Don't ask, don't tell, just rock

FERNDALE – No, the women of Lez Zeppelin, the all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band, are not all lesbians. At least, they aren't saying and, frankly, it's doubtful.
But for lesbian rock fans, you've got to admit, hearing Brooke Gengras, a.k.a. Roberta Plant, sing, "Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove," is pretty damn hot.
For those readers worried about anyone, let alone four women, daring to take on the music of one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time, fear not. Led Zeppelin's spirit is in very fine hands.
Lez Zeppelin aren't a gimmicky cover band, hacking out the hits. "We don't even really want to call ourselves a tribute band," said guitarist Steph Paynes. "We're a band that plays the music of Led Zeppelin. You might say we're the sheincarnation of Led Zeppelin."
The New York based band, which includes Lisa Brigantino on bass and drummer Wendy Kidd, has been playing as Lez Zeppelin for "about a year and a half," said Paynes.
Why Led Zeppelin? "Because it's the best rock music that there is," said Paynes.
As a musician Led Zeppelin's music offers "pretty much everything. Their cannon is so diverse," added Paynes.
Whether they're playing Zeppelin's hardest rocking stuff or celtic-influenced ballads, "It's great music to channel your musical self through," she said. "We just find it very challenging and rewarding. It never gets boring."
It was Paynes who came up with the idea for the band – and the name. "When it struck me I knew that was the name," she said.
Of course, with a name like Lez Zeppelin, questions about the band's sexuality are bound to crop up. In fact, said Paynes, many people make the assumption that the band is all lesbian, but she doesn't care. "Our policy really is to say it's strict Clintonian 'don't ask don't tell.' Whatever assumptions are made is really fine with us, but it's just something we don't feel we want to divulge. It's not really about that."
Paynes said people make a lot of assumptions about the group, especially about the ability of four women to pull off playing Led Zeppelin at all, let alone well.
"That's kind of the beauty of the group, is that so many people make so many assumptions about so many things," said Paynes.
"'How are girls going to pull that off?'" she said, imitating a detractor. "'Can girls play this music? Ha ha, I doubt it.' Of course then they show up and their jaws drop and they can't believe what they're hearing."
Paynes is clearly a woman comfortable in her sexuality and her musical ability. "Whatever they think is fine."
What people have been thinking is that Lez Zeppelin is pretty freakin' awesome. Not only has the press been great, but hard core Led Zeppelin fans have gotten word and come to Lez Zeppelin's shows.
"This is a cannon of music that people have been idolizing," said Paynes. "The Led Zeppelin network of people who are completely immersed in the mythology of Led Zeppelin is awe inspiring and they come to our shows more and more."
"They love us playing it," she added. "It's what turns them on and they're into it."
But you don't have to be a die-hard Led Zeppelin fan to appreciate what Lez Zeppelin does. You just have to love rock and roll.
"People are hungry to see this kind of music performed," said Paynes. "No one gets a rock show any more and that's what we do, we come out and give them a rock show from another era."
When Paynes speaks about the best part of being in the band, she doesn't speak about groupies or beer or being worshiped as a rock goddess. In fact, her answer is decidedly not macho.
"It's just such a great experience to be playing this music that you really love and at the same time expressing yourself through it and having, almost 100 percent of the time, a completely appreciative and excited audience to do it in front of," she said. "When you see how happy you've made people, that's the best thing."