July 12, 2005 Universal Lending Pavilion, Denver Co

by Percyful Girl
Well, my friends, my ears are still ringing and my voice has not returned, but I’m elated and still “up” from last night!

So, the mood was perfect before the show and the venue pleasant. Lots of happy people and even Margaritas to enjoy! I had lots of comments on my “Plant Specialist” Tee and I’m sure if there was a “best tee shirt” contest, I would’ve won! The night was very warm with a breeze and a beautiful crescent moon adorned the sky. It was just right.

Waiting for Robert to come on was exhilirating. As the lights went down, people stood and screamed as we listened to the Shine It All Around Remix. The band came out happy and excited and then… Robert slowly came out and right into No Quarter.

Then, like slowly revving the engine of a car, he sang Shine It All Around and finally got the crowd going crazy with Black Dog.

The set lists are pretty much the same with Hey, Hey What Can I Do being a pleasant surprise for the crowd… but I knew it was coming… I love having inside information! Thank you everyone here!

Robert’s voice was absolutely incredible! Make no mistake, he’s in fine form and gave us several long wails to drive the crowd wild! I was blown away by his presence, his dance and his delight of sheer joy. He definitely loves his job and it shows. The band was so tight and Justin seemed to have a lot of fun performing. The chemistry they possess is phenomenal!

Robert talked a lot during the concert making his usual funnies and we could tell that Denver holds a special place in his heart. He commented on how he first arrived here December 26, 1968 and pulled out a piece of paper with exactly how many days had passed since then! He mentioned how much he likes coming here and that he always gets a warm welcome! He gave us a little “Yee-Haw” during the concert saying the country music here was growing on him!

Robert wore black pants with that black shirt with the ruffles down the middle. He was sporting a nicely groomed goatee and his hair was fluffy, but very nice curls that cascade past his shoulders now. He looked amazing! Minimal jewelry: Ring on each hand, one bracelet on left wrist and one silver necklace with black cord. The band looked good too and Robert commented about Skin having a clean shirt on tonight (as he was introducing the band) as Skin smelled his own pits and then Robert also checked to see if his own deodorant was holding up! It was very funny! A key comment from Robert was that he mentioned that “John Baggot was leading them into the next album”… That is very good news as this band is unparalleled!

I am not sure if I’m giving you all the details as I’m still a bit groggy this morning. So, Robert closed the show with The Enchanter and then smacked us with the best version of Whole Lotta Love I’ve ever heard him sing! He was singing “…You need love… Daddy needs love..” while patting his chest! If half the crowd didn’t get goose bumps during that song, they were either deaf or dead. It wasn’t because it was a Zep song, but how Robert was singing. It was full of emotion like he was really reaching out to us vocally. Just hearing Robert sing like that made tears well up in my eyes with joy and amazement (yeah, it’s sappy, but true). *Oh, I did remember something: When Robert was saying he was going to play the title track to the new album, I let out a mighty scream that got his attention (finally!) and he said, “Oh, you’re excited about that one” and smiled… The harmonica he played for Mighty ReArranger was spectacular! A true highlight of the show!

Leaving the concert was a bit sad, but I’m sure there are plenty of new Robert Plant and Strange Sensation fans who have an appreciation and newfound respect for them… as they should! As I was off to the bathrooms, the women seemed to be just blown away and very happy. We all talked like shool girls about Robert and it made me chuckle. I tried to get a few pics with my friends camera phone as they were not letting anyone thru with anything! The security was tight and a bit annoying at times when I tried to get closer to the stage to get a picture cuz our seats were row 15. (I said I was trying to make a call and couldn’t get good reception… I knew the reception would be better near the stage! Oh, yeah, it was also an outdoor venue… Hey, I’ll try anything to get near that stage and Robert!)

I hope everyone has a great time at the concerts as Robert tours North America and I highly recommend seeing Robert and SS anyway you can this tour! It’s well worth the trip and no one will leave disappointed!

Thank you so much to Robert and SS for the best concert I’ve ever seen and that is no lie… and not really biased that much! Really! This band is so superb!

The best group of musicians on the planet played last night… life is good!