Robert Plant Band of Joy Tour 2011

[SteveAJones]

Robert Plant Offers Grace, Variety At MGM Grand

Robert Plant And The Band Of Joy (Nick Caito / CTNow / January 28, 2011\

By THOMAS KINTNER, Special to the Courant The Hartford Courant January 30, 2011

The last few years have brought a satisfying revival for Robert Plant, as the venerable rock front man has gone on roots-music forays well beyond his lasting image as the vocal wattage that drove Led Zeppelin.

The latest of those projects is his work with the Band of Joy, a group loaded with impressive performers that cast a wide net in an enticing performance Friday night at the Foxwoods Casino's MGM Grand Theater in Mashantucket.

Plant's voice at 62 is a different instrument than it was in his youth, one that has aged with considerable grace. His singing hovered at a cool simmer as his five-piece band nudged the slinky rock sway of "Angel Dance," with Buddy Miller's electric guitar giving it the firmest jabs. Plant infrequently stretched out to high registers as he navigated his 1993 tune "Down to the Sea" with displays of character and technique, relying on nuance and craft.

With blues and country conventions lining every offering, even rock numbers had as much shape as power, whether the chugging rumble of "Cindy, I'll Marry You Someday" or a two-tone version of Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy," which started on a cowboy trip gilded by crack multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott on pedal steel guitar before building to a thunderous rock conclusion in which Scott shifted to an electric guitar.

Plant gave Richard Thompson's "House of Cards" a mannered delivery with vibrant flourishes, punching up its roomy groove. In adorning the mellow blues gospel of "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down," Plant's delicate handling included a near-withholding of many syllables in the song's early portions while Scott plucked out a ringing banjo backdrop.

Patty Griffin forged frequent vocal alloys with Plant, but was more compelling within the band's framework as a source of accents and counterpoint, adding bright spots to "You Can't Buy My Love." Her lead on the sturdy gospel of "Move Up" was lively and sharp, while Miller's gruff, snappy lead on "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go" served as a different, equally pleasant alternative direction. Scott's rugged voicing of "Satisfied Mind" was barroom country with substantial wallop as the rest of the band loaded its chorus.

Led Zeppelin tunes were well-treated reinventions, from a measured, twang-laced "Tangerine" to a shimmering trip across "Ramble On" framed in a reserved cadence without sacrificing its hearty propulsion. A driving offering of Plant's "Tall Cool One" built smartly atop Miller's temperate guitar howl.

Drummer Marco Giovino and bass player Byron House coalesced into an earthy backdrop to anchor the set-closing "Gallows Pole" while Plant fashioned its lines with care. An encore of "In the Mood" was an understated, luxuriant flow across the familiar, while "Rock and Roll" erupted in a rockabilly rendition that gave the ultimate expression of rock abandon a manicure against which Plant did not need to shriek to spur it forward. A finale of "And We Bid You Goodnight" found the band taking turns on vocals, providing a recap of the many flavors with which the show so pleasantly flowed.

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy's Friday set list: "Angel Dance," "Down to the Sea," "Cindy, I'll Marry you Someday," "You Can't buy my Love," "Houses of the Holy," "House of Cards," "12 Gates to the City," "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down," "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go" (Miller), "Nobody's Fault but Mine," "Monkey," "Satisfied Mind" (Scott), "Tangerine," "Move Up" (Griffin), "Ramble On," "Tall Cool One," "Gallows Pole," (Encore) "In the Mood," "Rock and Roll," "And We Bid You Goodnight."

http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/music/hc-robert-plant-review-0130-20110129,0,1145107.story

More Pictures Of Robert Plant At MGM Grand (14):

http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/music/hc-robert-plant-pictures-mgm-grand-foxwoods-pg,0,7493221.photogallery

[SteveAJones]

Concert preview: Robert Plant & the Band of Joy

Special for the Atlanta Journal & Constituion

Any Robert Plant interview almost has to include an inquiry about a Led Zeppelin reunion.

But one really doesn't need his words to know Plant's stance on the issue. His musical projects over the past three years the period since Led Zeppelin reunited for a one-off concert as part of a memorial event for the late head of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun -- pretty much make Plant's intentions clear.First came the 2008 CD, "Raising Sand," which paired the former Zeppelin front man with Alison Krauss performing a mostly low-key collection of rootsy bluegrass/country influenced covers. The CD went on to win the 2009 Grammy award for album of the year.

