includes: Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring It On Home, Since I've Been Loving You, What Is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love (medley incl. High Heel Sneakers, Bottle Up and Go, Shake, Move On Down the Line, I'm Movin' On, Honey Bee, Lemon Song, Needle Blues), Communication Breakdown (medley: incl. Good Times Bad Times).
Press Review: "Zeppelin Zap"
The parting gesture to the New Haven Jaycees’ 1970 P Series arrived in the form of Led Zeppelin, a rock quartet whose reputation is largely explosive as nitroglycerin. Handled badly, the group goes up in smoke; handled well, the group provides nerve shattering musical gymnastics that cry out to the heavens.
Saturday night’s performance was handled brilliantly by the stage crew and even the sound system behaved sharply (an augmented reverb system was the electronic high point of the evening).
But lest one think that Led Zeppelin is a sedate, socially acceptable group, he may perish the thought. Led Zeppelin is the very reincarnation of the apocalyptic bad trip. The trip begins the moment John Henry Bonham throws the beat into first and power shifts straight to some nirvana. John Paul Jones swings his bass into play, Jimmy Page dives his guitar and Robert Plant cascades like pebbles in a landslide all over the stage.
The standard Zeppelin carved-in-granite stuff mingled with some new, surprisingly enchanting material, “The Golden Breath” (aka “Bron-YR-Aur”), a poignant, haunting tune by Page. The segues through Zeppelin I and II were exactly what the capacity crowd wanted.
One of the memorable moments came when Plant and company exited; leaving John Bonham to his sticks and drums. And for nearly 10 minutes, his “Moby Dick” solo showed once and for all that nobody this side of maybe Ginger Baker can crumble another drummer’s ego the way Bonham can.
“Big Girls Don’t Cry”, (aka “That’s the Way”), another unusual song, utilized a simple mandolin which Jones handled like a symphonic virtuoso. That the Way, Immigrant Song (soon to be released on Zeppelin III) and that ever-charting Whole Lotta Love, snapped, crackled and boomed for nearly three solid hours. And when the convoy of black Caddy limousines appeared, the crowd grew restive, refusing to let the boys go away so easily.
The closing encore was met by standing ovation and a general run ensued onto the stage. Police and Jaycee security held the line, but the fans did get to run alongside the limousine as it sped out the side gate and into history.
And under the full August moon; with the dust lingering behind the empty bowl, the people were going home stoned on electric Kool-Aid running full tap from Led Zeppelin’s keg of true rock professionalism.
Chalk up the 1970 Jaycee Pop Series as “Right On!” (P. Gionfriddo, New Haven Register, August 1970)
includes: Immigrant Song, Heartbreaker, Dazed and Confused, Bring It On Home, Since I've Been Loving You, What Is and What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love (medley), Communication Breakdown (medley: incl. Good Times Bad Times).
Press Review: "Zeppelin Zap"
The parting gesture to the New Haven Jaycees’ 1970 P Series arrived in the form of Led Zeppelin, a rock quartet whose reputation is largely explosive as nitroglycerin. Handled badly, the group goes up in smoke; handled well, the group provides nerve shattering musical gymnastics that cry out to the heavens.
Saturday night’s performance was handled brilliantly by the stage crew and even the sound system behaved sharply (an augmented reverb system was the electronic high point of the evening).
But lest one think that Led Zeppelin is a sedate, socially acceptable group, he may perish the thought. Led Zeppelin is the very reincarnation of the apocalyptic bad trip. The trip begins the moment John Henry Bonham throws the beat into first and power shifts straight to some nirvana. John Paul Jones swings his bass into play, Jimmy Page dives his guitar and Robert Plant cascades like pebbles in a landslide all over the stage.
The standard Zeppelin carved-in-granite stuff mingled with some new, surprisingly enchanting material, “The Golden Breath” (aka “Bron-YR-Aur”), a poignant, haunting tune by Page. The segues through Zeppelin I and II were exactly what the capacity crowd wanted.
