Zepparella, the San Francisco based all-female powerhouse group, brings the music of Led Zeppelin alive, Thursday, June 5, at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center.
More than just a tribute band, Zepparella shows replicate the powerful improvisational musical journey for which Led Zeppelin shows were renowned. Lead by drummer extraordinaire Clementine, the band is also comprised of guitar virtuoso Gretchen Menn, unstoppable bassist Holly West and soulful and fiery vocalist Anna Kristina.
Over the years the Zepparella line up has evolved with members leaving and joining the band, each contributing something unique to the group, yet the song has remained the same for the band’s two constants – Clementine and Menn.
“My friendship with Gretchen for these last 16-17 years has been a wonderful template on which the vibe of the band has been built. Creative relationships can be difficult ones, and from the start we decided to focus on promoting, supporting and loving each other, so that when the hard conversations have to happen, we know that the other person is speaking with our best interest at heart,” explains Clementine. “My gratitude for knowing these amazing women, for having the great fortune to have gotten to share this incredible experience with them, knows no bounds. We’ve always supported the band members’ solo careers, and have seen Zepparella as a great platform from which to share the individual voices that make up the band.”
Drummer Clementine is the founding member of Zepparella. From the beginning of her musical career, her goal has been to be onstage every night. The pursuit of that goal has led Clementine to constantly tour the US and Europe in projects as diverse as Bottom, AC/DShe, The House Of More, The Solid, Francis Bakin, Stars Turn Me On and Beaux Cheveux. She tackles the best rock drumming ever written with her own emotionally powerful style, bringing the Motown influence of the Bonham groove to the forefront.
It was under the tutelage of classical guitarist Phillip DeFremery, a student of Andrés Segovia, that guitarist Gretchen Menn began her path on the instrument. Playing with tireless passion and constantly seeking out new challenges, her projects are often unconventional, genre-bending expressions combining elements of classical, rock, progressive, jazz, and metal. On influences, Menn has never tired of her initial inspirations—Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Frank Zappa, and Jeff Beck. But she has loved Jimmy Page’s guitar playing longer than she has played the guitar. It was through the music of Led Zeppelin that she found a gateway into music that resonated deeply with her, creating a love for guitar-oriented music, and, ultimately, the guitar.
Bassist Holly West a self-taught bass player, also a blossoming vocalist with rich rock pipes. West has spent her career playing with various acts around the Dallas area, including Love Stricken Demise and Honey. She has toured with blues power trio Woody’s Rampage.
Finally, singer Anna Kristina returns after a break from Zepparella. She is a rocking vocal powerhouse with a sensitivity that can bring you to tears. Her love of music and singing are revealed in her compelling and electric live performances. With a strong background in the classics: from Chekhov to Shakespeare, fronting the popular jazz group “Jazz on the Line” in college, and finally going on to forming performing her own songs in ‘The Anna Kristina Sessions”, Kristina’s deep knowledge and passion of numerous musical genres comes through in her nuanced performances.
Zepparella has added several new songs to their already explosive and comprehensive set of Led Zeppelin songs. And now more than ever, Zepparella explores their own improvised magic within the framework of these mighty songs.
“There will always be Zeppelin songs I will be unable to master. Bonham was a genius, a maestro, and a virtuoso. I am not that. This is the reason I see no reason in stopping, no way of getting tired of this music,” says Clementine. “I will love this music forever.”
WHAT: Zepparella
WHEN: Thursday, June 5, Doors 7:00pm, Show 8:00pm, $32.74/adv, $37.87/door, All-Ages
WHERE: Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring Street, Nevada City, CA
TICKETS: Tickets are available online at www.minersfoundry.org, in person or by phone at the Miners Foundry, (530) 265-5040