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A little bit country, a little bit rock'n'roll (Robert Plant on leaving his comfort zone)
The Guardian UK ^ | Friday May 16, 2008 | Sylvie Simmons

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 ...


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
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1 posted on 05/19/2008 10:29:22 AM PDT by weegee
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To: 537cant be wrong; Aeronaut; bassmaner; Bella_Bru; Big Guy and Rusty 99; Brian Allen; cgk; ...

Rock & Roll (Bluegrass) PING


2 posted on 05/19/2008 10:30:06 AM PDT by weegee (We cant keep our homes on 72 at all times & just expect that other countries are going to say OK -BO)
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To: weegee
"I was just saying last night, halfway through a bottle of Grey Goose

Grey Goose?? Nooo...

Another icon bites the dust.

3 posted on 05/19/2008 10:32:52 AM PDT by skeeter
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To: weegee

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


4 posted on 05/19/2008 10:35:59 AM PDT by Moose4 (http://moosedroppings.wordpress.com -- Because 20 million self-important blogs just aren't enough.)
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To: Moose4

This cd was released last October I believe. It’s excellent.


5 posted on 05/19/2008 10:42:59 AM PDT by Carpe Cerevisi
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To: Moose4

6 posted on 05/19/2008 10:45:16 AM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: Moose4

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.


7 posted on 05/19/2008 10:46:45 AM PDT by RosieCotton
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To: theDentist

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


8 posted on 05/19/2008 10:49:32 AM PDT by Moose4 (http://moosedroppings.wordpress.com -- Because 20 million self-important blogs just aren't enough.)
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To: weegee

I gotta kick out of this Plant quote from the article ....

"I'm listening to songs now all the time and creating harmonies, walking down the street like some sad, old Everly Brother."
9 posted on 05/19/2008 10:51:39 AM PDT by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: Liberty Valance
Gone, Gone, Gone on the album was written by the Everly Brothers. I heard cuts off the album last September on Outlaw Country-Sirius #63 and they blew me away. I bought the album on Oct 23, 2007 on its first day of release. T-Bone Burnett did a great job of producing and playing his guitar on the album. Plant and Krause's harmonies were unbelievable and well done...The two of them together are dynamite...
10 posted on 05/19/2008 12:06:09 PM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: vetvetdoug
AK and Plant are awesome. I've always thought Zep was a little more folk/blues than rock and roll (yeah that's in there, too). Songs like Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp and Gallows remind me of a folksy bluegrass sound.

AK and Plant are a fantastic duo.

11 posted on 05/19/2008 12:14:31 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: weegee
It takes a RICH man to turn down $200mil for years work.

This work he has done most of his life...

12 posted on 05/19/2008 12:22:26 PM PDT by Mariner
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To: weegee

Listen to some old Led Zeppelin, this isn’t a stretch for Plant. I’d say he’s right in his comfort zone.


13 posted on 05/19/2008 12:29:23 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: weegee
Not much of a Zep fan since after the first LP, I was knocked out by Plant's SOUNDSTAGE performance (a few years old and available on a DVD) and his band Strange Sensation and the incredible lead guitarist Justin Adams. I hope Plant gets back with them soon.


14 posted on 05/19/2008 12:29:56 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (You're gonna cry 96 Tears on my Pillow!)
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To: weegee

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.


15 posted on 05/19/2008 12:39:52 PM PDT by Toskrin (Bringing you global cooling since 1999)
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To: weegee

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.)


16 posted on 05/19/2008 1:32:34 PM PDT by KevinB (John McCain is to the Republican Party as James Taylor is to the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
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To: All
The album sucks

I will be the first to admit, though, that reasonable minds can differ on this point.

17 posted on 05/19/2008 1:37:22 PM PDT by KevinB (John McCain is to the Republican Party as James Taylor is to the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
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To: weegee

Trying to sound like Janis Joplin all the time will take it’s toll.


18 posted on 05/19/2008 1:57:25 PM PDT by lormand (Let's all be mavericks now)
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To: KevinB

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.


19 posted on 05/19/2008 2:02:26 PM PDT by RosieCotton
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To: Moose4
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.

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

20 posted on 05/19/2008 2:06:57 PM PDT by MarkL
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