Now Plant has released a new CD, "Band of Joy," and is playing its music on a run of winter dates in the U.S. This time, Plant is taking his exploration of American roots music in new directions, with the help of such stellar band members as guitarist Buddy Miller, mandolin player/multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott and singer Patty Griffin.

"I'm doing an interview with you because I am very proud of what I'm doing now in the present tense," Plant said, once again shooting down any prospect of a Zeppelin reunion. "That really is my entire raison d'etre …I'm on a journey here."

To Plant, it was understood that the 2007 reunion show would be a one-time event.

"I don't think we've ever thought of it going any further, to be honest," Plant said. "I think the great thing about it was that we could do it, and we did it really well with dignity and with excitement. The idea of traveling around the sports facilities of the world is something that would have to be thought about really, really carefully."

That opinion, however, may have changed in the aftermath of the reunion gig. There have been reports online and in the print media that Plant's former band mates, guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, are both interested in a reunion tour, and may have auditioned different singers (including Aerosmith's Steven Tyler) to fill Plant's role as front man.

The other musician involved in the reunion, Jason Bonham (son of the late Zeppelin drummer John Bonham) also has expressed enthusiasm in press reports for a Zeppelin reunion and said that he, Page and Jones spent time in 2008 working on material and rehearsing.

Those rehearsals never panned out. Jones has been gigging as part of the super group Them Crooked Vultures (with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age). And Page has a solo album in the works. But even those facts haven't quieted the rumors of a future for Led Zeppelin.

For Plant, though, playing the December 2007 reunion accomplished the goals he had for Zeppelin, essentially bringing closure to a band career that ended with Bonham's death in 1980.

"That night was a spectacular night," he said. "It was really something special. For me now, I can't see any way of it carrying on."

Being in the moment creatively and moving forward artistically are clearly top priorities for Plant.

While the "Band Of Joy" CD is not a part two of "Raising Sand" by any means, Plant sees it as a next step in his musical journey one in which he is gaining musical knowledge and learning to sing in different styles and intensities.

"Obviously there's a continuum because I went back to Buddy [Miller] and back to Nashville, where I knew I could get all of the jobs done in one place," Plant said. "Now bear in mind, I'm the student here. And when we sit on the bus together, everybody else is in one place and I'm kind of playing catch-up on a lot of other American music that I didn't know about.

"It's a great learning curve for me, but it [the music on "Band Of Joy"] is a lot tougher and it's much more tricky than 'Raising Sand,'" he said. "It really does growl and clunk and it comes out of the church. It's Sunday morning and definitely Saturday night."

The album, named after Plant's pre-Led Zeppelin group, Band of Joy, began with Plant recruiting Miller, a key band member on the "Raising Sand" tour, to produce, choose songs, recruit musicians and coordinate recording sessions for the new CD.

"Initially we created a very pastoral sound," Plant said. "We were making a very pretty record. And over Christmas I realized I've got to have some sinew in there. I called Buddy and I said we need to pump this thing up a bit and get even more dynamic interplay between the moods of the songs. He suggested I think about Patty [Griffin], and I said 'Of course.' Patty's got just the right voice to bring the edge onto the record, to create a bit more of a cutting edge. And also, [there was] a change of material, with a lot more kind of spook, so the second session became much tougher and much more psychedelic, if you like."

The entire core lineup of Band Of Joy is on tour with Plant now Miller, Scott, Griffin, drummer Marco Giovino and bassist Byron House and the singer expects the new material to evolve further as the group performs its concerts. With Plant, Griffin, Scott, Miller and House all being accomplished singers, Plant said the shows have become a "massive vocal experience."

The musical format and musicians involved also are letting Plant reinterpret some songs from the Zeppelin catalog, with Griffin playing a key role. He noted she takes the song "Nobody's Fault but Mine" down a notably different path.

"I can't tell you how impressed I am with Patty," Plant said. "The way that she connects with me on stage is both humorous and incredible. When we both let rip … we take things up a notch."

-- Last Word Features

Concert preview

Robert Plant & the Band of Joy

8 p.m., Feb. 5, $40-$80

Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta. 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org/

http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-music/concert-preview-robert-plant-819307.html?cxtype=rss_music

[bigzepfan]

Here's Houses of the Holy from last nights show:

This is one of my best quality vids yet, enjoy!

[SteveAJones]

Here's Houses of the Holy from last nights show

Patti is smokin' in that dress.

[bigzepfan]

Patti is smokin' in that dress.

Agreed, It made it very hard to keep focus on Robert!!!

