Powerful vocals and hypnotic instrumentals came together as one on stage as Zoso, a popular Led Zeppelin tribute band, rock and rolled its way to the University of Connecticut on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience performed a vibrant set at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, celebrating their 30th Anniversary Tour and paying homage to the infamous classic rock band Led Zeppelin. The performance was one of many coinciding with Jorgensen’s “Eight Days a Week: An Illustrated Record of Rock ‘n’ Roll” exhibit, celebrating the 70th anniversary of the birth of rock music.
The concert was an exhilarating experience for those who were never able to witness Zeppelin live in the 1970s, and for audience members who saw the original band and were granted the chance to reminisce on their youth.
“Zoso definitely has their songs and performance down really well,” Peter Medved, an audience member and East Hampton local, said. “I think they did great. I’d like to see them again.”
The set consisted of 17 of Zeppelin’s most loved songs. Ranging from full production songs to the acoustic hit “Going to California,” the list provided variety and contrast to audience members, showcasing each of the band members’ talents. Before performing “Going to California,” Matt Jernigan, the lead singer of the band, explained that he began the band with Adam Sandling, the bassist and multi-instrument musician, in California in the early 1990s.
Songs from popular albums, like “Zeppelin” I through IV, “Houses of the Holy” and “Physical Graffiti” were performed and replicated down to the mannerisms of the front men of the band.
Zoso put in effort to showcase difficult songs, like “Ten Years Gone,” which is better suited for the studio, however, was adapted for live performances with Sandling successfully playing two instruments simultaneously.
“My favorite [to perform] is probably ‘Ten Years Gone,’” Holston Rainero, the guitarist of Zoso, said. “It’s really impressive to pull off live.”
Rainero is the youngest and newest member of the band, joining the rest of the crew in early 2025.
“I really liked the young kid [Rainero],” Tammy Medved, an audience member, said. “He was awesome.”
Rainero’s skills were demonstrated throughout the night and stood out during the mesmerizing rendition of “Since I’ve Been Loving You.” As a longtime Zeppelin fan, that was my personal favorite song of the show.
Other standouts were “Moby Dick,” the relentless drum solo recreated by Bevan Davies, the popular hit “Kashmir,” and “Stairway to Heaven,” where Jernigan’s vocals and mannerisms channeled Robert Plant perfectly.
Sandling noted “The Rain Song” as his favorite to perform. “It’s just beautiful,” he said.
Despite many audience members being older than the typical concert crowd, there was enthusiasm and excitement in the room, with people singing along to songs, such as “Whole Lotta Love,” as part of the band’s energetic encore. Both Peter and Tammy Medved shared that they enjoyed “Whole Lotta Love.”
Peter Medved has seen multiple Zeppelin tribute and cover bands and said, “Zoso was right there with them.”
Zoso put on a thrilling show at UConn, reviving the iconic Led Zeppelin. The band demonstrated the power of live music to younger generations and ignited nostalgia in the older portion of the crowd.