Review: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

May 9 2008 by Martin Wells, South Wales Echo

Cardiff International Arena

ONE of the 50 million who missed out on the Led Zeppelin reunion last year?

Me too.

Still, if catching Zep frontman Robert Plant’s tour with US country/bluegrass singer Alison Krauss seemed at first like a consolation prize, it must now seem like the jackpot.

Sure, their date at the CIA last night might not have nudged the cultural seismograph off the Richter Scale but, you know what, for lovers of great music this was one of the highlights not just of this year, but any year.

Their album, Raising Sand, shows they can cut it in the studio but on stage, backed by the legendary T-Bone Burnett and an ace Nashville combo, they were simply sensational.

Not that the rock god stole the show. The ticket had Plant’s name in big letters but it’s Krauss who should really be up there in lights.

From the moment she took her first solo, the sell-out audience, many of whom had just come to relive a few Zep moments, were utterly converted and at the end of her first trio of showcases – shortly after a terrific bluegrass version of the Zep stomper Black Dog – we knew we were in the presence of greatness. If she’d done a fourth on the trot old Percy might not have bothered coming back on.

The biggest cheer of the night came not when the Zeppelin numbers were reworked but when Krauss took the single spotlight for a literally breathtaking version of Down to the River to Pray from the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.

Plant stood in the background singing harmony and he was generous with his support all night, like an ageing teacher finally put in the shade by his prodigy.

He had his moments, too, particularly on Townes Van Zandt’s corruscating Nothin’ but the duo’s Battle for Evermore – another Zeppelin classic – suffered from the grunge workout at the end.

Ultimately, this was Krauss’ night but she owes a huge debt to Plant for introducing her to an audience who would never have known her without his patronage.

4/5