Member Review: Robert Plant

4 year BPD member Slash This writes to us:

Throughout the course of his 20-song set, Plant often looked at singer/guitarist Patty Griffin, guitarist Buddy Miller and multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott and repeated the word "yeah" off microphone, sensing it was going to be what he called "another scintillating evening" from the opening notes of the opener Cindy, I’ll Marry You Someday.


For the most part he was correct, especially on slower, groove-riddled numbers like Angel Dance with Scott on mandolin.


While Miller, Griffin and Scott shone when taking the lead vocal on Trouble, Love Throw A Line and A Satisfied Mind respectively, Plant seemed to enjoy and excel in these still new musical waters on numbers like the fine Please Read The Letter and the winding, deliberate rendition of Richard Thompson's House Of Cards.


And Plant also managed to deftly saunter through material from his Led Zeppelin period by reworking and retooling many of those numbers. This was especially true of Ramble On and Houses Of The Holy, the latter with the Jimmy Page hook still audible but surrounded by a sweet, roots-y feel that got a standing ovation from many.


Also going over just as nicely was a Sun Studios-era rockabilly romp through Rock And Roll with drummer Marco Giovino finishing with the same drum intro the late John Bonham did on the original


It was obvious from the beginning fans wanted their Zeppelin fix, but like his choice to opt out of a reunion tour following the widely praised one-off 2007 London show, Plant does what he wants.


After a crawling version of Gallows Pole - far different from the original foot-stomper - Plant and company returned for a short encore that ended with all six doing an a cappella version of And We Bid You Goodnight.


After the show, Plant admitted to me that there had been a few miscues, particularly when his last hit Tall Cool One came across at best as average and Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down took a while to heat up. It wasn't that way for me. Overall, I felt that it was a very good night indeed.

Thanks for writing to us, Slash This.

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12 Stages, 2 Weekends, 1 Great Festival

This year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival festival is set for April 29-May 1 and May 5-8. Taking place at the New Orleans Fairgrounds’ race track, Robert Plant’s Band Of Joy tour, Jeff Beck, Wyclef Jean, The Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and Keb’ Mo’ are just some of the artists scheduled for opening day, April 29.

Saturday, April 30 performances include Bon Jovi, Jason Mraz, Fantasia, Irma Thomas, Robert Cray, Amos Lee, Ahmad Jamal, Rance Allen and Ricky Skaggs while John Mellencamp, Tom Jones, John Legend performing with The Roots, Dr. John, Alejandro Sanz, Arlo Guthrie, Kenny G, The Decemberists and Vickie Winans are on the Sunday, May 1 schedule.

Weekend No. 2 launches Thursday, May 5 with Wilco, Cyndi Lauper, Lucinda Williams, Galactic, Maceo Parker with special guest Pee Wee Ellis, Ivan Lins, Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste, Michelle Shocked and Charlie Musselwhite plus many, many more.

Arcade Fire tops the Friday, May 6 lineup along with Willie Nelson, Lupe Fiasco, Better Than Ezra, Jamey Johnson, Gregg Allman Blues Band, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Buckwheat Zydeco and Big Sam’s Funky Nation.

On Saturday, May 7 Jazz & Heritage welcomes Jimmy Buffett, The Strokes, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Mystikal and Bobby Blue Bland.

Kid Rock‘s on the lineup for the festival’s last day – Sunday, May 8 – along with The Neville Brothers, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Sonny Rollins, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Maze feat. Frankie Beverly, The Radiators and Cowboy Mouth.

Of course, the acts mentioned above are just a very small inkling of what Jazz & Heritage is all about. Other artists appearing include Tom Jones, Sonny Landreth, Ellis Marsalis, Henry Butler, BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet, Jesse Winchester and Nicholas Payton, but we’re still only brushing the surface and you really need to examine the schedule to appreciate the depth and scope of this year’s event.

The 2011 Jazz & Heritage Festival is also hosting the largest celebration of Haitian culture in the U.S. since last year’s earthquake. Along with Wyclef Jean, other Haitian musicians appearing include Tabou Combo, RAM, Boukman Eksperyans, Emeline Michel, Djakout #1, DJA-Rara and TiCoca & Wanga Neges.

Make your pass requests either for weekend #1 or #2 (or both).