On a summer-like Friday night, the long-time Led Zeppelin tribute experience Zoso brought their iconic 30th Anniversary tour to Warren, Ohio, playing the historic Robins Theatre, which reopened in 2020 following a two-year restoration project.
Zoso
Robins Theatre, Warren, Ohio – 14 March 2025
Words: Donna Balentine
Photography: Jim Balentine
Since Matt Jernigan (Robert Plant) and Adam Sandling (John Paul Jones) formed Zoso in 1995, the band have played all over the world, honouring the history and the music of Led Zeppelin. The gig count is less than 200 short of 5,000.
Zoso are that perfect example for allowing fans who were lucky enough to see Zeppelin live to relive those great memories. For those younger, it is a brilliant recreation of the band playing many of Zeppelin’s classics.
Mastering the part of John Bonham is drummer Bevan Davies, who joined in 2015. Newcomer Holston Rainero, who at just 24 years old, has the dubious task of playing guitar covering one of the greatest players in music ever, Jimmy Page.
Like a page out of the movie Rockstar, Rainero saw an opportunity to fill a void in the band by contacting them on social media and sending YouTube videos of himself to the band. He does a fantastic job of recreating the complexity of Jimmy Page’s music.
Not only is Rainero technically powerful on stage, but he also looks similar to Page on stage with his wardrobe and his stage presence playing the famous Les Paul and the double-neck Gibson guitar.
Many tribute bands have a certain member who resembles the actual band, while the rest may not. But Zoso hit on all 12 cylinders as all four members come out strong and keep the momentum until the final song.
This is such a well-rounded set, covering the many layers of Led Zeppelin. Ramble On, Immigrant Song and The Wanton Song represent that classic ’70s rock power, while Since I’ve Been Loving You shows Zoso are their emotional blues best.
Drummer Bevan would make John Bonham proud with his hard-hitting machine gun drumming and even using his knuckles on the famous Moby Dick.
Adam Sanderling, on bass guitar and keyboards, played the complex John Paul Jones bass patterns with precision and, when needed, switched to the elaborate keyboards for many of the Zeppelin classic songs where it was featured.
That’s The Way and Going To California provide that emotional break in the set, though Babe I’m Gonna Leave You still pulls at the heartstrings some 56 years after the Led Zeppelin release.
Matt Jernigan has the difficult task of representing one of the greatest showmen in music. His long, flowing blonde hair, open shirt, bell-bottom jeans, and powerful vocals really make you think you are witnessing the reincarnation of a ’70s Robert Plant.
Jernigan brings such life to Kasmir and Stairway To Heaven that Zoso’s commitment to authenticity is intact. Zakk Wylde is a fan and brought Zoso to his inaugural Berzerkus Festival, which MetalTalk covered, and on the Zakk Sabbath tour this year.
Berzerkus was great, but tonight, as Whole Lotta Love rang out, you realise that it is best on nights like this. Watching the band on stage at the historic Robins Theatre, which first opened in the 1920s and sat dormant for over 50 years, gave a wonderful spectacle for fans to be able to re-create the memories of when Led Zeppelin were in their prime, and no band could touch them.
Zoso are continuing their 30th Anniversary run and will stop in Columbus and Pittsburgh by the end of March. Next is Grewal Hall at 224 in Lensing, MI. The band aims to hit 150 shows this year, so keep an eye on ZosoOnTour.com.
If you were lucky enough to see Led Zeppelin live or always wanted to, this is your chance to see the one-time greatest band in the world re-created flawlessly.
