To set the scene for this week’s UK gigs – here’s a round up of recent Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy You Tube clips
Robert Plant & Band Of Joy Down To The Sea Liverpool Olympia Theatre 21st Oct 2010

Robert Plant Band of Joy The Sage Newcastle uk 2010 Monkey

ROBERT PLANT Tangerine live 23.10.2010 Avo Session Basel HD

Robert Plant – Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down (Live @ Usher Hall 18th Oct 2010)

Robert Plant & Band Of Joy Gallows Poll Liverpool Olympia Theatre 21st Oct 2010

Robert Plant & Band …

Photo by Steve Way
The Guardian.co.uk Music Blog web site is running a week long series of exclusive videos taken from last month’s Robert Plant Band Of Joy London HMV Forum gig. It commences today with the Low cover Monkey.
Visit   http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/oct/25/robert-plant-band-joy

Photo by Rick Willis
As we move into what will be a couple of very high profile weeks for Robert Plant, It’s a timely moment for me to reflect on the 100 + nights I have spent in the company of Robert Plant on vocals.
It was about a year back when I was researching something for the magazine that I realised I must be approaching 100 occasions of staring up at a Shure SM57 or 58 microphone held by Robert Plant. I’d collated a list about ten years back which I …

Photo by Kryz Jantzen
Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy
October 24th
Palais des Sports
Paris, France
The Setlist
Down To The Sea/ Angel Dance/ House Of Cards/ Please Read The Letter/ Misty Mountain Hop/ Twelve Gates/ Tangerine/ Somewhere Trouble/ Satisfied Mind/ Move Up/ Satan/ Central 209/ Monkey/ Houses Of The Holy/ You Cant Buy Me Love/ Tall Cool One/ Gallows Pole/ Harms Swift Way/ RnR/ Goodnight
With tickets also to Birmingham and London in the next few days, this week three  shows kick off with a great night in France, catching Robert on …

A lot going on here as we shape up for a big week ahead with The Band Of Joy gigs in Birmingham and London.
I’ve been pretty ensconced in getting the Over Europe book into some sort of planning shape. There’s a lot of material to draw from and a lot of work ahead but it’s going to be an exciting challenge getting this one down. I conducted a phone interview to New York for the book this week – spoke with a key Zep associate from the time and our …

 
Gary and I plan to be in attendance at the Robert Plant Band Of Joy shows in Birmingham and London. Here are details of the TBL pre gig meet pubs:
For the Birmingham Symphony Hall gig on Wednesday October 27th
We will be meeting in the The Brasshouse, 44 Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2HP,  from around 5.00 pm. The Brasshouse is minutes away from the venue.

For the London Roundhouse gig on Friday October 29th we will be meeting in the The Enterprise, 2 Haverstock Hill, Camden, London, NW3 2BL. 1 minute walk from Chalk …

Picture by Ian Avey
It was the first time I’ve seen (solo) Robert since December 2005, when
he played at Wolverhampton with the Strange Sensations.
At Liverpool he sang flawlessly and seemed to have so much more control
over his voice than when I have seen him live on previous occasions.
The whole band worked really well together and complemented each other.
The solo spots when Robert took a back seat were also a real surprise,
and worked really well.
I can’t remember the entire set list, but it was mostly the same as the
Paris show. ‘Satan your …

Photo by Caitlin Scullion
Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy –The Sage, Gateshead October 20th  2010
Fabulous evening – I don’t think I’ve seen Robert as relaxed and as comfortable within a band.
Vocally the whole evening was sensational, Robert, as Id expected, maintains an impeccable standard – but the whole band sings and there are wonderful harmonies flying in all over the place. The musicianship was great too throughout and also Robert was more than happy to share the limelight and took to the rear of the stage whilst Buddy,Patty & …

Robert Plant and The Band of Joy, Usher Hall Edinburgh, Monday  October 18th 2010.
Photo Lorraine Robertson
Set List
Monkey
House of Cards
Please Read the Letter
Misty Mountain Hop
Rich Woman
Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go (Buddy Miller) Robert on harmonica
Tangerine
Move Up (Robert said “Patty’s going to rock the joint” and did)
Satan
Central 209 (Robert on washboard!)
Angel Dance
Houses Of The Holy
Down To The Sea
Tall Cool One
Gallows Pole
ENCORE
Harm’s Swift Way
Rock n Roll (Robert then said “February 17th 1970…I was ‘ere”…he said he’s been on Google!
A Very Cellular Song (Incredible String Band)..pretty emotional stuff .)
The gig….
A hot steaming beautifully decorated large …

Photo by Tiina Puska
Robert Plant & The Band Of Joy- October 16th, Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway
This report from Tiina Puska
Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara opened the evening. They were truly something special and I would really love to see them again. My husband , who is normally more into heavy metal, was thrilled by them.
Robert was in a great mood, relaxed, smiling and laughing and joking about the afternoon nap he took in his hotel room. I’m not sure if he stayed at the Grand Hotel, which is the best …