One of the memorable moments came when Plant and company exited; leaving John Bonham to his sticks and drums. And for nearly 10 minutes, his “Moby Dick” solo showed once and for all that nobody this side of maybe Ginger Baker can crumble another drummer’s ego the way Bonham can.
“Big Girls Don’t Cry”, (aka “That’s the Way”), another unusual song, utilized a simple mandolin which Jones handled like a symphonic virtuoso. That the Way, Immigrant Song (soon to be released on Zeppelin III) and that ever-charting Whole Lotta Love, snapped, crackled and boomed for nearly three solid hours. And when the convoy of black Caddy limousines appeared, the crowd grew restive, refusing to let the boys go away so easily.
The closing encore was met by standing ovation and a general run ensued onto the stage. Police and Jaycee security held the line, but the fans did get to run alongside the limousine as it sped out the side gate and into history.
And under the full August moon; with the dust lingering behind the empty bowl, the people were going home stoned on electric Kool-Aid running full tap from Led Zeppelin’s keg of true rock professionalism.
Chalk up the 1970 Jaycee Pop Series as “Right On!” (P. Gionfriddo, New Haven Register, August 1970)
January 19, 2011 11:30am Stevie Mac
Still remember the big sound of the new "Immigrant Song" at the start of this concert. Nobody at that time really knew the significance of witnessing one of the premier rock acts of all time. Glad I could be there for about 5 bucks--Yeah, do you believe it? My guitar-playing son would have loved to have been there with me--but I guess he really was. At 60 years of age, I say--Rock on, Zep!
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Yale Bowl Concert 8/15/1970
December 10, 2007 5:36pm Michael
I was only 16 years old but had been to couple of concerts. I was a little bummed out when they first appeared I think it was Robert Plant moaning about how he hated New Haven. I remember there being a bit of a to do over how loud they could set their amps. The Yale bowl is situated in a in a residential area and the organizers had assure the community that they would keep it at reasonable level what ever that is. Anyway the band didn't like it and they let the crowd know it. Hell, we just wanted to hear them play. Well when they did it was amazing, unbelievable and incredible. If they had a problem with New Haven it didn't show up in the music. And I can't imagine anyone giving a better performance than John Bonham, he was incredible anyone that went to that concert unless they were totaly fried would have remembered Bonham. His hands must have been bleeding when that concerted ended.
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Yale Bowl - August 15, 1970
December 27, 2010 7:00pm Lucius
This is the only Led Zeppelin concert I've attended. I was 18.
What an unexpected delight to find the review from "The New Haven Register" featured. "Zeppelin Zap" What a frickin' goof! But he called it (P. Gionfriddo), and it was a trip down memory lane (back in the late Sixties, a high school budy of mine worked part-time at "The Register").
Much obliged to the Webmaster and to Led Zep for maintaining an A#1 site. Cheers.
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Concert description
March 4, 2008 5:47am Argenteum Astrum
This is a monstrous show, with Robert's voice reaching unbelievable heights, as well as the band being unstoppable. Listen to Dazed And Confused and the Whole Lotta Love medley ... unreal stuff! Even Bonham's drum solo is thunderous and exciting.
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Yale Bowl Concert Set List
December 20, 2011 11:01am Greg Cox
This concert has always had a setlist that omits the JPJ Organ Solo and Thank You. My guess is was a monster version and the original taper kept the vintage version to himself. But there is no reason why they shouldn't have played Thank You at this venue, since it was the highlight of their concert, as Stairway would become to concerts in 1971 and thereafter.
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Best Concert I ever seen
October 31, 2010 2:16pm Frank Baccki
I was 11 yrs old I bought my sister a Led Zeppelin LP for here birthday when she opened it and played the LP I started to cry I thought it was the worse music I ever heard She said no Frankie this band is going to go a long way Well that summer she had bought tickets to go see Led Zeppelin at the Yale Bowl and took me with her I was only 11 and was blown away I had never heard a group play rock&roll like that the drummer was fuck en GREAT that hook me and never missed anything that Led Zeppelin did.In our life's we will never see or hear a band like the Zep again
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new haven show
June 10, 2008 12:11pm dp
This was the first rock concert I'd ever been to. Was 14. Remember visiting a friend in 69 and him putting on the first album. Blew my mind. Yale bowl was about two miles from where I grew up. Second record came out and the concert was announced. Got tickets.
