GIG REVIEW: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
- Posted on May 27, 2008 11:54 AM
- 2 comments
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Wembley Arena
22 May 2008
Review by Paul Beevers
When Robert Plant teamed up with Alison Krauss it was the most unlikely of musical collaborations. He from West Bromwich, turning 60 later this year and a rock star in the truest sense of the word. She from rural Illinois, renowned fiddle player, country singer and 23 years his junior.
With a shared love of Americana and all it’s constituent parts they went into the studio with songwriter and producer T-Bone Burnett and recorded ‘Raising Sand’. When the album was released last year the critical response was ecstatic, and worldwide sales rapidly shot through the one million mark. Little wonder then that Plant and Krauss have decided to tour the album, and the venues have been on the large size.
A bit too large in the case of Wembley Arena. There was enough interest in this show to shift 95% of the tickets, but these largely hushed, intimate songs aren’t well suited to a 12,000 seat aircraft hanger. Robert Plant acknowledges as much when he greets the audience with “Welcome to… whatever this is. And whatever it is, you’re welcome to it.” At which point you know he’s thinking three nights at the Hammersmith Apollo would have been a much better idea.
Not that the choice of venue impedes the quality of the performance or the spellbound appreciation from a devotional audience. Kicking off with the dark shuffle of ‘Rich Woman’, the harmonies of Plant and Krauss click perfectly while their band are flawless throughout.
They’re a captivating sight. Plant is in great shape and pulls off the extremely rare feat of looking cool in leather trousers. Krauss meanwhile looks every inch a wholesome American beauty, all big eyes, long flowing locks and a dress designed to just catch the breeze.
Over two hours virtually all of ‘Raising Sand’ gets a welcome airing and never fails to disappoint. Highlights come when Plant rocks out as much as the album will allow on ‘Fortune Teller’ whilst Krauss delivers an exquisite heart-rending vocal on Gene Clark’s ‘Through The Morning, Through The Night’.
Elsewhere Plant gets to mine the Led Zeppelin back catalogue in stripped down, countrified fashion on ‘Black Dog’ ‘Battle of Evermore’ and ‘When The Levee Breaks’. Krauss also gets her solo outings, excelling herself on ‘Green Pastures’ and delivering the most enchanting moment of the evening on the centuries old a cappella ‘Down To the River And Pray’.
Plant and Krauss evidently hold T-Bone Burnett in high regard, and midway through the set they exit the stage, leaving him to indulge in a couple of his own compositions. A questionable move when the result sounds like a bunch old rockers jamming in the backroom of a pub, and a significant minority make a beeline for the bar or toilets.
Normal service is quickly resumed though, and set-closers ‘Please Read The Letter’ and ‘Gone Gone Gone’ are suitably uplifting, putting a spring into everyone’s step for the journey home. That said, the long line of chauffeur driven cars outside the arena indicated that some of the more affluent gig-goers present wouldn’t have too far to walk.
A musical match made in Heaven then. One hopes the success of ‘Raising Sand’ and the resultant tour not only expand Alison Krauss’ U.K fanbase, but also convince herself, Plant, Burnett and their exemplary band to get back in the studio sooner rather than later. Such beautiful relationships must surely be allowed the flourish.
Related links:
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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss official site.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss MySpace.
Comments (2)
Geoff Bryant
I agree with the review .However you failed to mention Robert Plant vocal highlight on Led Zeppelin's Black Country Woman when he let rip with the force of old and blew the whole audience away.Like you I hope they all continue to work together-I would love to hear them do Led Zeppelins Down by the Seaside....we can but dream.
Posted on May 28, 2008 3:33 PM
Ann White
I agree with the review also. I'm getting even more pleasure from the album after seeing with my own eyes the musical chemistry between Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The blending of the two genres and two such different but equally engaging personalities resulted in what felt like a rare and privileged experience. Can't wait to see what they do next!
Posted on May 30, 2008 2:31 PM
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