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In the aftermath of Led Zeppelin’s reunion show in December, there seemed to be only one logical course of action for the band’s surviving personnel. Now that they had played so well together, what could possibly stop them from touring? Almost six months later, at this more low-key affair, the answer – in the form of the fiddle-playing country-bluegrass star Alison Krauss – could be found staring Plant in the face, as the two reprised their million-selling Raising Sand collaboration.
Over two hours, it all amounted to the fact that Plant is a man in love – not with Krauss (though, at times, you had to wonder) but with the many dark shades of American roots music. In the hands of a lesser singer with a bigger ego, this show might have ended up as an exercise in musical tourism. But his desire to serve the songs’ beauty was visibly apparent.
For Killing the Blues, their voices merged like two exit wounds from a single broken heart. On Through the Morning, Through the Night, he stepped back and saw what the rest of us saw – Krauss’s voice gently drawing all the sweetness and bitterness from Gene Clark’s original and exhibiting it before us. And then the violin solo. If Plant had the smitten air of a privileged fan, who could blame him?
The mood of egalitarian bonhomie was fine, but – even if Plant seemed eager to play down his part – all eyes returned to his leonine mane and impressive hip action. Indeed, it was his presence on Emmylou Harris’s Green Pastures and Bon Temps Rouler – a vocal cameo from the guitarist and Raising Sand producer T-Bone Burnett – that stopped the evening from straying too eagerly on to grandma’s back porch.
Snaking upwards from a single, elemental beat, When the Levee Breaks sounded as close as notes and chords ever got to a severe weather warning. Dedicated to the late Sandy Denny, a second Zeppelin song, Battle of Evermore, saw Krauss and Plant trading lines before the band’s clattering upswell released something deep within the 59-year-old singer.
Eyes scrunched shut, he picked up his mike stand, jabbed the lyric into submission and, finally, located some common ground between his old life and his current one. You can take the man out of Led Zeppelin, but there’s a part of Robert Plant that will forever be Led Zeppelin – and this evening was none the worse for it.
Wembley Arena, London, May 22 2008
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One of the best concerts I've been to. I'm biased - I'd pay top dollar to see Alison Krauss, and Plant is simply Rock God. But the way in which tracks from the album were interlaced with showcases of her amazing voice on more country-styled numbers made for a great evening. Read the Guardian review!
Bob Digby, Grampound, United Kingdom
at the wembley show last night (22nd) - eerie, hypnotic and spellbinding and hugely charged - best gig of the year by a country mile. The treatment of the Zep standards was astonishing and the lucky few that managed to see this show were truly honoured
Mark Wislon, shrewsbury,
I saw the show in Cardiff. It was absolutely brilliant. Superb musicianship and wonderful reworking of some Zeppelin songs too. Plant, Krauss and the band were on fire. It was a privilege to be there.
David Burton, Faversham, United Kingdom
Guess I was one of the few people who were falling asleep at the end of that performance - the sooner Plant ditches that band and gets back to Zeppelin the better.
Trev, Borchester,
For an hour after the show I was mute with admiration and I am still,even now, processing the gig. Musicianship such as I had never seen; elemental. B of E with one of the few singers that could equal Sandy for emotional impact curving her voice around Plant's iconic vocal. A waking dream. I wept.
Claire Aindow, Bolton, Lancashire
A front row seat listening to Robert Plant 'deconstruct' other's music and songs (his words not mine) was a privilege. Seated in the front row listening to Plant, Krauss et al - a privilege worth paying double for. Truly wonderful musicianship by artists of real quality.
Mike Morrison, Chesham, Bucks
Was also at Birmingham NIA fantastic show and what an education. T-Bone Burnett, a new name for me but I have already downloaded his latest. Its difficult to imagine a more imaginative pairing than Krauss and Plant powerful, deep and very very satisfying will we ever see this repeated
Nick Bowling, Stroud,
Saw Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at Birmingham NIA on May 5th. What a breathtaking performance from both artists.. alas it was all over much too soon....
Maria Lynn, Coventry, UK
Robert, don't fight it. Led zep is the biggest band in the world. Have we lost you, I don't think so.
Terry Conway, Stansted, Essex
t bone burnett leading a blindin band. alison krauss singing like a bird. robert plant sounding great and taking a back seat every ten minutes. result? best gig of the year, already!
joy merryweather, ellesmere port, uk
Watched the show in CIA, Cardiff. Truly a five star performance. Krauss's vocals were breathtaking and the musicianship was second to none. Plant just keeps on raising the standard. A never to be forgotten performance.
Lee Samuel, Miskin, Wales
A superb show at the Apollo, Manchester. The chemistry between Plant / Krauss and the band was mesmerising.
The icing on the delicious cake? The tribute to Sandy Denny,
Battle of Evermore. That was a real surprise, I had goosebumps on my goosebumps.
Pat, Windermere, England
Watched the CIA show. 5 stars without a doubt. I have seen Plant many times but this was something special. Krauss's vocals are breathtaking and the musicianship was second to none. Plant just keeps on raising the standard. A never to be forgotten performance.
Lee, Miskin, Wales
I was also at the apollo show. This was a definate 5 star event. Plant, Krauss and the band were all excellent, different genre's weaved together in a hypnotic show of pure class. Where can you hear music like this anywhere else. 2 hours and ten minutes of magic.
Steve Morton, York,
It should be 5 stars. the Birmingham was the finest expample of rock/bluegrass/country fusion I'm ever likely to see...alison the angel and robert the reformed heathen. brilliant.
brendan george, london, united kingdom
Saw the show in Cardiff - the band were stunning.
Townes Van Vandt's song Nothing had to be the highlight - but there were so many to choose from.
Led Zep songs were featured - including the obscure Hey Hey What Can I Do - plus a very different version of Black Dog.
A great night.
Tim, Risca, Wales
so why not 5 stars we saw the gif on monday in birmingham awesome
michael crewe, knaresborough,