By Vlad T, Journalist, Rock At Night Detroit and Chyrisse Tabone, Photographer, Rock At Night Tampa

Venue: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa, FL – Date: November 25, 2025
Tour: Celebrating 50 Years of Physical Graffiti

There is a distinct difference between a tribute act and a legacy preservation society. On Tuesday night at the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening (JBLZE) proved emphatically that they belong to the latter. In a year that marks the half-century anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s magnum opus, Physical Graffiti, Bonham and his cohort didn’t just play the songs; they summoned the very ghosts of 1975, delivering a performance that felt less like a concert and more like a séance for the golden age of rock.

The evening was anchored, of course, by the man whose name was on the marquee. Jason Bonham has long ceased to be merely “the son of the drummer”; he is a powerhouse percussionist in his own right, possessing the same heavy-footed, canyon-echo thunder that made his father, John Bonham, a legend. Throughout the night, Jason’s performance was a masterclass in pace and power. Whether driving the funk-laden groove of “Trampled Under Foot” or navigating the hypnotic, staggering beats of “Kashmir,” his drumming was the engine room of the night—tight, muscular, and relentlessly driving.

But it was the spaces between the songs where Jason truly cemented the emotional weight of the evening. His storytelling has become an integral part of the JBLZE experience, and, on this night, he was particularly poignant. Sharing heartfelt anecdotes about his father “Bonzo” and growing up in the shadow of the world’s biggest rock band, Jason bridged the gap between the mythic figures of Led Zeppelin and the human beings behind the music. These moments of vulnerability gave the thundering rock spectacle a surprisingly intimate heart.

While Bonham provided the heartbeat, the soul of the visual and sonic aesthetic belonged to guitarist Jimmy Sakurai. Known to fans simply as “Mr. Jimmy,” Sakurai’s commitment to the role of Jimmy Page is nothing short of rigorous. It is not merely that he plays the notes correctly; it is that he inhabits the persona entirely. From the slouch and the swagger to the erratic-yet-graceful stage moves, Sakurai was a stunning mirror image of mid-70s Page. When he tore through the riff of “The Wanton Song,” you could see the crowd do a collective double-take. He captured the sloppy brilliance and the dangerous edge that made Page’s live performances so electrifying.

Frontman James Dylan faced perhaps the most dauntless task: channeling Robert Plant without falling into the trap of parody. Dylan succeeded by striking a careful balance. His vocals were faithful to the source material—hitting the high wails in “In My Time of Dying” and “The Rover” with piercing clarity—but there was a thoughtfulness to his delivery that felt personal. He didn’t just mimic Plant’s “Golden God” persona; he interpreted the lyrics with a grit and soulfulness that respected the aging of the music. He allowed the songs to breathe, proving that this music is timeless enough to withstand a modern interpretation.

The setlist, dominated by the Physical Graffiti tracks, was a treat for the die-hards. Hearing complex, rarely played gems like “In the Light” and “Ten Years Gone” live was a reminder of the original band’s incredible range. The night reached its fever pitch, naturally, with the obligatory but ever-potent “Whole Lotta Love,” leaving the Tampa crowd awash in feedback and nostalgia.

For the fans who packed the Hard Rock Event Center—spanning generations from those who bought Physical Graffiti on vinyl in 1975 to those who stream it today—this was more than a cover show. It was a celebration of lineage, a testament to musical mastery, and a memorable evening where, for a few hours, the song…remained the same.

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