Review: Robert Plant and his Band of Joy played the sold-out Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto, Ontario, on January 22, 2010.
January 23, 2011 – Toronto, Ontario
Robert Plant and his Band of Joy left the sold-out audience at Toronto’s Sony Centre for The Performing Arts wanting more last night, after a concert that showcased remarkable talent and creative song arrangements.
The show began with the North Mississippi Allstars opening, a guitar-vocalist and drummer duo who made an immediate impact on the Toronto audience with their blues-infused take on rock music. Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson make up the Allstars, with Luther’s wicked slide guitar and steady vocals backed by Cody’s solid drumming. The stage looked empty with only two musicians, but the sound was surprisingly big, melodic, and full. By the end of their set, the Toronto crowd gave them an energetic standing ovation, unusual for an opening act.
Plant took the stage with his Band of Joy after a long intermission, earning the evening’s second standing ovation. He humbly bowed to the audience and jumped right in to the first tune of the evening, “Cindy, I’ll Marry You Somedayâ€. The mix was off, with feedback problems and a piercing high end, but the sound crew righted the ship and the rest of the night went off without a hitch in the sound department.
Plant’s Band of Joy tour boasts an impressive list of American musicians backing him, including Buddy Miller on lead guitar, as well as the amazing Patty Griffin on guitar and vocals and Darrell Scott on a variety of stringed instruments. Miller, Griffin, and Scott each were given a chance to shine by breaking out their own tunes as lead vocalists with Plant singing back-up, shaking maracas and playing harmonica.
Throughout the rest of the show, Plant worked well with his talented band, most notably with Griffin who sang back-up to match Plant throughout the night. The haunting “Wade in the Water†was one of the highlights, with Plant and Griffin showcasing their ability to create powerful harmonies.
The set list was an eclectic mix of rockabilly, gospel, delta blues, and Apallachian roots music dominated by tunes off of Plant’s recent Band of Joy album. Mixed in was a nod to Plant’s solo career, with a creative arrangement of “Tall Cool One†and some fascinating re-imaginings of old Led Zeppelin tunes. His nod to his Zeppelin past was a present to the fans, but the set list proved that Plant has moved on, unabashedly performing in his rockabilly and delta blues style; a style that suits him exceptionally well.
The Zeppelin tunes were what the audience was hoping for though, and even in their new arrangements they elicited the biggest response from the audience. “Tangerineâ€, “Gallow’s Poleâ€, and “Thank You†all worked well in new formats, and “Rock and Roll†sizzled with a scintillating rockabilly beat, bringing the crowd to its feet. “Ramble On†was one of the evening’s stand-outs, although Plant seemed to be holding himself back from really attacking some of the more powerful passages in the song.
As a front man, Plant still has it. His signature voice was in excellent form throughout the night, hitting all the right notes and occasionally wowing the audience with his range and power. At 62 years-old, Plant showed remarkable energy and an uncanny ability to still hit the high notes. He was charismatic and cracked jokes with the audience, commenting that, “I’m always prematurely spilling my tea,†after a drink was spilled on stage. He was gracious with the crowd, although some were a bit confused when he said, “It’s always nice to play to such an interesting audience,†not clarifying what “interesting†meant.
Plant’s night ended with a three-song encore that included “Rock and Roll†and the powerful “Silver Riderâ€, a tune for which Plant has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Vocal Performance. He and Patty Griffin proved why, matching each other step for step with gorgeous harmonies. The concert closed with the beautiful “And We Bid You Goodnightâ€. It was the perfect way to end a special night with one of rock’s legends.
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