Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Offer Up Magical Evening On Stage Outside Chicago
“Isn’t that amazing?” asked Robert Plant rhetorically on stage Wednesday night at Ravinia Festival, about 25 miles north of Chicago in the suburb of Highland Park, Illinois. “It’s amazing the way two voices can sometimes feel like nothing I’ve ever imagined,” he continued, noting his performance alongside singer and violinist Alison Krauss. “It’s been a long, strange journey to get here… I think.
In 2005, Plant released his eighth solo studio album Mighty ReArranger. It’s an apt title that perfectly encapsulates the solo career he’s put together since 1982, turning familiar songs on their head in the best way possible as he continues to forge ahead in one of rock’s most creative and impressive second halves.
Following the release of Raising Sand, his platinum 2005 collaboration with Krauss, the duo teamed again for 2021’s Raise the Roof, touring since.
I am blessed,” said Plant late in Wednesday night’s performance. “I really am. I am so lucky to be in the presence of this wonderful woman and her magnificent art,” he continued, introducing Krauss.
With temperatures reaching 90 degrees on Chicago’s north shore, Plant and Krauss offered up a magical evening of live music, backed beautifully by a marvelous five piece group over the course of about an hour and a half.
I am blessed,” said Plant late in Wednesday night’s performance. “I really am. I am so lucky to be in the presence of this wonderful woman and her magnificent art,” he continued, introducing Krauss.
With temperatures reaching 90 degrees on Chicago’s north shore, Plant and Krauss offered up a magical evening of live music, backed beautifully by a marvelous five piece group over the course of about an hour and a half.
Opening act JD McPherson was on double duty Wednesday, joining Plant and Krauss on guitar throughout, stealing opening number “Rich Woman” as Plant turned left to soak it in.
A gorgeous silver backdrop backed the band with small screens flanking each side of the stage, a performance free of contemporary concert trappings which put the onus squarely on the live music being performed.
Krauss took on her first lead vocal of the evening shortly thereafter, with “The Price of Love” doubling as the first of three Everly Brothers cuts on the evening.
Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” stood as one of the better early examples of Plant’s continual desire to shake up his catalog, with the violin of multi-instrumentalist Stuart Duncan combining with Krauss to drive the song’s earliest moments. Violin largely stood in for an early guitar solo on a slightly slowed yet equally rocking take on the classic cut. Plant spread his arms wide as McPherson tore into a solo late, shimmying as he turned to face Krauss for the song’s patented late “ooh yeah’s,” kicking it up a notch with a patented late wail as the impressive take drew to a close.
From Raise the Roof, “High and Lonesome,” the album’s only Plant-penned original, sparkled, with the crowd taking it upon themselves to clap in the intro in spirited fashion.
“Last Kind Words Blue” nearly stole the show with the combination of Duncan on resonator guitar and McPherson on electric steering the ship as mandolin gurgled underneath.
Duncan functioned Wednesday night as the band’s secret weapon, moving to ukulele for “Trouble With my Lover,” as penned by legendary New Orleans songwriter Allen Toussaint. Plant picked up a pair of maracas, looking on with a smile as Krauss sang.
Flipping back his lion’s mane with both hands, Plant dove into a uniquely expressive take on his own “In the Mood,” one defined largely by the sped up dueling fiddle work of Duncan and Krauss while McPherson supplied a lilting backing groove.
Banter was at a minimum Wednesday night but Plant did pause for a moment following a rollicking, spirited take on “Gallows Pole” that brought the Ravinia crowd to its feet in organic fashion with several numbers yet to go prior to the group’s encore.
“Many years ago, I said something like ‘it feels really good up here,’” said Plant, taking stock of his surroundings upon his return to the unique outdoor venue. “But it really does. This is one of the best interludes of my life,” he said, soon introducing each band member. “Please, folks, welcome over here – you know who he is – Robert Plant, everybody!” said Krauss gesturing left.
While rock solid throughout, Wednesday’s show really began to hit its stride late, with Zeppelin’s “The Battle of Evermore,” featuring electric mandolin, giving way to “When the Levee Breaks.”
Radically reworking the otherwise familiar number, Plant looked pleased, nodding to his right while smiling and clapping, enthralled by the sound as the band sped up the cut, with McPherson’s tremolo-soaked guitar wailing on the song in a whole new way. Waiting patiently, hands on hips, Plant finally delivered the song’s penultimate lyric, as the crowd roared in approval: “Going to Chicago!”
“Thanks for Champaign, Illinois!” said Plant, referencing the hometown of Krauss, just about three hours south. “So much fun. We’ll see ya. Somewhere,” he said following the group’s closing take on the Everlys’ “Gone Gone Gone.”
Putting a 50s spin upon Iggy Pop’s “Lust For Life,” McPherson shouted out longtime Chicago adult alternative station WXRT, what he called the first station in the country to spin his breakout 2010 hit “North Side Gal.”
“Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. This is year three for us out with Robert,” said the singer and guitarist, during his opening performance setting up a reverb-drenched take on “On the Lips.” “It’s quite a show!
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