A few studio shots from last night with the lovely Sarah.
What better way to spend a Saturday evening than re-acquainting myself with a band I have known for 25 years but have lost touch with recently.
54-40
Playing at the beautiful Shenkman Arts Centre in Orleans, veteran Canadian rockers 54-40 celebrated their 30th anniversary and their last show of the year, with a rousing 2 1/2 hour show.
They had the audience standing, clapping and singing along to all the favorites and from their new material on the groups new album, “Lost In The City.“
Neil Osborne
54-40 are one of the most important popular music groups to emerge from the Canadian cultural landscape. With more than 2 decades of performing and recording behind them, the band has an unbelievable catalogue of hit songs. Lead by chief songwriter Neil Osborne, 54-40 have carved out a legacy of gold and platinum albums and a outstanding reputation for their live performances that carries through to this day. Over 25 years, 2000 performances, and 16 releases the secret to 54-40’s longevity is their ability to redefine and reinvent themselves, taking long time 54-40 fans on a ride that is bound to pick up new young fans on the way.
Brad Merritt
To experience 54-40 in concert is to experience how songs have touched and continue to touch people’s lives. From people who have followed the band from their humble beginnings in east Vancouver to new young fans that have discovered the truly original band that is 54-40, a 54-40 concert is extraordinary affair that bridges the gaps of generations through a shared love of music.
Dave Genn
Neil Osborne
Dave Genn
Matt Johnson
I found myself thinking, “why are these guy not more popular than they are???” Neil’s vocals are spot on, Genn’s Guitar work was incredible and Brad Merrit, whom Neil started the band with back in high school, looked like he was having a ton of fun, using every square inch of his stage space to strut and weave through his bass lines. The songs are catchy, and if head-bobbing is a show of appreciation from the audience, these guys have have a very loyal fanbase.
They are indeed a passionate, intense, high-energy hardworking group of very talented musicians who need more radio airplay!
Set List (I think there may be a typo or inside joke on sheet one; it should be “Crossing A Canyon”)
October 17, 1980, a date with the mighty Led Zeppelin that would never come to pass.
Montreal was abuzz early that summer. Led Zeppelin was coming to the Montreal Forum!
The Gods Of Rock were actually coming to my city… the excitement was absolutly incredible!!!
25 September 1980. Drummer John Henry Bonam has passed away and the North American Tour, was of course, halted.
It was the end of Led Zeppelin and of my only chance to see them live.
John Bonham’s son followed in his fathers footsteps playing the drums.
Rumors ran amok when Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and filling in for the late great John Bonham, his very capable son, Jason, played a one-off show at the O2 Area in London England in 2007.
Would Led Zeppelin reunite? Could it be possible a tour would actually happen?
Unfortunately, all parties decided it was not possible and a reunion or tour would probably never happen.
Jason, sensing the demand for such a show, gathered a group of very capable musicians and created “Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience“.
Fans in Ottawa were treated to, what has got to be for many of us, the closest we are ever going to get to Led Zeppelin.
And what a show! The theater at Casino du Lac-Leamy was rockin’ all night, listening to the boys re-create the Led Zeppelin sounds and mood. They are such a well oiled machine!
Close your eyes and vocalist James Dylan sounds like Robert Plant, just amazing.
Guitarist Tony Catania, a guitar god in his own right, has Jimmy Page down pat, even down to some of the facial expressions and body movements.
Filling out the rest of the band were bassist Dorian Heartsong and keyboard player Stephen Leblanc, both extremely talented musicians!
And of course Jason Bonham on drums. With a split video screen behind him, he played Moby Dick with his father for one of the more emotional moments of the night.
Jason would, between songs, share memories of his youth, his mom and dad throught those early years while family photos and video were played on the video screen.
It’s not Led Zeppelin, but for many of us, it’s close enough.
Set List:
Immigrant Song
Rock n’ Roll
Your Time is Gonna Come
Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You
What Is and What Should Never Be
Lemon Song
Thank You
Moby Dick
Ocean
Over The Hills and Far Away
Since I’ve Been Loving You
When the Levee Breaks
Kasmir
Stairway to Heaven
Encore: Whole Lotta Love
.jpg "Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience")
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April 14, 2012 - 5:48 pm
good job guys please PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
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April 22, 2012 - 5:18 pm
i saw th jblze show in indianapolis in 2011 incredible i they ever cime to that area again i would pay the price to see them again without thinking twice please come back guys you are all we zep fans have left!
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April 27, 2012 - 10:54 am
I’ll be the tall blonde in the front row stage left on Sat 4/28/2012 at Island Resort Harris, MI. I’ll be the one asking for a guitar pick…hopefully a drumstick….see you tomorrow night!
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April 27, 2012 - 1:22 pm
Keep on rocking guys ….
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April 27, 2012 - 1:54 pm
I saw the JBLZE show at Hamilton place in 2011. I was extremely impressed with the show, I have been a Zep fan since i was 10yrs old. Fell in love with the sound and especially the heavy hitting of Mr.Bonham. “Moby Dick” performed by Jason and the fellows was SPECTACULAR. Would indeed pay again and again to see this show….
