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Posted on Fri, Jan 21, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.

Robert Plant delights with Band of Joy at Hill Auditorium

By Will Stewart

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Robert Plant performing live with his Band of Joy at Hill Auditorium.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Even Robert Plant doesn’t quite seem to know how to label what he’s playing with his new outfit, Band of Joy.

But he seems pretty sure — as did an adoring audience at Hill Auditorium Friday — that, whatever it is, it’s working pretty well for him.

“What a great night,” Plant said as his 90-minute set wound to a close. “You get it. We get it.

“But what is it?”

Good question. In fact, it was a return to Plant’s pre-Led Zeppelin roots, finding the still-golden-haired singer exploring deep American blues, Appalachian gospel and British folk music, with a little low-fi indie rock thrown in amid a handful of Zep classics.

And, for as weird as it was at times, it all worked pretty well on Friday.

It doesn’t hurt that Plant has assembled a world-class band, anchored by the always-amazing Buddy Miller on lead guitar, as well as singer-songwriter Patty Griffin on guitar and vocals and multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott on just about anything with strings.

Nor does it hurt that, behind those three, Plant might be the fourth best singer in the band.

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Robert Plant performing live with his Band of Joy at Hill Auditorium.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

But in spite of some occasional pitchiness — and, unfortunately, frequent feedback issues — Plant has a way of making a song his own. Ever the showman, he can sell a song by sheer charisma, even at age 62.

There isn’t much to a lot of the covers Band of Joy tackled. Songs like the rockabilly-tinged “You Can’t Buy My Love” or “Please Read the Letter,” which was culled from Plant’s multiple Grammy Award-winning 2007 record, “Raising Sand,” lack any real hooks and tend to sound same-y as a result. But Plant added a stately grace to even the thinnest of material, whether he was singing or playing sideman to his bandmates by shaking maracas or dancing along.

Miller, Scott and Griffin took solo turns on one number apiece. Miller's was the highlight, benefited by Plant's bluesy harmonica work and Griffin's harmonies.

Plant, likewise, was at his best when harmonizing with Griffin, as he did frequently, or reinventing the gospel standard, “Wade in the Water,” which segued beautifully into the blues standard “In My Time of Dying,” made famous by Led Zeppelin on “Physical Graffiti.”

Not surprisingly, that song and selection of other Zeppelin classics were the evening’s best-received, if most uneven, tunes. “Tangerine,” the “Led Zeppelin III” chestnut, was appropriately twangy, while “Gallows Pole” was as dramatic as ever, although “Ramble On” was a mere shadow of it former self as a vapid, deconstructed folk tune void of any dynamics. But Miller proved that Jimmy Page has got nothing on him during a smoldering reading of “Rock and Roll” that should become the standard by which the song is measured.

Will Stewart is a free-lance writer who covers music for AnnArbor.com.

Comments

stunhsif

Sun, Jan 23, 2011 : 2:51 p.m.

Seen better bands in bars like Weber's. Simply no longer relevant , music is a mish mash of who knows what. Seems like they just threw it together in a couple weeks.

T Kinks

Sat, Jan 22, 2011 : 4:23 p.m.

I really liked the show & Plants voice is as good as ever, not like a lot of these old rockers making the rounds these days. I think he wanted to be able to sing songs w/ many harmonies & also just be part of a band instead of THE BAND. From where I was sitting (standing) main floor back row the mix was great except I personally would have liked the bass & drums a bit louder. The voices were clean & crisp like they should be. Although I'm a Rock n Roller I appreciated where he was coming from & I'm glad I was at the show. Robert Plant is Rock n Roll Royalty. He really seemed to be enjoying himself.

DagnyJ

Sat, Jan 22, 2011 : 2:39 p.m.

Loved the show. Plant's best move was having Buddy Miller be "the captain of the ship," as he said when he introduced him. Buddy's new arrangements for Led Zep songs were incredible. Best show I've seen in a long time.

A2lover

Sat, Jan 22, 2011 : 2:28 p.m.

I saw the show and I, too, agree with the reviewer, it was a pretty good night of eclectic music and song. Good, solid musicians and solid voices, particularly Daryl Scott. I found the mix to be muddy quite a lot of the time, which sometimes took away the understanding and enjoyment of a song, and Buddy Miller, good though he is, should be told to not walk upstage so much during his solos , we want to see that wonderful finger work on the frets (perhaps years of playing has deafened him somewhat and he can't always hear the playback speakers and needs the visual connection with band mates). Patty Griffin, rapacious energy, power and sexiness. All in all, a great night at the Hill!

A2lover

Sat, Jan 22, 2011 : 2:30 p.m.

Oh, by the way, Robert was terrific too!

Bob Needham

Sat, Jan 22, 2011 : 2:13 p.m.

Changed that to "Physical Graffiti." thanks!

TR

Sat, Jan 22, 2011 : 1:12 p.m.

I was at the show and like and agree with your review. It was fun to watch the entire group. He has surrounded himself with some of the world's best musicians. Why? Because he can, he's Robert Plant after all! I wish we could have heard more voice and a little less band at times though. *Correction* ''In My Time Of Dying'' is not on Houses Of The Holy. -not sure where it can be found but I know it's not there-