Saving Grace with Robert Plant

[The Pagemeister]

 

[zeplz71]

Thanks for posting this. First live performance in how long??

[reids]

Thx for sharing. 

I Found this one online, too!

R😎

[zeplz71]

Robert Plant Performs First Post-Pandemic Concert With Saving Grace

Former Led Zeppelin lead singer took the stage with his new band for the first time since 2019

Robert Plant appeared onstage for his first post-pandemic show on Monday night in Worthington, England, performing with his band Saving Grace for the first time since 2019.

Originally scheduled to tour the U.S. in March 2020, Saving Grace’s plans fell through with the pandemic, and Plant and company are now finishing up the remainder of their United Kingdom shows that were postponed due to Covid.

Onstage, the former Led Zeppelin lead singer was joined by vocalist Suzy Dian, mandolinist and guitar player Tony Kelsey, banjo and guitar player Matt Worley, and percussionist Oli Jefferson for a set that included traditional folk songs and a mix of modern covers, including a rendition of Donovan’s “Season of the Witch.”

Saving Grace’s U.K. tour, which runs through early August, includes several stops in Plant’s home of West Midlands county.

“In the days when I first starting performing around the Black Country, it was very evident that each area was its’ own community/little town … and each community had its own venue: Dudley Town Hall, Stourbridge Town Hall, Regis Hall, Brierley Hill Civic, Old Hill Plaza, Tipton Baths, Queen Mary Ballroom,” Plant said in an interview with Dudley News earlier this month. “I played them all, mostly as a kid opening for the likes of the Hollies, Jean Vincent, Screaming Lord Such, the Fourmost … and others. So, with our band, Saving Grace, it’s for me a bit of a reminiscence to play the various communities from where we all hail.”

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/robert-plant-first-post-pandemic-concert-saving-grace-1199499/

[sam_webmaster]

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/2021/07/21/its-been-a-long-time-but-full-capacity-is-back-with-robert-plants-saving-grace/

 

It’s been a long time, but full capacity is back, with Robert Plant’s Saving Grace
21 Jul 2021   | By : Richie Nice
 

SAVING GRACE + SCOTT MATTHEWS – DE LA WARR PAVILION, BEXHILL-ON-SEA – 20.7.2021

As frontman of rock legends Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant has an indisputable place in the pantheon of all-time vocal greats, and a varied and successful solo career spanning the subsequent decades.

The most recent of his many projects is an acoustic band, Saving Grace, playing an eclectic selection of folk, blues, country and gospel covers, and the occasional Plant original. For someone who could be filling a stadium, this is a relatively low-key operation, touring smaller venues in less obvious locations. The inclusion of the iconic De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea caused a considerable flurry of excitement in the area, and the event sold out quickly.

It’s the second day since the removal of pandemic restrictions, so gathering in a crowd for a full capacity event is something of a novelty. The venue is well organised, with plenty of helpful staff to assist the free flow of patrons. Most people are voluntarily wearing face coverings whilst moving around inside, and there’s a spacious bar area out on the terrace to enjoy the sunshine of a warm July evening.

 

The terrace bar is doing a brisk trade during the interval, and there’s a palpable buzz of excitement in anticipation of seeing a genuine legend perform. Back in the hall the stage is set, with a large backdrop with a bison motif, and as the lights dim and the intro music starts up, it’s time for Saving Grace.

The instrumentalists take their places to loud applause, and launch an exotic sounding groove with banjo, percussion and mandolin. Robert Plant and Suzi Dian enter from house left and right respectively to rapturous cheers from the ecstatic crowd and we’re into the first number, a cover of Clarence Ashley’s ‘Cuckoo’. The dual vocals mesh superbly, and an effervescent banjo line dances over skittering percussion and a thudding kick drum. It’s clear we’re in for a special treat tonight. The mesmeric dual vocal continues through a version of ‘Gospel Plow’.

“Just another night,” quips Mr Plant, who is clearly delighted to be back gigging after a nineteen month enforced hiatus. There’s a change of mood for ‘Move Along Train’, led by an insistent snare drum rhythm by Oli Jefferson, house right behind a black kit. Two players are seated at the back of the stage, both with an array of instruments set ready to use, including acoustics and long-necked electric baritone guitars. Tony Kelsey, who started the set on mandolin, sits hunched over in a dark t-shirt, long hair cascading from beneath a baseball cap. Bearded banjo player Matt Worley, his black vest revealing extensive tattoos, takes the lead in a call and response vocal section. In this instance the response is provided by Robert Plant, looking fine and dandy in a blue satin shirt, his trademark curly mane tied back, and Suzi Dian, with flowing blonde hair and a floaty black dress.

“Welcome to the Black Country.” The great man is in a jovial mood. “We’re Saving Grace, and we come from the land of the ice and snow,” a Zep reference that raises a chuckle. The numerous fans in the audience prick their ears up as a monumentally awesome rendition of ‘Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down’ segues into Blind Willie Johnson’s ‘In My Time Of Dying’, famously covered on the 1975 Led Zeppelin album ‘Physical Graffiti’. The twin baritone guitars sound sublimely massive.

