Posted on 05/19/2008 10:29:22 AM PDT by weegee
A little bit country, a little bit rock'n'roll Robert Plant would rather spend his 60th birthday singing bluegrass than touring with Led Zeppelin...
Robert Plant is smiling. A big, happy grin, the same one he had earlier, through almost the entirety of his show with Alison Krauss, the 36-year-old American bluegrass singer and fiddle player. "Sorry about that," he says, "but it's just so much fun. It's just the revelations, I think, that's what the smiles are about - like, 'We can do it.' I mean, could you ever imagine, with my supposed background?"
The appearance of the beautiful, understated Plant-Krauss collaborative album Raising Sand coincided with a rare reunion of the band in which Plant made his name, Led Zeppelin. Their charity performance at London's 02 Arena last year, with Jason Bonham sitting in on drums for his late father John, attracted a reported 20m applications for the 18,000 tickets, won accolades from music critics and led to rumours of a full tour - stymied, according to the Sunday Mirror, by Plant turning down a £100m offer to reunite for a full Zeppelin tour in favour of this low-key jaunt with Krauss.
Tonight's show, in the lovely little Tennessee city of Chattanooga, is in an old, cream-coloured brick building, looking like a cross between a town hall and a theatre. There is just one ticket tout outside. Like the rest of the audience, he exudes southern courtesy. Plant says the south seemed the perfect place to perform his reading of the music of rural America before a paying public. "I was just saying last night, halfway through a bottle of Grey Goose, 'I don't know if this is a kind of urban north-east adventure, or whether it really does belong in the Chattanoogas and Roanokes.'"
(more)
(Excerpt) Read more at music.guardian.co.uk ...
Rock & Roll (Bluegrass) PING
Grey Goose?? Nooo...
Another icon bites the dust.
I’m just here for the Alison Krauss pictures, please.
Although I may need to give a listen to this album. Sounds like a very interesting collaboration.
}:-)4
This cd was released last October I believe. It’s excellent.
It’s a great album, IMO. I’m coming from the Alison Krauss side rather than being a Led Zepplin fan, so I can’t speak so much to that mindset, but I *love* the CD. Really nifty harmonies, interesting instrumentation, good mix of upbeat and what I guess I’d call “haunting” songs.
Ah, yes, thank you. My day just got much better. She’s stunningly beautiful in addition to being an amazing musician. Talk about your complete packages!
}:-)4
AK and Plant are a fantastic duo.
This work he has done most of his life...
Listen to some old Led Zeppelin, this isn’t a stretch for Plant. I’d say he’s right in his comfort zone.
The album sounds great. I wondered if Plant could keep up with her, but he can.
But then she has the best voice in America. Maybe the world.
When I hear her, I think of The Odyssey, when Ulysses, on his way home after years gone, has to stop at the island to listen to the sirens. That’s Alison Krauss.
The album sucks, but I might also be tempted to turn down $100m to spend a few months with the fetching Ms. Krauss. (I defy any heterosexual male over the age of twelve to watch the AKUS live DVD and not fall head over heels in love with her.)
I will be the first to admit, though, that reasonable minds can differ on this point.
Trying to sound like Janis Joplin all the time will take it’s toll.
Hey now...who you calling “reasonable”? ;-)
I think you’re outvoted, in any case... I admit it doesn’t fit either bluegrass (or AKUS’ version of bluegrass) or rock, and some might not care for it as a result; but I like the mix (particularly the harmonies they work out), and it’s very cool to be able to hear more Alison on the regular radio stations.
Although I may need to give a listen to this album. Sounds like a very interesting collaboration.
No kidding. She's beautiful, and has the voice of an angel.
But you wouldn't believe her doing the vocals on "When the levee breaks!" I caught that on a concert video on CMT.
Mark
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