Robert Plant - Still Cooler Than You at the Beacon Theater

I had wanted to see this show but hesitated both due to the timing and the price.  Shows are getting expensive since my son has been attending with me so I didn't grab these when they went on sale.  A friend of mine called this past Saturday and made me too good an offer for third row center.  How could I say no?

Being well prepared for what the Band of Joy plays and more importantly how they play it, I was really looking forward to seeing the show.  Robert Plant has really aged quite gracefully for a rock star.  It was so refreshing seeing someone from the 70's re-work old classics and also play new music with such enthusiasm and joy.  He is playing what he wants, with whom he wants, exactly the way he wants.  It was great being along for the ride Sunday night.

Opening with a swampy Misty Mountain Hop, Plant and the band played a well planned mix of material from the Band of Joy album, some Zep covers and a couple of solo numbers.  The oldies were re-worked but very much enjoyable.  Houses of the Holy grooved and Ramble on rocked, Tangerine and Gallow's Pole were not all that unlike the original versions.  Rock & Roll got kind of a hillbilly treatment.  All were quite good.  Tall Cool One and In The Mood also worked well in this format. From the new album Angel Dance and House of Cards were particularly good. 

The band really plays well together and you can't ever go wrong having Buddy Miller as your guitar player. Buddy, Darrell Scott, and Patty Griffin all had solo spots with Robert Plant happy to sing back up or play some harmonica. In particular Darrell Scott was a revelation having not been familiar with his work...an omission I am currently rectifying.

I for one can live without a Zep reunion, as much as I love them.  I could never be the same.  The O2 shows will have to do and there are plenty of shows out there.  You really need to check out the Band of Joy if they make it back here.  It was a truly great evening of music.

Here are a few clips of the Band of Joy.  Quality is so-so but you get the idea.  There is also a ROIO form London last fall that is easy to track down and it has excellent sound.  Search it out, it's worth the effort.

Stream the Robert Plant Album

New Robert Plant September 14th

The new Robert Plant album Band of Joy drops September 14th. Produced again by Buddy Miller, this one builds on Raising Sand and incorporates a little Zep III sound. What is so nice to hear is one of the older rockers making music that reflects his own maturity and that of so many of us who grew up in the 70's. I for one don't want any Zep reunion tours. It could never be the same. Hell I was there at MSG in 77 and they were already in decline. This is music for the here and now, not born of nostalgia but of what speaks to the artist in 2010. More power to you Robert. I for one can't wait to hear the whole thing.







And here is Band of Joy doing some Zep covers...