Every number is an absolute winner, performed by musicians at the very top of their game. The introduction to a Moby Grape number brings some fond reminiscences of the 1960s music scene. Suzi takes the lead for ‘Too Far From You’, with Robert standing behind the two guitarists, together providing a formidable wall of backing vocals. There’s an eastern feel to Low’s ‘Everybody’s Song’, with the effects on Matt Worley’s cuatro producing a sitar-like sound, and ‘Two Coats’ is especially vibey, with Suzi adding a low drone on an accordion. There’s plenty of amiable chat between songs, often providing background on their origins, which is a musical education in itself.

Great numbers just keep on coming. ‘Cindy I’ll Marry You Someday’ has another beautiful dual vocal driven along by a thumping floor tom. Given how good they sound, I’m surprised baritone guitars aren’t more widely used. The longer necks enable them to be tuned lower than standard. Both players are using them for Donovan’s ‘Season Of The Witch’. Suzi takes the lead vocal while Robert gets busy with some maracas. Oli adds rim shots and big tom hits, and Tony turns in another blistering solo.

“Here’s a song I wrote with…somebody else,” introduces the final number of the set, ‘Please Read The Letter’, from Page and Plant’s 1998 album ‘Walking Into Clarksdale’, famously reprised with Alison Krauss on ‘Raising Sand’ in 2007. It’s a beautiful song, and this rendition is simply magnificent. The comically drawn out ending raises a laugh and huge applause.

“I didn’t know King Offa had left the West Midlands,” quips Robert as he bids us goodbye. The singer has a noted interest in the Welsh Marches, and has clearly spotted that the Mercian king (responsible for ‘Offa’s Dyke’) crops up in street and school names in Bexhill. King Offa conquered the South Saxons in 771 AD, and subsequently named Bexhill (Bixlea) in a charter he granted. Tonight a different kind of Midlands royalty has peacefully won over the people of Sussex, and they are loving it. An insistent and surprisingly in-time handclap brooks no argument in calling for an encore.

The band returns with Robert looking relaxed, glass of wine in hand, and we are treated to a superb version of Sam Amidon’s ‘As I Roved Out’, with banjo and baritone guitar conjuring a vibe reminiscent of ‘Kashmir’.

“We like to go places we’ve never been before… like here!” is the final quip. “You’ll never leave!” retorts some wag in the audience, League Of Gentlemen style, and the evening concludes with a cover of ‘Angel Dance’ by Los Lobos.

It’s been a long time, as they say, since we’ve had full capacity live music events, and what a way to get back into it. Tonight it felt like an absolute treat to be witnessing a superlative performance by a band of top quality players, featuring a bona fide musical legend.

Saving Grace
Robert Plant and Suzi Dian – vocals
Oli Jefferson – percussion
Tony Kelsey – mandolin, baritone and acoustic guitars, vocals
Matt Worley – banjo, cuatro, acoustic and baritone guitars, vocals

Saving Grace setlist:
‘Cuckoo’ (Clarence Ashley cover)
‘Gospel Plow’ (traditional)
‘Move Along Train’ (Levon Helm cover)
‘Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down’ (traditional)/‘In My Time Of Dying’ (Blind Willie Johnson cover)
‘House Of Cards’ (Richard & Linda Thompson cover)
‘It’s A Beautiful Day Today’ (Moby Grape cover)
‘Too Far From You’ (Sarah Siskind cover)
‘Everybody’s Song’ (Low cover)
‘Two Coats’ (traditional/Ralph Stanley)
‘Can I Do It For You’ (Memphis Minnie cover)
‘Cindy I’ll Marry You Someday’ (traditional)
‘Season Of The Witch’ (Donovan cover)
‘Please Read The Letter’
(encore)
‘As I Roved Out’ (Sam Amidon cover)
‘Angel Dance’ (Los Lobos cover)

 

 

[in_the_evening]

Wow, does she sound a lot like Alison Kraus.  Good stuff, great to see Plant and the band back out there!

[ledded1]

Some photos from.last nights show in Malvern UK. 

[zeplz71]

 

Legends Ralph Fiennes and Robert Plant spotted in Malvern on the same day

By Tom Banner

 THEATRE goers in Malvern will have caught a glimpse of two famous faces in the town on the same day this week.

Legendary actor Ralph Fiennes and acclaimed musician Robert Plant were both in the town for their respective shows.

Malvern Theatres shared a photo of the two stars, saying: "When legends meet, magic happens.

"Acting royalty Ralph Fiennes and rock legend Robert Plant both performed at Malvern Theatres last night. What a night."

Fiennes has been in Malvern starring and directing an adaptation of T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets.

The production was at Malvern Theatres from July 19 to 24, after which it will hit the West End in November.

Four Quartets follows the theme of nature of time, faith, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment.

Mostly written during WWII when the closure of playhouses during the Blitz interrupted Eliot’s work in theatre, the four parts (Burnt Norton, East Coker, The Dry Salvages and Little Gidding) were the culminating achievement of Eliot’s Nobel Prize winning literary career.

Former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant was in Malvern for Saving Grace with Suzi Dian at Malvern Theatres.

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/19464383.legends-ralph-fiennes-robert-plant-spotted-malvern-day/

Edited July 23, 2021 by zeplz71

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Edited July 24, 2021 by ledded1

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Edited July 24, 2021 by ledded1

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[luvlz2]

^^Nice pictures ledded1!

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by luvlz2

[luvlz2]

 

[ledded1]

My 2nd of five Saving Grace shows in the past 10 days.

Edited July 31, 2021 by ledded1