Venue:
The Pavilion, Exmouth
Date: 09/12/2019
Apparently it went something like this…Exmouth Pavilion had a phone call to say that Robert Plant was looking to put together a short tour of small venues and would they have any dates available? Bless ‘em, the management of our local venue, whose usual fare is tribute acts and musical theatre, could indeed oblige and thus it was that Percy got to play with his new outfit in my home town. I was tipped the wink by a mate who works there and thus bagged front row seats as soon as they went on sale, and thus it came to pass that on Monday I was sat right in front of the legendary singer as he treated us to his latest new direction.
There was very little on line to suggest what to expect, although a set list from earlier this year turned out to be pretty much on the money – a couple of songs from 2010’s Band Of Joy and one from Raising Sand, a couple of psychedelic era covers and some old songs from the American Appalachian/country canon, and not a Led Zep cover in sight. The band is a stripped back line up of two vocalists, two guitarists/mandolin type players and a drummer. I was expecting the set to be much more acoustic, but the overall sound was more akin to the Sensational Space Shifters than I had thought it would be, with dense soundscapes underneath some delicate playing. Plant was in great voice, easily singing within his comfortable register, and those who like Band Of Joy and Raising Sand would have enjoyed the vocal trade offs with the marvellous Suzi Dian – this was very much harking back to the country leanings of those albums.
This was the first date of the tour and Plant confessed to a bit of jet lag – he was a bit restrained, and even confessed he didn’t quite know what to say at the start, but warmed up quickly and we got a quip about coming from the North – a land of ice and snow – and a little mention of Jimmy Page got a laugh. He seemed genuinely appreciative of the very warm reception to the songs and it was a marvellous performance – understated for sure, but all the better for that and he still has charisma to burn. The band are exceptionally good and produce an amazing sound for just three guys, and I have already mentioned Suzi Dian’s flawless vocals, but I just loved the connection and spontaneity between them.
Set list:
1. Undone In Sorrow – Crooked Still cover
2. Satan (Your Kingdom Must Come Down) – from Band Of Joy
3. Cuckoo – Clarence Ashley cover
4. Move Along Train – Levon Helm cover
5. Too Far From You – Carole King cover
6. Your Long Journey – from Raising Sand
7. Cindy I’ll Marry You Some Day – from Band Of Joy
8. She Cried /Ups and Downs – Jay And The Americans cover
9. It’s A Beautiful Day Today – Moby Grape cover
10. Two Coats – trad. Cover
11. Soul Of A man – Trad cover
12. Season Of The Witch – Donovan cover
13. Ohio – Patty Griffin cover
Encore:
14. Everybody’s Song – Low cover
15. And We Bid You Goodnight – Pindar Family and Joseph Spence cover
A quick mention of the support act – these were a duo called The Rails – I only discovered afterwards that they were, in fact, Kami Thompson (daughter of Richard and Linda) and her other half, James Welbourne, who is also a guitarist with The Pogues and The Pretenders…..no wonder they were pretty damn fine also!
The audience:
A surprising mix of young and old. I didn’t spot one Led Zep T shirt, so glad I didn’t wear mine! I had to turn round and politely ask the two blokes behind me (one of whom I know quite well!) to turn the conversation down which I’m pleased to say the duly did.
It made me think..
It was truly wonderful to have this gig in Exmouth.
Oooooooo, I’m so excited: I’ve got ‘em next Sunday, 22/12, in Brum. To have Kami’n’Jim too could have me in heaven. I am still deciding where in my top 3 their new record comes in my Poll results.
Brilliant account of what was evidently a gem of an evening in one of my favourite little towns. I is green. This will probably lead me to purchase another shiny disc.
Loved the review @NigelT, I’ve always preferred Percy’s solo output to the band he was in originally, especially from the ’90’s onwards. That original band weren’t too bad though.
They were of their time and that time has passed.
Percy knows this.
Very enjoyable review, For those of us who weren’t there in Exmouth, here they are at Womad. Sounds wonderful.
And you might enjoy a listen to this too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fI_yLo-iEI
Great review. Sad to be missing them in Brum as it clashed with a My Darling Clementine gig – didn’t know he was playing Brum until mentioned by @retropath2. Even more sad that missing The Rails as support. Their 3rd released this Year is easily their best and they were very good at Cambridge Folk festival.
If it’s any consolation, I’m gutted to be missing Michael and Lou: the new ep is great, and I suspect Mr Nieve will be there to tinkle.
So, B’ham, how was it?
As stated, the Rails were great, but I knew that already. First time I had caught them as an acoustic duo, not that James Walbourne was letting that cramp his rockstar shapes and posturing, being the polished current Pretenders guitar, the same for Edwyn Collins. They came on like stars from the start, a polished performance of songs scattered across their 3 records and made, I dare say, a few friends along the way. Steve Gibbons, 2 rows ahead, looked impressed. A decent 45 minute set meant we got songs sung by Kami Thompson, and some by Walbourne, most then having their glorious harmony. On record I find their latest carries echoes of the Clive Gregson style of songwriting, sturdy power pop , this performance had them taking on an altogether spunkier Clive and Christine.
And so to the main event. A drum kit and chairs at the back of a stage, decked with as many stringed instruments as an octopus might need, including some electric guitars, something I wasn’t expecting. Lights and on strode a woman and 3 men, she positioning herself at one of the front facing standing microphones, the men sitting at their respective drums, banjo and electric guitar seats, bursting straight into a 3 part harmony, led by the woman. As they began, the shaggy figure peering around stage left wandered on, to the 2nd upright mike. Very much part of the harmony/backing vocals for the first song, it wasn’t until the second that we heard his voice alone, a little shaky too start. The band were a black country co-operative, he told us, and, indeed, so they seemed to be. A similar set to the one mentioned above, the vocals were often two part, often four part harmonies, perfectly pitched and razor sharp for closeness. Plant’s voice warmed as he relaxed into a near home town crowd, brief introductions to many of the songs, as he explained how and why he came to be singing such fare. About Suzi Dian I know little. She can sing, for sure, bringing out also a melodeon for one song. Another fine singer, shhh, I preferred his voice to the sainted Robert, was Matt Worley, given lead on two, maybe three songs, as well as the banjo, cuatro and sometimes second electric guitar. Rounding of the band were Tony Kelsey on guitars, and occasional mandolin, and, from the Strange Sensation band , Oli Jefferson on drums, inventive and spiky, with lots of bottom end. Kelsey played lots of heavily echoed and processed drones, a convincing Bridge between his bosses twin current projects. The songs were a mix of trad, old blues, appalachian gospel and songs by erstwhile paramour Patty Griffin and Low, the latter band a long a favourite Plant source of material. And one lovely surprise, yet another good version of the DONOVAN staple, Season of the Witch. A lovely show, a little ramshackle, the patter a little unrehearsed, the musical arrangements honed to a T. Making us wait for an encore, back they came, ending finally all five huddled around a mike for a gospel holler to send all home in good cheer.
My one disappointment? Ever since old parishioner and boy done good @pat-carty wrote in Hot Press about the Plant styles of dancing, yes, we got them all except the holding a dancing fairy in each hand, palms outstretched manoeuvre. Pity, that…..