They came on stage while still light. No opening act. Didn't recognize them. Plant had hair down to his belt and a pair of star painted boots. Jimmy had a beard. He picked up the guitar and they started 'The Immigrant Song."
Holy shit! My life changed. (not sure for the better but It's the only one I have) A most incredible experience.
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impressions on the evening
June 12, 2008 8:24pm mike
nice weather,
zonked,
could not believe a band could sound that good,
loud enough,
they just played the songs, very little delay between songs,
don't remember plant complaining (or do i?),
i would really like to get the bootleg (rare short party?) please help
new haven was wierd about concerts at the bowl
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One of the Greatest Rock Shows Ever
March 30, 2008 5:07pmRobert DeLeon
I was very fortunate to have been at the Led Zeppelin performance on August 15, 1970 at the Yale Bowl in New Haven - and proceeded to put on one of the best rock shows I had ever witnessed. I was especially knocked out by "Heartbreaker" and "Moby Dick". This show is one of the most treasured memories of my youth - especially now being in my 50's and a grandfather. Both of my grown daughters (Zeppelin fans as well) are jealous that I was able to see them and they were not! If there is a reunion tour in the works, one way or another, I'll be there!
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Zep concert
May 10, 2010 4:14pmValerie Ward
Wasn't YES the opening act for that night?
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No .......No opening act
November 6, 2010 2:28amFrank Baccki
No .......No opening act
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no opening act. 'Yes' opened
August 7, 2016 11:25amdp
no opening act. 'Yes' opened for 'Grand Funk'. Grand Junk by then but can't blame em for tryin.
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yes opening act
June 27, 2014 3:01pmdp
valerie
as I recall 44 yrs back - 'yes' opened for 'GFRailroad' that summer.
The summer series also had eric clapton (a horrible mess that night)
& lastly 'the greatful dead' where there was some outside disturbance and concerts @ the bowl have been unbookable since.
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43 YEARS AGO TONIGHT
August 15, 2013 3:35pmScott
I still remeber it well, no warm-up band and Plant belting out their opening song "The Immigrant Song." It was my first concert! What a way to start! Saw them 3 times after that. I still have the ticket stubs and the program from that memoriable evening.
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No, no opening act at all on 1970 N American Tours.
August 22, 2013 5:27pm Billy
Sorry, but LZ did not have opening acts on their 1970 North American Tours. They advertised the shows specifically as "An Evening With..." and stated the "2 1/2 Hour" stage time (however accurate that actually was depends on the show). But the point is LZ could handle shows all alone by that point.
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My mom worked for Silly Putty
April 28, 2019 11:50am Guy Berfield
My mom worked for Silly Putty, one of the sponsors of the summer shows at the Yale Bowl. I was 15 years old during the summer of '70, a drummer and paying in high school band in Branford. Our bass player went on to work for several recording studios in NYC. I went on to work for Dick James, the publisher of the Beatles, Elton, Hollies, Trogg's, A.L. Weber and a bunch of other artists including Johnny Guitar Watson whi is credited for turning Jimmy Hendrix on to the wah wah pedal...
Thanks for this website...glad to see these comments, photos, memories...Good stuff !!
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Yeah, man. I was 15, as well.
June 28, 2019 2:37pm Ray Frigon
Yeah, man. I was 15, as well. I think the Immigrant Song may have been one of the most jaw dropping moments I ever experienced at a concert. JB's green sparkle drum set was a real surprise to my eyes. Had never seen that color on a pro's kit before. The whole show was mindblowing for me at that age. I think the only thing I ever heard that was louder was GFR. I was amazed at the size of the Bowl PA system.
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I was 16 and this was my
May 31, 2021 1:09pm Rick
I was 16 and this was my first concert. Purchased tickets at the door for $6.50! Simply awesome show from beginning to end. I was already a big fan, but this show put me over the top! Great memories!
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