[Juliet]

Hello:

It's an interesting dress but a bit too noisy..meaning too many colours....it upstages everything.. I would have deleted the melon or light blue or both colours and substituted black...so the focus is more on the patterns

Juliet...

[Deborah J]

I'm going to the show on Feb 5 in Atlanta and i can't wait! I'm so excited, it looks like it'll be really good! It's also going to be my first ever Robert Plant concert!

Send me a PM, in fact anyone attending the Feb 5th at the Fox...we should meet up before the event!!

Dave, great videos, thnak you for sharing:-)

[bigzepfan]

Send me a PM, in fact anyone attending the Feb 5th at the Fox...we should meet up before the event!!

Dave, great videos, thnak you for sharing:-)

My pleasure. I just hope that I never ever do anything to upset anyone in the band. I've thought about this greatly

and wonder whether I should not post them on youtube for Zep members. I truly do hold the members ofthe band in a higher regard

than anyone else in the entire entertainment industry and have nothing but the absolute ultimate respect for all of them.

If any band ever contacted me and told me that it was a problem I would remove every one of their videos immediately.

I did contact the label for another

newer group that I admire so so much and would never want to upset and was told that it's sort of a don't ask/don't tell deal.

[SteveAJones]

Send me a PM, in fact anyone attending the Feb 5th at the Fox...we should meet up before the event!!

Nice. O.J. Simpson can't wait.

[zep_head]

What a show this past saturday at the Beacon in NYC. Mr. Plant was in fine voice, and the members of the Band Of Joy all excell at their respective instruments. The played for slightly under 2 hrs, and except for the opening song of Black dog, I loved every minute of the show. (I just do not like the reworked version of Black Dog.Too slow, too different from the original IMHO).

The crowd was loud, & where I was sitting, very much into the show & music.....especially for the Zep tunes. Those songs brought down the house. We did have these 2 young girls, 3 rows or so in front of us, who would SCREAM whenever Robert talked or posed or farted. It sounded like being at a Beatles concert where all one can hear is the sound of women screaming. Not sure if they could be heard throughout the Beacon, but it wouldn't suprise me if that were the case.

Some highlights for me were Angel Dance, Please Read The Letter, In The Mood, Rock N Roll, Houses Of The Holy, Gallows Pole, & my 2 favorite songs of the night ...........Tangerine & Ramble On.

Ramble On............ I just can not describe the feeling that washed over me when he played that tune. I thought i was transported back in time, Mr. Plant was that good on this song. His vocals soared throughout this rendition. The band rocked during this tune (not that they didn't throughout the show, but this song is one of my fave Zep tunes and I thought it was played really well .) Robert would sing "Ramble On" & left the crowd to sing the "Nows the time, the time is now" part. Then He would sing "Sing My song" leaving us the "Going round the world, gonna find my girl" etc. etc.

During & after Tangerine & Ramble On I got emotional. Because they were so good.........because I never saw my favorite band perform live, & because I never will. ........... because after seeing this show I know Plant can do a reunion and be great at it. ............... also because I know his heart & soul aren't into it, and it is a bit sad that we'll most likely never see him perform these songs with Page & Jones ever again.

Mr. Plant did them so well, so good, so strongly, that I was happy to see him perform these 2 songs, and ace them!!!!!!! At the same time sad that we will not see him do them with the guys who wrote the songs with him, many moons ago.

If you have a chance to see this show, and are undecided, by all means go. It was a great concert!!

[WhoLed]

Here's Houses of the Holy from last nights show:

This is one of my best quality vids yet, enjoy!

Dave, I was at the show also and loved it!

Do you happen to have "Move Up" from the other night? Normally that wouldn't be my type of music, but the way they did it I was really moved (no pun intended) by it. That song and "Tangerine" were the highlights for me.

[Jahfin]

Nice. O.J. Simpson can't wait.

We've definitely had our fair share of nutjobs who visit this board but this doesn't speak too highly of the members of this board in general. Yes, it's wise to show some restraint and good judgement when meeting people from an online community for the first time face-to-face but it seems Deborah J has done just that before so it's not like it's something that's totally foreign to her. I've taken part in pre-concert meetups with fellow fans from other boards/lists before myself, all of which were preceded by getting to know those people online as well as possible first. As everyone knows, a great deal of the fan community from this board has also "friended" up on Facebook where it's much harder for people with something to hide to do so. It's still not 100% safe, nor is just walking down the street in this day and age.

