Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. This is usually the premise of most rock tribute acts - an art form that has exploded into pop culture by providing a close-up, just-like-the-real-thing experience of a rock show without the excessive ticket prices.
Asheville's Custard Pie, a tribute to Led Zeppelin, pays homage to the long-standing lords of rock without compromising their own individual identities - no small feat considering Zeppelin's far-reaching fame."We enjoy this band and just want to have a great time doing it," says Custard Pie guitarist Aaron "Woody" Wood (founder of Hollywood Red and formerly of the hot band the Blue Rags). "We want to pay respectful tribute, but sometimes I've just gotta say 'Hey, Mr. Jimmy Page, I love the way you play guitar, but I'm gonna do it this way."
Custard Pie was the brainchild of bassist David Connor Jones. Jones approached Wood last summer about putting together a Zeppelin tribute act. Vocalist Rhett Thurman (formerly of Menage) and drummer Jamie Stirling (of the Merle and Drug Money) came on board soon after. A Custard Pie set list has all of the hallmarks of a classic Zeppelin set, plus the band's Web site promises that they will eventually learn the entire catalog.
"It's a lot of fun," Wood admits. "When I listen to Led Zeppelin, or any band that sent a lot of ripples out, (I) hear the hardship that these people went through, what they were influenced by, and how they made their own music (from it) - that's what drives me and pushes me (with my own music)."
Custard Pie and its members have been sending out their own ripples, at least regionally. In the short time that the group has been together, they've been packing area clubs and taking no prisoners.
"I personally think that Jimmy Page is a hell of a songwriter," Wood says. "His compositions and arrangements are fun to play - they're not the most difficult in the world ... his playing has a lot of soul and spirit to it."
Custard Pie makes an appearance at the French Broad River Brewery for an early 5:30 p.m. show on Wednesday. They'll be joined for a rare acoustic night by friend and multi-instrumentalist Jason Krekel (of Mad Tea Party), on banjo and mandolin.
"It's gonna be a special all-acoustic night," Wood says. "We'll probably never do this again - so get there early or you might be standing in the parking lot," Wood laughs.
Wood and his bandmates' appreciation for their chosen subject matter is readily apparent.
"(We're) taking songs that hundreds of thousands of people have heard and been affected by," Wood explains. "... Led Zeppelin is no longer rock music, they're folk music -they've become a part of our collective unconscious."