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April 29, 2012 - 3:25 pm
I saw the show Friday & Saturday night, I was standing next to the tall blonde (Suzanne Posa) from a couple of posts back (see above), She did get her pick, but no drumb stick. The shows were awesome! and that’s comming from a very dedicated Zeppelin fan & music cretic.
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May 21, 2012 - 6:45 am
Thak you for your love to Johon Bonham !!!!
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June 14, 2012 - 12:35 am
Come back to BUFFALO! I keep checking your site for new tour dates. Your show is amazing! Please post news re your next tour. 🙂
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June 15, 2012 - 7:42 pm
when are you guys coming back to the ny area? saw you guys at the bogata in ac. friggin AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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August 17, 2012 - 11:21 am
Saw you guys in Philadelphia. AWESOME!!! Waiting on a show in Florida…..Head South boys.
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August 19, 2012 - 10:11 am
I was talking with Ritchie Yorke last night, doing a interview for “IN GODDO WE TRUST”, and sharing a glass of wine. On the drive home I thought what a great thing it would be to film JBLZE live for the entire world – enjoyed it that much!
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October 6, 2012 - 7:50 pm
looking for denver co. dates. saw you on spur of the moment after work about a year ago. absolute amazement. Please come to denver soon. and send me a email when you guys know. I am a house dad now and don’t get the concert circlulars that much anymore.. thanks.
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October 6, 2012 - 7:51 pm
looking for denver co. dates. saw you on spur of the moment after work about a year ago. absolute amazement. Please come to denver soon. and send me a email when you guys know. I am a house dad now and don’t get the concert circlulars that much anymore.. thanks.
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October 7, 2012 - 7:20 pm
Saw the show in Reno last night, absolutely amazing- the band is polished and tight; close your eyes and you almost swear you are listening to Zep live. Thanks Jason for taking this show out to all the fans and sharing the memory of your father with us,and for keeping the music going. It was nice to see many generations at the show.
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October 11, 2012 - 1:17 pm
Like Rick the 1980 tour was the first of their tours I was to see. I was 18 and they were comming to chicago on Dec. 7 and I was going to surprise my girl friend for her birthday. I am a huge Zeppelin fan, so much so that my son currently 17 is a huge Zeppelin fan also. The first song I taught him on the bass 5 years ago was Ramble On. We are hoping that the tour comes to the Seattle area or somewhere in the pacific Northwest.
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October 18, 2012 - 5:09 pm
I see you are coming to Milwaukee, WI. Please come a little farther north to Green Bay! I went as far as Virginia to see you last year. Just can’t hit a show as far south as Milwaukee. I can go south to Green Bay. PLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE! Love you guys!
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December 29, 2012 - 1:58 pm
[…] Jason’s band, “Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience” on their last tour through Ottawa and thought I’d re-post a few of my shots of Jason from that […]
Rick Hansen chats with Canada’s Govenor General, His Excellency, the Right Honourable David Johnston, on the driveway of Rideau Hall in Ottawa Ontario, as part of Hansen’s Man in Motion 25th anniversary tour.
Gatineau Park model shoot with Alexandrine, Tania and Stephanie.
I first heard of Randy Bachman when he was with the Canadian rock group Bachman-Turner Overdrive, better know as BTO back in 1974. With hits such as “Takin’ Care of Business”, “Roll on Down the Highway”, and “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”, the group and Randy, would be forever remembered by the kids of that generation as one of Canada’a musical legends.
Fast forward 37 years and I find myself in the company of Randy Bachman and about 100 other fans at the Southminster United Church in downtown Ottawa. For the past few years, Randy has hosted a radio show called “Vinyl Tap” on CBC Radio to play his favourite songs and tell stories from his life on the road and in the studio.
He now has a book containing all of these stories and as part of the Ottawa International Writers Festival, shared with us last night, many of these fascinating stories. Randy seems to have an endless pool of material and the man is a fantastic story teller! Tales of his travels, how his songs came to be, dropping names of some of the greatest rock and roll stars of the world, all told in full colour and humor to spare, kept us all wide eyed and hanging on every word.
He is the type of person that you could imagine yourself sitting in the pub with over a few cold ones and just be mesmerized for hours on end by his stories. One interesting fact that I did not know was that Randy has never smoked, drank alcohol or taken drugs of any sort, definitively not the picture you may have of your typical rock and roll star. So Randy, if we ever do end up in that pub one day, I’ll buy you endless glasses of Ginger Ale or Cola!
Of course Randy had his guitar with him and he demonstrated how some of his greatest hits came to be by showing us the initial chord progressions and even a song that came to be by simply tuning his guitar.
It was a great night and I enjoyed myself immensely as I’m sure everyone else did.
You can catch Randy on the CBC here:
http://www.cbc.ca/
And be sure to be on the lookout for his book:
“Randy Bachman’s Vinyl Tap Stories”
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October 14, 2011 - 8:12 pm
great shots, Jean! See you at other OIWF events?
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October 19, 2011 - 3:39 pm
Thank you John! I’m hoping to make it out a few more time… see you then.
Liberal MPP Phil McNeely was re-elected to his third term last night in a close race with PC canidate Andrew Lister. McNeely celebrated his victory at MIFO with his family, friends and supporters.
by Jean Labelle
sprintexec - Thanks, enjoyed listening to 54-50.