And a new favorite is established! This new double-CD set from Wardour captures an inspirational, special and sensational performance by Mr. Plant, Allison Krauss, T-Bone Burnett and band, in superb stereo soundboard quality. In fact the only possible fly in the ointment here is that we have mistaken an immaculate and magical stereo, digital stage/audience recording...but, it is so fantastic and intimate - with the audience distant on the tape that I will graciously defer to the label's identification as stereo soundboard. The sound engineer is johnny-on-the-spot with the faders and dialing in a sweet balance between band and vocals within the first minutes of "Rich Woman" and it's sit back and soak it up from there!
Essentially, the whole show is a highlight but there are identifiable high points throughout and it starts with a really strange and interesting arrangement of Zeppelin's "Black Dog" - and it's here that I am able to understand that this is really the appropriate vehicle and style for Robert Plant at this stage of life. He is soooo comfortable and there's no mistaking it. The dynamic that has been sparked by the collaboration with Allison Krauss is captured more so in this beautiful live recording, than on the LP that has garnered such critical and fan acclaims. The set moves ever-so-smoothly along to the "Fortune Teller", "In The Mood", "Black Country Woman" series of tunes with "In The Mood" a surprisingly fresh and notable performance here. But T-Bone Burnett's enthusiastic banter between "Bon Temps Rouler" and "Shut It Tight" describes the essence of the mood being celebrated onstage as he talks about being in (Washington) D.C. during the day and commenting on some sort of "special vibe" being felt on the streets and "what a place!...this is a gas!...we should go ahead and play here for a month!...", as he raves about the Merriweather Pavillion venue for tonights' show. Later in the show, it is T-Bone who also expresses condolences to the greater Washington D.C. area and family of NBC "Meet The Press" TV News host, Tim Russert, who had passed away suddenly from a heart attack earlier in the day...which also adds to the incredible level of sensitivity by which the performances are interpreted. It is quite amazing as you listen along, these musicians are absolutely 'dialed-in' and spot on with nary a waver or hint of being close to a miscue. And that's just Disc One!
As we move along into Disc Two, the momentum just picks up as we get the Tim Russert commentary from Burnett, and then it's time for a really cool moment for the insertion of a classic Plant-ism as Robert offers a perfectly timed story about his phone conversation with former-Led Zeppelin Road Manager, Richard Cole, prior to this evenings concert. Cole reminded Robert that he (Plant) was on that very Merriweather Pavillion stage some 39 years ago as Led Zeppelin opened for The Who..."those bastards"... in 1969...and how Zep was asked to donate their evenings earnings to The Who so they could pay for new equipment to use for the next show as they had destroyed their own! Great stuff and just another in the many arguments of why this hobby is not only fascinating, but important. Disc Two is flawless, as is the entire set in my opinion, making this Wardour release an essential title for anyone remotely interested in this current project. I would dare to go even further and say that if you can get by the very minimal but very country/bluegrass compositions in which Allison Krauss brings to the equation, this set is essential for any music lover or collector. Also making this one of my top titles for 2008. Pick it up, without hesitation. It is a sultry, smooth, and smoking cool show!
