Last year's Wayne "Led" Sorbelli's Zeppelin Experience Tribute Show — opening for national touring act Billion Dollar Babies (Alice Cooper tribute band) on Saturday, March 12, 2022 at the Key West Theater — was so much fun to a standing room only crowd.

512 Eaton Street, Key West Island, Florida. One of the best nights I've had on that stage.

The Double Neck SG

Unlike my 2021 shows, I added the double neck SG guitar in 2022. That decision changed everything about the set.

I added "When The Levee Breaks" to the show, and the double neck was the only way to do it right. I love the 12-string side for the slide guitar parts, and for adding in string section parts — violin and cello parts — with the special help of my finger slide.

There's something about picking up that white double neck that just puts you in a different headspace. It's a statement before you play a single note. The audience sees it and they know something big is coming.

When The Levee Breaks

This is an early 1900s American standard — originally "When the Levee Breaks" by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe. I pay tribute here to the Led Zeppelin cover version using Jimmy Page's arrangement.

But when it comes time for the solo, I lean into the Derek Trucks solo from the Play for Change version — the one featuring John Paul Jones (Zep's bassist, for any LZ newcomers reading this). That combination of Page's arrangement and Trucks' solo phrasing is something I've been working on for years, and the 2022 show was the first time I felt like I really nailed it in front of a live audience.

Opening for Billion Dollar Babies

Getting to open for a national touring act is always a privilege. Billion Dollar Babies is one of the best Alice Cooper tribute acts out there, and their crowd was ready to rock from the moment the doors opened.

Our set ran 8 to 9 PM, and by the time we finished, the room was already electric. That's the best kind of warm-up — when the opener leaves the crowd wanting more, and the headliner gets to ride that energy.

Thank You, Key West

Every time I play the Key West Theater, I'm reminded of why I do this. This city has supported me, supported Island Guitar, and supported Nicky's Celebration in ways I can never fully repay.

Standing room only. That's not something you take for granted.

Thank you, Key West. See you at the next one.

— Wayne