[SuperDave]

My pleasure. I just hope that I never ever do anything to upset anyone in the band. I've thought about this greatly

and wonder whether I should not post them on youtube for Zep members. I truly do hold the members ofthe band in a higher regard

than anyone else in the entire entertainment industry and have nothing but the absolute ultimate respect for all of them.

If any band ever contacted me and told me that it was a problem I would remove every one of their videos immediately.

I did contact the label for another

newer group that I admire so so much and would never want to upset and was told that it's sort of a don't ask/don't tell deal.

Not sure whether you should post them on YouTube. Review the videos and think whether or not they'd be offensive to them. Since, YouTube is so mainstream, you might not want to. Might want to just include highlights of what you filmed. That may be the best thing to do and provide a link to get the full version, by whatever means is right for you. Use your conscience. I think that will be the best way to go on this.

[Deborah J]

We've definitely had our fair share of nutjobs who visit this board but this doesn't speak too highly of the members of this board in general. Yes, it's wise to show some restraint and good judgement when meeting people from an online community for the first time face-to-face but it seems Deborah J has done just that before so it's not like it's something that's totally foreign to her. I've taken part in pre-concert meetups with fellow fans from other boards/lists before myself, all of which were preceded by getting to know those people online as well as possible first. As everyone knows, a great deal of the fan community from this board has also "friended" up on Facebook where it's much harder for people with something to hide to do so. It's still not 100% safe, nor is just walking down the street in this day and age.

Hello Jahfin!

Thanks for the support. It is appreciated. But please know that this has been a running joke with Steve and I since the beginning of my joining the forum, and I know he meant this in no disrespectful manner.

Back on topic: I cannot wait for Saturday night. I will post a review and share some photos:-) Should I never return to the forum it is because everything was aligned perfect and I am now living in Wales or Tenneesee

[ebk]

Saw the show tonight in Dc. Oh my god...fantastic!! I'm so glad the weather held off, because I had such a great time. The crowd in the orchestra section was on their feet for the entire evening. The band was in fine form and seemed to be having the time of their lives. I certainly did!!

If you have a chance, go. It's a wonderful evening.

[guitarmy]

Yes, the DC show last night WAS amazing!!!

Band of Joy lived up to its name as there was a lot of joy in the room. Now I am not normally a beat-clapper, but last night I was. Too much to contain myself.

Griffin was absolutely on fire in so many ways. Just her voice alone did it, but the outfit she had on with the classy way that she grooved to the music set me over the top. She had at least one song out front that was beautiful. She's a great contrast to the other voices in the group.

Robert did not disappoint. I didn't know what to expect in person but I had high hopes and they were met. He had great timing and of course a killer voice. I still don't get why he talks about him being old. I couldn't tell because of the enthusiasm he had for the whole night.

One thing I didn't like was the crowd's reaction to any spotlighting on Buddy Miller or Darrell Scott. Plant would first say something about how accomplished each was in their own right and then introduce the song. Many people in the crowd sat down. It was as if the crowd hadn't realized that Miller or Scott was there the whole time. Show some respect people!

[Deborah J]

Feb 1, 2011 DC - thanks GuinnessPhish

[Deborah J]

More DC

[ebk]

Thanks for posting those Deborah! Memories of a great evening.

And guitarmy, I agree about Patty's outfit last night - she was smokin'!! Wish my pictures had turned out a bit better of her (too many people standing up and dancing in front of me ). I may try to post the ones I have later.

A great time!!

[Deborah J]

^^Your welcome ebk:-)

I get on Delta to fly home and look at the Delta Sky Miles February issue and here is an article on our Robert

Robert Plant Talk Show...Click on and then click the top right corner to read the whole article or you can click next. Two nights and counting to his event at The Fox Theatre

http://msp.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vds11/i2/p0

[Deborah J]

Then one of my customers gave me the My Metro copy from New York January 26, 2011 with this article about Robert:-)

The Song Doesn't Remain The Same by Pat Healy

http://www.metro.us/newyork/entertainment/article/753796--the-song-doesn-t-remain-the-same

[Jahfin]

Robert Plant and Patty Griffin at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh (courtesy of Schoolkids' Facebook page)

Raleigh, NC News & Observer music writer David Menconi's review of the show at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh last night from his On the Beat blog.

First Look: Band of Joy (News & Observer Photo Gallery)

Links to some more photos, these from local photographer Jim McKelvey:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=12536068&size=lg

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=12538012&size=lg

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=12536066&size=lg

[SuperDave]

Robert Plant and Patty Griffin at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh (courtesy of Schoolkids' Facebook page)

Raleigh, NC News & Observer music writer David Menconi's review of the show at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh last night from his On the Beat blog.

