June 2, 2008Concert review: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, featuring T Bone Burnett
First off, if you're a vintage or retro gear fetishist, you were probably wetting yourself at this show. T Bone Burnett and Buddy Miller have some of the coolest gear ever -- so cool I don't even know the brand or boutique names. Anyone out there geek enough to call out the names? I don't think I've ever heard so much tremelo and reverb from two guitarists in one concert. It was like listening to a bowl of soup, with a fan blowing on it. And drummer Jay Bellerose's kit, which looked ancient to me, had only one cymbal -- a giant ride that he often used to crash, as well. Elsewhere where tambourines, wood blocks and more esoteric percussion. He knew how to use it all, too -- he's a true texturalist. But when it was time to call down the thunder, he could do that, too, often with a tympani mallet in one hand and maracas and a gourd in the other. Stuart Duncan (fiddle, mandolin, etc) and bassist Dennis Crouch are well-known in the bluegrass world, but there's no doubt they can handle many styles with taste. Duncan didn't sing much harmony, but when he did, it was really nice. Speaking of harmonies, more love for Miller -- he harmonized with Plant and Krauss on several numbers, and was a perfect complement to them. If this act stays together, he should be a permanent member. |
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Comments
[June 3, 2008 12:50 AM]
Tony Campbell : →http://terenceacampbellTad I enjoyed this concert maximumly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[June 3, 2008 6:38 AM]
DeborahWhat a fantastic concert! Robert and Alison sounded superb, and I truly enjoyed every song. Thanks Robert and Alison for providing us in southwest Virginia with such a musical treat!
[June 3, 2008 9:38 AM]
LoriMy husband and I REALLY wanted to see this show, but the ticket prices were just too high. Perhaps that's why the Civic Center was only 1/2 full? Glad to hear it was an amazing show, not that I had any doubts!
[June 3, 2008 12:45 PM]
Todd Atkinsif you have a set list from the show can you email me? This was a remarkable show of eclectic rootsy music as well as stunning stuff from Raising Sand and the Zep rearrangements were stunning to me.
[June 3, 2008 5:18 PM]
BobbyI can hardly wait 'til they come to Vancouver!!!!
[June 3, 2008 6:44 PM]
KevinA great concert. I've seen Robert Plant a total of 4 times and he gets better every time. The Battle of Evermore was a personal highlight for me. Alison and Robert sounded awesome together!
[June 3, 2008 9:17 PM]
Rebecca MullinsI loved the concert! I went to see Robert Plant but the purity and excellence of Alison's voice transmitted me to another world. I enjoyed her traditional songs and the songs from Raising Sand (esp Killing the Blues). I still came home a little empty, slightly lacking. Since Alison sang some of her traditional stuff, I expected more of Robert. I felt he was teasing us and would any minute give us just a bit of Led. It was there underneath but frustrated me because what I was looking for never came to the surface. I would have paid the $235 (I paid for my group)alone for 15 seconds of Black Dog or Stairway. His voice was capable and beautiful.
[June 3, 2008 9:41 PM]
AmyWe had a blast at the show! If you have a setlist you could email me or post it would be much appreciated!
[June 4, 2008 10:37 AM]
DaveDoes anyone have a complete set list for this show?
[June 4, 2008 12:55 PM]
TadHey folks, thanks for the comments. I haven't had time to go through my notes to post a set list, but Todd Atkins (see his post above) opened his memory bank, and it looks right to me.
I'll post it here and on a separate entry, too. Thanks, Todd!
