditorium, ears ringing with the tunes of Led Zeppelin, probably the loudest group to ome out of England. — Oakland Tribune.

An excellent first night in Berkeley with the band firing on all cylinders. The entire concert is played brilliantly, especially the new material form the as yet unreleased fourth album. That's The Way is one of the better versions I have heard with amazing mandolin from Jones. Dazed And Confused is of epic proportions and the ending medley is very gutsy and suggestive, especially from Robert.

Category:

Music

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• conneyfogle

[GawdMachine]

Conneyfogle, It is VERY admirable what you are doing. Putting out EVERY live performance by Led Zeppelin!?

Dinner with Pagey for you.

[MrBodom]

You're completely right. Thumbs up for your good work, Conneyfogle!

[greymattervandal]

Part of me wishes that more people knew about this - part of me is glad I'm one of the few that does...

[francescaemc2]

Thank you Thank you.

If you have dinner wif Pagey guess who's flying in? Even if my arms will be tired.

I won't eat...I'll just order tea for one.

Fabulous post!!!!

[carrollckjcm]

thank you thank you