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 their reggae-infused set. https://parttimegeniusmusic.com/
Part-Time Genius 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. https://www.tsavohighway.com/
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 (Gypsy Queen) played all the legendary Guitar riffs and solos with virtuosic precision. Joe Zarrillo was certainly most impressive, playing all the John Paul Jones bass lines note for note. His extended solo on The Lemon Song had the crowd cheering and applauding every note. Last but certainly not least, Rob Thurman absolutely killed it on the drums. The snare drum sound sounded exactly like John Bonhams and his thunderous extended solo for Moby Dick excited the crowd into a frenzy.
Jimmy James and Carolyn Daniels
While the entire set was a Led Zeppelin masterclass, the highlight of the night came when the band welcomed veteran Buffalo vocalist Carolyn Daniels (Gypsy Queen) to the stage for a transcendent rendition of "The Battle of Evermore." Stepping into the iconic Sandy Denny vocal role, Daniels delivered a riveting performance that gave the entire audience literal chills. Her ethereal, soaring vocals carried beautifully through the open air with haunting precision, perfectly countering the driving acoustic arrangement provided by Jimmy James on Guitar and Johnny Daniels on Mandolin. For a few minutes, the outdoor festival space felt like a massive, legendary stadium show. The crowd, momentarily silenced in sheer awe, erupted into the loudest, most passionate ovation of the night as the final notes faded.
Hosted with the signature humor and high-spirited energy of 97 Rock’s duo of Shredd and Ragan, the outdoor Zeptember Show was a beautiful reminder of why Buffalo’s music scene thrives. It was an unforgettable night of high-caliber rock, community spirit, and pure open-air magical musical moments.
Sincerely, Maria and Joe Tell.
