Robert Plant Offers Grace, Variety At MGM Grand (Htfd Courant)
With blues and country conventions lining every offering, even rock
numbers had as much shape as power, whether the chugging rumble of
"Cindy, I'll Marry You Someday" or a two-tone version of Led Zeppelin's
"Houses of the Holy," which started on a cowboy trip gilded by crack
multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott on pedal steel guitar before
building to a thunderous rock conclusion in which Scott shifted to an
electric guitar.
Plant gave Richard Thompson's "House of Cards" a mannered delivery with
vibrant flourishes, punching up its roomy groove. In adorning the mellow
blues gospel of "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down," Plant's delicate
handling included a near-withholding of many syllables in the song's
early portions while Scott plucked out a ringing banjo backdrop.
Patty Griffin forged frequent vocal alloys with Plant, but was more
compelling within the band's framework as a source of accents and
counterpoint, adding bright spots to "You Can't Buy My Love." Her lead
on the sturdy gospel of "Move Up" was lively and sharp, while Miller's
gruff, snappy lead on "Somewhere Trouble Don't Go" served as a
different, equally pleasant alternative direction. Scott's rugged
voicing of "Satisfied Mind" was barroom country with substantial wallop
as the rest of the band loaded its chorus. (more)
