LIVE REVIEW: Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening in Providence, RI (11.12.25)
On Wednesday night at The Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island, almost 2,000 die-hard Led Zeppelin fans gathered to rock with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening. The night celebrated 50 years of Zeppelin’s 1975 album “Physical Graffiti” by playing the record in its entirety, along with more fan-favorite hits.
The Vets, built in 1950, celebrates 75 years of performances in 2025, and provided the crowd for an intimate experience, whether you were in the first couple of rows, or the packed mezzanine.
Jason, the son of original Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, made the night feel nothing like a cover band, but instead like a remembrance of his father’s iconic legacy. Other band members include vocalist/acoustic guitarist James Dylan, bassist Dorian Heartsong (formerly of Powerman 5000), lead guitarist Jimmy Sakurai, rhythm guitarist & keyboardist Alex Howland, and drummer and percussionist Jason John Bonham.
As the show countdown began, Queen’s “We Will Rock You” blasted from the speakers, reminding the audience of the power that rock music still holds decades later. Moments later, as the stage lights abruptly turned off, the band ran onto the stage, erupting the crowd with cheers. Kicking off the show was Zeppelin’s first track on the record, “Custard Pie,” an opening song that brought thunder to the rockin’ crowd.
Each track from Physical Graffiti was delivered with precision and soul. James Dylan’s vocals soared to the sky with a raspy tone, eerily similar to the power of Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, while guitarist Jimmy Sakurai perfectly captured Jimmy Page’s signature tone and stage attire. Not only did Sakurai look like Page, but he had the dances, hair, smile, and groove. In the meantime, bassist Dorian Heartsong plucked a growling bass line that seamlessly combined with Bonham’s drumming.
Between each song in the 17-track setlist, Jason shared heartwarming stories about growing up with his father’s music, the influence it had on his career, and his past. One emotional highlight came before the third song of the set, “The Wanton Song,” which brought Jason to the forefront, thanking the audience for “keeping the music and spirit of my dad alive.” Other stories included being the drummer on Jimmy Page’s 1988 tour at the age of 21, saying he thought he was “the shit.”
Song highlights from the night include Physical Graffiti’s “Ten Years Gone,” the keyboard-heavy “Trampled Under Foot,” “Night Flight,” and the drum icon “Kashmir,” before ending the evening with an encore of two ICONIC hits. “Whole Lotta Love” and the upbeat classic, “Rock and Roll.” Once the final note was released, the band shared their love with the audience by throwing out guitar picks, drumsticks, and setlists.
“Thank you, Providence,” Bonham hollered into the mic. “We love you. Thank you for an incredible night.”
Featured image by: Rob Bondurant
