Real feel for Led Zep

Black Dogz Kenny Stone explains the true meaning of tribute

A LED Zeppelin tribute band, who pride themselves on being as close to the real thing as possible, will be playing in Newbury later this month.

The Black Dogz – Kenny Stone (drums), James Watson (bass and keyboards), Mike Jarvis (guitar) and Andrew Walker (vocals), will perform at Ace Space on Saturday, February 25.

Founder Kenny Stone said that it was very important to them that people saw them as a tribute band rather than a covers band.

He said: “What I like to get across is the attention to detail within the music, performance, and style.

“We as individuals and a collective have spent many, many hours studying the music, musicianship, technique and performance of Led Zeppelin to ensure that the audience get a real sense of what it was like to experience a Led Zeppelin show; the energy, the excitement and the range of dynamics from song to song, even if on a smaller scale.

“Our aim at every performance is to have the audience believe, even if only for a split second during every song, that they are actually listening to Led Zep themselves.

“If we were a cover band, we could play every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of every weekend.

“But because we are a tribute band, we only play Led Zeppelin songs – we even play some of the more obscure songs and some that people will have never heard live.”

The band, made up of professional and semi-professional musicians, came together about two years ago. Kenny said that one of the hardest parts was finding musicians who were good enough to make it a very realistic tribute band.

He said that it took him about six months to get the line up right.

He said: “Tribute bands are a very difficult thing to get right; you have got to find the right people who can play to the level of the people you are emulating. I'm a bit fussy; I like the musicians to look a bit like the band as well.

“The accuracy of the sound and getting the detail right is most important because then you are going to sound as much like them as you can. Otherwise you are just going to bea cover band.”

But he does draw the line: “We decided early on that we were not going to wear wigs; it looks a bit silly and it can detract from what you are doing.”

Kenny said that he was hoping that the gig at Ace Space would allow people to see what they were all about, having not played in Newbury as The Black Dogz before.

He said: “We are definitely looking forward to it; the sound quality at Ace Space is superb. It's only a small venue so we are expecting it's going to be rammed.

“That's the place I like – there's no hassle and you just hang out.”

“The support act on the night will be The amazing talent that is Mr Des Simmons. Des is a fantastic singer songwriter who made his name with the band WIRE in the late '70s/'80s. Des will be performing his original songs with his band that will include a very special guest ‘Mr Paul James', who is a legend in the world of folk music for his work with the mighty band Blowzabella.”

Visit www.theblackdogz.com to see quotes from fans and promoters.