Set List:
Helen of Troy
Other Arms
Heaven Knows
In the Evening
In the Mood
Black Country Woman
Ship of Fools
Little By Little
Dimples
Trampled Underfoot
Billy’s Revenge
Misty Mountain Hop
Tall Cool One
Big Log
Break On Through

If you listen to this CD and then listen to a recent bootleg from Strange Sensation, there’s something truly amazing about Robert. He really is ageless. This man has as much energy and passion now as he did in 1988.

This was the first leg of the Now and Zen tour which I was lucky enough to have seen several times (though not this particular show). Robert opens up with a high energy Helen of Troy, from Now and Zen. No sooner does the song end but they go right into Other Arms and Heaven Knows. It’s interesting to hear this band playing Other Arms which they did not write or record. I saw them interviewed during this tour and the band mates commented on the fact that they take many of the songs that were not off Now and Zen and listen to the original and then add their own interpretation. Sounds a lot like how Robert is.

Next up is one of my favorite Plant tunes, In The Mood. It’s such a simple but beautiful song. I particularly like how this band plays it live. It has a real smooth and dreamy feel. Doug Boyle’s solo is particularly gorgeous.

Robert introduces Ship of Fools as one of his favorite songs. I prefer to hear it live. It’s got a darker, airy sound. This goes right into another song Robert says is his favorite from Shaken and Stirred: Little By Little. I always liked this song but I must say it’s even better live. The band plays it with a bit less techno and more of a hard edge to it.

Billy’s Revenge is a great song. I absolutely love the harmony in the beginning and the band do that much longer live than on the album version. It’s just a very Robert song–you can hear elements of that rockabilly style he’s so fond of. At one point the band break into a snippet of Baby Please Don’t Go. At the end, Robert does these funny vocalisms and shouts, “I am Michael Jackson.”

Continuing his wonderful sense of humor, he talks about having a new single out, Tall Cool One and says that some day he might be as big as Donny Osmond. How funny he is. When was that last time Donny Osmond did anything relevant! The song is filled with high-energy, driving riffs and if you’ve seen this tour, the whole band are running around all over the stage!

Another beautifully simple song is Big Log which again, I just love the laid back feel the band approaches it. Robert’s vocals are equally lush and full of emotion. It’s just a gorgeous ending to the show. The band does come back for an encore of the Doors’ Break on Through. There’s a brilliant Arabic feel to this song and there’s a great slow instrumental build before Robert sings. It’s far better than the Doors’ version which is missing that fullness of Robert’s vocals and the trippy instrumentals that accompany it.

The sound quality on this bootleg is really good, particularly for being older. There are times I actually have to turn the volume down on my headset! The only irritating crowd noise comes from these two guys who keep yelling, “Jimmy” throughout the show. Why do people find it necessary to do that? They know they’ve come to see Robert Plant, and Jimmy doesn’t play with him. Good grief. Other than that, it’s a definite must-add to your live collection.

by Lilip