May 22, 2008, Wembley Arena, London, UK

Scott Matthews, Opening Act

Set List:
Rich Woman
Leave My Woman Alone
Black Dog
Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us
Through the Morning
So Long Goodbye to You
In the Mood/Maddy Grove/In the Mood
Black Country Woman
Shut It Tight
Bon Temps Roulez
Trampled Rose
Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson
Down to the River to Pray
Killing the Blues
Nothing
Battle of Evermore
Please Read the Letter
Gone Gone Gone
Don’t Knock
I’m a One Woman Man
When the Levee Breaks
Your Long Journey

from theenchanter:
Robert Plant never ceases to amaze me. He has traveled on so many different musical journeys. I’ve always been floored by everything he’s done both studio and seeing him live. I don’t know what it is with this project but I just can’t say enough about my experience seeing the Raising Sand project live. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen. I have to say that this show is really the three of them. There’s no ego here, no hogging the spotlight. The energy that they get from each other and the support they give is incredible. They sort of alternated between songs both Alison and Robert sang together, to Alison having a few songs by herself on stage (Robert was not on stage at this time), Robert had a couple of songs he took on his own and then T Bone having his time.

The band - stunning. They are tops at their craft and really sound cohesive. They’ve got that whole Americana roots sound down pat. It’s not about just rehashing it but they really feel it. I was quite impressed and I’m not that familiar with any of them beyond T Bone’s solo albums (quite good as an aside).

Rich Woman is the perfect opener. The band is on stage and Alison and Robert each walk on stage from opposite sides. It’s a great song and a good energy to get things going. Her voice live is very different than on record. She has incredible power and this angelic quality. There were many moments where I just sat mouth agape listening to her.

Fortune Teller was fantastic. One of my faves off the album. I thought it was a perfect song for Robert to sing and you can tell on stage he’s having a good time of it. In the Mood was a real treat. I was happy they added it. It’s a good example of how Robert’s own music is so open to various interpretations. I’ve heard it more as it was originally recorded, more synth, more free form with lots of songs mixed in and this version which had this great groove to it. She breaks into the Fairport Convention song Maddy Grove! Ah if only they did the whole song. It’s stellar.

Down to the River to Pray was quite powerful. It’s sung sans instruments and Robert and two of the band mates sing harmony. You can see Robert’s expression as he’s singing it that he’s just really moved by how beautiful her voice is. I was also thinking as I was hearing him do this harmony that again, it’s another example of what an amazing voice he has. He had to learn to sing this sort of harmonic style of singing and listening to him do it you’d think it was second nature. Spot on with every song. That’s not easy to do! It also showed his ability to sing with restrained power, meaning you clearly heard him but he wasn’t taking the song over.

The highlight of the evening (well okay the whole show was a giant highlight Very Happy ) was Nothing. It’s one of my ultimate favorites (next to Polly Come Home) and Robert just took it and ran with it. He did what he does so well - he really gets behind the meaning of the song and lets his emotions carry it. Really beyond words.

Gone Gone Gone is fun - they drop the curtain and that background is up - the same as the video. It’s just a great moment and they seem to really enjoy singing it.

Your Long Journey is so beautiful. What a sad and touching song and it’s really a lovely note to end on despite it being a bit boohooey.

Robert didn’t speak too much. He praised the band and working with T Bone and Alison. At one point someone shouted (a guy) “I love you Robert” and he quipped, “you’re just saying it now” Laughing It was really funny.

I really hope many of you can get to see the show. It’s well worth it and just great to see Robert so full of smiles and energy and out there doing something unexpected rather than resting on his laurels. I didn’t see T shirts though I saw signs for them so apologies for not knowing what they look like. The program book is stunning. It’s hardcover and has a lovely intro from journalist/producer Bill Flanagan, some words about the project from each of them and a lot of really lovely photos.

from isabelarcher
ndeed the audience was so enthusiastic, there was a long standing ovation… robert was moved by that and promised they will come back .
I think this gig was a triumph …maybe I’m not objective!
*****
I only add that, at the end, T-bone was between Robert and Alison.
He put his arms on their shoulders and,
being pretty taller than them, he kissed each of them on their head ..
like a father with his children

May 16, 2008, Hovet (Ice Hall), Stockholm, Sweden

Setlist:
Rich woman
Leave my woman alone
Black dog
Sister Rosetta goes before us
Through the morning, through the night
Let your loss be your lesson
Fortune teller
In the mood
Black country woman
Shut it tight
Bon temps roule
Green pastures
Down to the river to pray
Killing the blues
Nothin’
The battle of Evermore
Please read the letter
Gone gone gone (Done moved on)

Encore
You don’t knock
I’m a one woman man
Your long journey

from RobsDove
just came home from Stockholm. What a gig. The ice hall, quite a big place, was practically packed, and the public was really enthusiastic.

I didn’t recognize all the songs and wouldn’t be able to give you a setlist, but most of the songs were the same as in the previous concerts. In an evening full of high points, the highest one for me personally was perhaps The Battle of Evermore. An impressive performance in every way! bowing

As for the most unexpected song, that must be In The Mood, which Robert and Alison sang together. It was a quite different, folksy arrangement with in the middle a part of Fairport Convention’s Matty Grove thrown in, sung by Alison. On the other hand, When The Levee Breaks was left out, which was a slight disappointment as I’d been quite looking forward to that. But I can’t really complain since there was so much to enjoy in any case!

Oh, and the tour book is certainly worth the money.

May 13, 2008 Le Grand Rex Theatre, Paris FR

from Ginger:
As has been said so many times before, it was just FANTASTIC and absolutely delightful ! There have been so many reviews already that described very well indeed the beauty of this latest musical adventure of Robert. I have nothing more to add and do not feel especially qualified either to write a “presentable” review. All I can say is that apart from taking great pleasure in seeing Robert on stage again after a year or so since I had seem him last time (with Tinariwen in Paris), I was just stunned by Alison’s powerful voice and how unpretentious and nearly shy she came across to me. There was a great chemistry between Alison and Robert, even though he is the friendly extrovert we all love and she seems to be rather an introvert. The song I enjoyed most was their singing together beautifully on “When the levee breaks”. They also did a funny version of “In the mood” that was unusual. And she certainly touched my soul with “her” songs, even though this is not really “my kind of music”. And the musicians were just absolutely professional ! They all got a standing ovation and came back for two more songs. Also, Robert seems to have worked on his French since I heard him speak in this language last time …. maybe to impress his American friends Wink Nearly all of his intros and comments were in French and he was sometimes so spontaneous that he can’t have prepared them all beforehand …. he was even as witty as he usually is in his mother tongue !