> Here is some of what my partial memory remembers, but this is not in order and may have a couple errors. If I come across a correct list I will email it to you for the heck of it. These lists are the kind of things others out there are looking for so trying to help them out. Thanks, TA
(note: I changed the release date of "In the Mood" and removed a repetition of "One Woman Man." Thanks to eagle-eyed Jason Brown for spotting those. Song order is not perfect, but I'll try to fix that this week -- tad)
1. Rich Woman -- from Raising Sand
2. Leave My Woman Alone -- by Ray Charles
3. Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson -- from Raising Sand
4. Black Dog -- by Led Zeppelin (mind-boggling arrangement)
5. Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us -- from Raising Sand
6. Through the Morning, Through the Night -- from Raising Sand
7. Fortune Teller -- from Raising Sand
8. Black Country Woman -- by Led Zeppelin (surprised by how good this was)
9. Waiting for a long time (not sure if correct song here) -- by T-Bone Burnett and band (NOTE: This one is called "Shut It Tight", and it's a T Bone original. -- tad)
10. Bon Temps Roulez -- performed by T-Bone Burnett and the Band
11. In the Mood -- Plant's 1983 hit (with Mattie Groves mixed in the middle)
12. Trampled Rose -- from Raising Sand (Haunting and angelic from Alison)
13. Green Pastures -- by Emmylou Harris (Krauss solo)
14. Down to the River to Pray -- (Plant joins Duncan and Miller on backup vocals)
15. Nothin' -- from Raising Sand (featuring Plant) with Who Do Ya Love mixed into the middle.
16. Killing the Blues -- from Raising Sand
18. Don't Knock -- the Staple Singers, The Kingston Trio and others
19. The Battle of Evermore -- by Led Zepp
20. One Woman Man -- by Johnny Horton (featuring Buddy Miller, trading verses with Plant and Krauss)
21. Please Read the Letter -- from Raising Sand
22. Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) -- from Raising Sand
23. Stick With Me Baby -- from Raising Sand
24. When the Levee Breaks -- by Led Zeppelin
25. Your Long Journey -- from Raising Sand
[June 4, 2008 2:49 PM]
DaveThanks for posting the set list.
I have a few comments. “One Woman Man” was originally recorded by Johnny Horton, aka the Singing Fisherman. He co-wrote it with Tillman Franks. Plant even mentioned the Singing Fisherman before the song after making a crack about Jon Bon Jovi and Axl Rose.
Also, the Staple Singers recorded “You Don’t Knock” as “Don’t Knock” (at least that is the title I’ve seen on their recordings).
It was a great concert. I enjoyed the review and the comments here.
[June 4, 2008 3:04 PM]
TadGood catch, Dave.
What Plant said was, "Singers come and go, but there was never one so iridescent ... I mean, we had Bon Jovi, and Axl Rose, but we've never seen the likes of the Singing Fisherman."
Buddy Miller traded verses with both Plant and Krauss on that one.
I'll make both changes.
[June 6, 2008 12:34 PM]
DaveWhile I was giving some other people the set list I noticed an omission.
Hey Hey What Can I Do - Led Zeppelin
I'm not sure where it would go in the set list. I know it was before the encore. It was actually one of the highlights for me. I don't know how I missed noticing earlier that it was missing from the list posted above.
[June 6, 2008 4:12 PM]
DianneOh My God, where we the only ones that thought the acoustics in the Roanoke Civic Center sucked....Awful concert...Don't get me wrong, I love Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, I have seen Alisson Krauss twice now and the first time was great, I love her, but this concert absolutely was horrible. We got up and left at 10:00pm., and in order to indure that long I had to put cotton in my ears. This was a horrible flashback of the Bob Dylan concert there years ago...should have learned my lesson then.....
[June 7, 2008 8:52 AM]
MJI absolutely love Alison Krauss and the latest with Robert Plant and T Bone Burnette, but the concert was horrible due to the sound system. I left the civic center wanting a refund of the ticket price.
[June 7, 2008 9:42 AM]
EricYes, Dianne. I agree. I also thought this was the worst concert I have ever been to. From Alisson making the big scene over her ear piece to being left with that empty feeling when I waited for a taste of Led Zep that never came. I went in thinking this was oil and water and left remembering that the two dont mix. T Bone who??? I'm not trying to be negative just honest. This concert was way over priced and somewhat of a waste of time.