First Look: Band of Joy (News & Observer Photo Gallery)

Links to some more photos, these from local photographer Jim McKelvey:

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=12536068&size=lg

Thanks Jahfin for the great photo. Although, I can't say I'm a fan of Facebook. Definitely avoid it!!!

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=12538012&size=lg

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=12536066&size=lg

[zeplives66]

Deborah J & Jahfin - Thanks for the links. Great vids, interviews and photos! So happy to see him being so well received and enjoying his well deserved success with this project!!

Have a great time at the show!

[SteveAJones]

A Living Legend and a Band of Joy

Robert Plant breaths new life into old songs

by Stratton Lawrence

Charleston City Paper

February 1, 2011

When guitarist Darrell Scott started playing roots and Americana music professionally 30 years ago, he probably never imagined becoming a bandmate with former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.

Scott joined Plant's latest project, Band of Joy, last year when songwriter Buddy Miller and harmonist Patty Griffin helped Plant form a backing band for a recording project. Handling banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, and guitar duties, Scott fit right in with the all-star cast of American players.

"I think Robert is having a great time. From what I can tell he likes this expression of this band," Scott says of his new colleague. Judging by the critical acclaim of the new album Band of Joy (Rounder) and the rave reviews of recent performances, everyone is certainly having a great time.

Band of Joy sparked out of Raising Sand, Plant's 2009 duet album with vocalist Alison Krauss. Miller co-produced the disc, and it was his circle of friends that Plant called on.

This year's Grammy Awards jury nominated Band of Joy for Best Americana Album. Plant also nagged a nomination for the Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance category for the cover of Low's "Silver Rider." The harmonies when Plant and Griffin sing, "She passes through you like a knife," inspire epic levels of goosebumps.

Plant originally formed Band of Joy in 1966 before joining Led Zeppelin. Plant's new version of Band of Joy is undeniably one of the most talented ensembles ever put together.

Miller and Griffin, both accomplished songwriters with significant fanbases of their own, jumped at the chance to back the Golden God. Scott, bassist Byron House, and drummer Marco Giovino signed on, and the biggest Americana super-group since the Traveling Wilburys was born.

With Miller at the helm, Plant and the band assembled at Woodland Studios in Nashville, recording the album over the course of two weeks. The final set included four originals and renditions of Los Lobos' "Angel Dance," the traditional "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down," and an R&B tune from the '60s titled "I'm Falling in Love Again," among others.

After recording and touring last summer, Scott felt that they'd become a proper band.

"When something needs to change, going to the chorus or to an extended solo, it's all in the moment," Scott says. "I think it must be very expressive for Robert because whatever he wants to do, in a musical way, that feels right, we kind of all feel it at the same time."

A favorite musical moment for Scott since joining on with Plant came in Italy, during the sound check for a TV show appearance, when the band broke into an impromptu "A Hard Rain's A'Gonna Fall."

"It was real in-the-moment," he recalls. "That was like a revelation for us, and we all kind of knew it. It just came out of nowhere."

Scott says that while Plant can be quiet in conversation and private while on the road, he's elaborately open in his musical dialogue. Apparently, sound checks before concerts are when the magic tends to happen. A tune worked out in a pre-show session can become the opening song later that night.

Comfortable moments like that lead to jams, riffs, and snippets of new tunes, generating early talk of a second album. It would make sense, considering Plant passed up a Zeppelin reunion and another project with Krauss to pursue Band of Joy and the further study of Appalachian music.

"He's an absolute historian of roots music," Scott says of Plant. "He could be teaching the history of the blues at a post-graduate level."

Scott admits he's no scholar on Led Zeppelin's music. He never covered them before joining his band, but may work up "All of My Love" from Zep's In Through the Out Door into his future repertoire. Still, he says, playing and singing with the legend is like studying for a master's degree.

Scott sings extra harmonies on "Silver Rider," possibly the slowest song on the album.

"That whole tune is just haunting," he says. "There are times in the song where there's seemingly absolutely no tempo, the slowest count imaginable. I take it as a challenge to play in time and do it that slowly. You feel your way through it."

A feeling, no doubt, of pure joy.

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy

w/ North Mississippi Allstars

Fri. Feb. 4

8 p.m.

$65, $45/advance

North Charleston Performing Arts Center

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/a-living-legend-and-a-band-of-joy/Content?oid=3052383