“Just be Jason, and John will come naturally.” This is what someone told Jason Bonham when he felt he was struggling to handle his legendary father’s drum parts as Led Zeppelin was practicing for their 2007 performance at the O2 Arena in London. (If you haven’t seen the film Celebration Day, go watch it.) Jason shared this anecdote and many others during a stellar performance of Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening (JBLZE) at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. It was a warm night, but Jason and the band brought the full thunder of Led Zeppelin.

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Physical Graffiti, Led Zeppelin’s sixth album. It was the first album to ever ship platinum (one million copies) and has sold over 13 million worldwide to date. The double album features an incredible range of styles, including Middle Eastern rhythms, funk, blues, heavy rock, and acoustic music. It showcases what Jimmy Page called the “Light and Shade” of Led Zeppelin.

Jason Bonham has been performing Led Zeppelin music on tour for over a decade. On this tour, he and his band played Physical Graffiti in its entirety. From the very opening riff of “Custard Pie,” the audience roared. When Bonham started the drums for “The Rover,” the crowd screamed. And when the pummeling guitar riff of “The Wanton Song” kicked in, the realization that Led Zeppelin’s music—now part of our collective DNA—was being performed to near perfection was complete. (A special note: “The Wanton Song” is not third on the Physical Graffiti tracklist. While the album was played in its entirety, it was not performed in order. Bonham even joked about audience members not being able to plan drink or bathroom breaks.)

This edition of JBLZE has the power, groove, and range of Led Zeppelin down to a science. Starting with Bonham’s not-so-secret weapon: Mr. Jimmy on guitar. A once-unknown guitarist in Japan, Akio Sakurai has dedicated his life to honoring Led Zeppelin guitarist and founder Jimmy Page. His moves and looks are reminiscent of the iconic guitarist, but most importantly, if you close your eyes, his playing is spot on. There’s even a documentary about Sakurai’s journey that’s well worth watching.

The rest of the band is equally talented and serves Jason and the music well. James Dylan on vocals has the unenviable task of taking on Robert Plant’s frontman/lead singer role. Unlike Sakurai, he doesn’t try to mimic Plant’s look or style. Instead, he relies on his voice, which handles everything from the howls of “Custard Pie” to the softer, almost humorous phrasings in “Black Country Woman.”

John Paul Jones was an incredible bass player, and JBLZE’s Dorian Heartsong is an accomplished artist and musician in his own right. His playing anchored the entire night, and he added mandolin to the acoustic part of the set. Rounding out the band was Alex Howland on keyboards and guitar.

If you’re a fan of Physical Graffiti, the band made every song feel like a highlight. They gathered in front of Jason’s drums for a three-song acoustic set featuring “Bron-Yr-Aur,” “Boogie with Stu,” and “Black Country Woman.” Alex Howland brought the funk to the keyboards, getting the audience moving and grooving during “Trampled Under Foot.” The final song from the album was the epic “Kashmir.” Jason explained how his father earned songwriting credits on the track by singing the iconic riff to Jimmy Page.

The two encore songs, not from Physical Graffiti, were “Whole Lotta Love” and “Rock and Roll.”

May 31 is John Bonham’s birthday, and he would have been 77 this year. Jason asked the audience to turn on their flashlights, raise them high, and give Bonzo a giant birthday cake. Bonzo’s presence was felt throughout the night in every drum hit and bass drum kick. His playing was so influential that it became the blueprint for much of rock music. (Many consider John Bonham the greatest drummer of all time, not just in rock.) Jason’s anecdotes were touching—like recalling the night his mom first saw Bonzo perform on stage—and funny, such as a young Jason asking his dad why the song “Houses of the Holy” isn’t on the album Houses of the Holy. The answer: “Because it’s Jimmy’s band.”

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening is not a tribute band. It’s an incredible tribute to the music, the album Physical Graffiti, the band Led Zeppelin, and the father and drummer, John Bonham. Jason Bonham may have had the hardest job of the evening, but his talent, passion, and love came through the entire night. He does his father’s legacy proud.

Keeping it all in the family, the opening act was Jager Henry, Jason Bonham’s son. He’s the singer and frontman of a band featuring Cash Lane on bass, Cameron Nino on guitar, and Michael Rose on drums. Jager has a ton of talent, and his eight-song set featured most of the tracks from his debut EP, Heart of Thorns. As he writes his own songs and makes his mark in the music world, Jager is definitely worth listening to and seeing in the future.