From the moment Robert Plant appeared from the shadows of the Greek theater in Berkeley and reunited with his old friend Alison Krauss, their hands reaching out to one another for a warm embrace, you knew this was going to be a special night.
And a special night it was. From the start of the show until the encore the crowd was treated to a plethora of covers from artists like the Everly Brothers to Ray Charles, but also lesser known ones like Li’l Millet and His Creoles, and of course, Led Zeppelin.
The backdrop of the Greek was gorgeous last night. Twinkling lights adorned the iconic venue over colorful silk drapes that added a touch of elegance to an already graceful evening. Robert Plant was in fine form as the distinguished British gentleman that he is, and Alison Krauss was glowing. Wearing a floral patterned draped dress she stood by his side and added angelic hymns to the legendary rocker’s chants.
Highlights for me included the rockabilly version of the Zepellin classic “Rock n Roll.” Re-imagined it felt almost natural as if it were originally written that way. “When the Levee Breaks” was haunting, at moments jaw-dropping in its darkness. But it was “The Battle of Evermore ” that stole the show. The continuous loop of Plant’s “Bring it Back” at the end of the song, combined with some impressive tribal drum rhythms by the man with the wooden sticks in the back, had the crowd on their feet for a standing ovation that made the man with the silver curls pause to take it all in.
What an unforgettable night.
Photos courtesy of Louis Raphael
