Live Music Review: Led Zeppelin Magic and Local Music Mastery at Shredd & Ragan’s Zeptember Show

Live Music Review: Led Zeppelin Magic and Local Music Mastery at Shredd & Ragan’s Zeptember Show.

There is a unique magic that happens when a tight-knit local music community rallies around a great cause, and that wonderful magic was on full display under the open Buffalo sky at the Sportsmens Tavern outdoor stage for Shredd and Ragan’s annual Zeptember Show. Benefiting Make-A-Wish WNY, the late-summer air was alive with high-caliber local talent, culminating in a heavy dose of Zeppelin-infused nostalgia that left the packed crowd breathless. This review will focus on the bands that played on the outdoor open air stage.

Maria and I arrived during the Part-Time Genius set, the band proved to be the perfect spark plug for the evenings festivities. Delivering a refreshing, reggae-infused rock and ska set, they injected a sunny, grooving pocket into the afternoon air. The powerhouse engine of Jeremy "Kahuna" Wells on drums and Jon "Blufeather" Lorusso on Lead Vocals and Guitar locked down tight grooves, while the horn-driven energy of saxophone player Augie Bates paired with bandmates Ben Renzoni on Saxophone, Scott Howard on Bass, Al Polanski on Keyboards, Richard LeRouech on Trombone, and Jake Hettinger on Trumpet warmed up the outdoor crowd perfectly. Hey Hey What Can I Do was a highlight of the reggae infused set. 

They passed the Four Sticks on to Tsavo Highway, who raised the temperature with an intense, hard driving rock performance. Fronted by the energetic and commanding lead vocals of Emily Scripps, Christian Dobosiewicz added impressive riffs and soaring solos on Guitar. Backed by Brian Calisto holding down the low-end on bass and Brian McMahon driving the drum kit, they shifted the afternoon into a heavy rock gear that kept the momentum surging across the outdoor lot. Whole Lotta Love was a highlight of their tight set. 

By the time tribute heavyweights Out On the Tiles took the stage, the anticipation in the fresh air was electric. They did not disappoint. Right out of the gate, the band captured the raw, thunderous power of Led Zeppelin with The Immigrant Song, filling the open-air venue with massive guitar riffs and soaring vocals that had the entire crowd singing in unison. Out On the Tiles is fronted by Jimmy James who captured the energy, essence and the sound of Robert Plant to perfection. Jimmy James also added to the soundscape, playing Guitar, Keyboards and Harmonica. Johnny Daniels played all the legendary Guitar riffs and solos with virtuosic precision.