As a long term fan of Alison Krauss and also of Robert Plant as one of the best of the 70's vocal frontmen, this was a tour not to be missed. I was aware that Buddy Miller was in the live band but was overjoyed to find that T-Bone Burnett was also on stage with them. Now that is a band line-up.
The support was an overawed local band
From the moment the band struck with a typical swampy T-Bone Burnett rhythm and the two vocalists entered from opposite sides of the stage the gig was top class. Individually Krauss and Plant are great singers but their voices combined beautifully as well. Alison Krauss has the most amazing voice ultimately powerful and flawless however high she cranks it up.
They went throgh pretty much all of their album 'Raising Sand', threw in some Led Zep classics reinterpreted for banjo and southern US musicians and one or two covers as well. Along the way T-Bone got to do a couple of songs that oozed New Orleans.
Highlights of the gig for me included 'Killing the Blues' and 'Please Read the Letter' where Plant really delivered the emotion and almost any track that featured Krauss's vocals. She delievered a Tom Waits cover beautifully and led an acapella version of 'Down to the River To Pray'. The band meanwhile which of course included Krauss on violin were just about perfect. T-Bone and Buddy Miller on guitar - awesome.
There may have been some who went hoping to hear Led Zep but I think everyone went home happy. A flawless gig.
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