Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - KASHMIR

Any Zep fan will recognize that name right away, without a doubt.  Music fans will probably also recognize it right away.  And if so, you probably recognize it correctly - Kashmir is a Led Zeppelin Tribute Band.  If anybody has seen the movie "Rock Star", you will understand the subtle difference between a Tribute Band and a Cover Band.

Kashmir is a Tribute Band. 

Not only to they recreate the music of Led Zeppelin SPOT ON, they also play the part.  I recall the first time I saw Kashmir, and it was actually on a strange whim, as I was at The Fest For Beatles Fans in Rosemont at the time.  Noticed that Kashmir was playing over at The Park at Rosemont, and said to some friends, "It's a perfect night, let's go catch some other classic rock!"  And we did.  And I was hooked!

Admittedly, I am far from being a Zep expert, I can't hold my own in a detailed discussion about them - but I know their songs!  (and not just Stairway)  I've seen "The Song Remains The Same" and, own their CDs.  But let me say this, after seeing Kashmir as Zeppelin, I'm now a bigger Zep fan than I was previously.  The show was absolutely amazing.  We sat about 1/2 way down the soccer field from the stage (not regulation size soccer field) - and to be 100% honest, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear I was watching Led Zeppelin in the early 1970s!  They were literally THAT spot on!

Musically, close your eyes, and you'd swear it was a live Zeppelin concert from the 1970s - but with better sound systems than the arenas had back then.  Visually, SPOT ON!  The hair, the beards, the outfits - spot on.  Seriously, it would be hard to tell them from the real ones.

But, even more than that - THE MANNERISMS.  Now, I admit, I'm not a Zep fanatic, but I've seen concert footage of various types, plus Song Remains The Same - and I tell you, every member of Kashmir has clearly studied films!!  Every mannerism was exactly in place - and even if it was something original, it fit.  I'd say, think of them as actors (who also happen to be awesome musicians) - they know their roles - and they are believable in them.

Any great band, be it the Beatles, the Stones, or Zeppelin, will tell you, what it really comes down to - always - is THE MUSIC.  And, these guys hit it out of the park.  Zeppelin songs can be quite (very) technical - and they pull them off cleanly.  Zeppelin songs certainly have a very unique sound, unlike any other band of that era (or this era) - and then pull them off cleanly.  And they cover the catalog from the beginning to the end - and not just the "hits" but also "deep cuts"!

For those of us that never experienced Led Zeppelin live - Kashmir is an awesome substitute!!

Kashmir happens to be the final act of Steger Days of Music 2015, performing at 7:00 on Sunday, July 19.  Fireworks follow their set, and Epic (80s cover band) opens for them.  Details for that are here : https://www.facebook.com/events/859612007429331/.