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Home » Robert Plant

The Greek Theater, Los Angeles, CA

12 September 2002 2,177 views No Comment

Set-List: If I Ever Get Lucky, Four Sticks, Down To The Sea, Morning Dew, Going To California, Hey Hey What Can I Do, Funny In My mind (Fixin’ To Die), Calling To You, A House Is Not A Motel, Tall Cool, One Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
Encore #1: Song To The Siren Misty Mountain Hop
Encore #2: Whole Lotta Love

This from David Higgins
Wow again! Another great show this evening from Los Angeles. Exact same set as the Santa Barbara Show with a couple exceptions. “Celebration Day” was dropped from the main set. However, there were TWO, count ’em two encores this evening (more in a sec.) Plus a guest appearance from the lovely miss Lili Haydn (virtuoso violinist- she opened for Page/Plant in ’98).
Overall, I thought the show was great, but a bit weaker than the Santa Barbara show (with the exception of the encores). Plant’s voice started off strong, but then it seemed to get weaker (and he was drinking more tea than usual). Even though “Celebration Day” was dropped, there was an extended jam during Love’s “A House is not a Motel” featuring Lili Haydn, that made up for it. She came out with a long white skirt, and a white blouse that showed off her stomach. Good stuff…
The biggest surprise of the evening, however, was the encore. They did an even more beautiful rendition of “Song to the Siren.” The crowd really listened to this one as Plant had asked. The surprise came when they followed not with the usual “Whole Lotta Love,” but with “Misty Mountain Hop” instead!! It was a very guitar heavy version. Plant smiled all the way through. The band left the stage, then returned for a second encore and did “Whole Lotta Love,” with Plant in his spoken intro making funny references to Barry White because he kept saying that he felt like he was “in the mood for some love. Just think of Barry White…” He repeated “think of Barry White” a few times.
Even though there were some weaker moments, Plant and the band finished very strong, very much on fire. Then again, maybe Plant’s voice wasn’t weak, so much as just the crowd wasn’t as into it as they were a couple days ago in Santa Barbara. It’s hard to tell where the lack of energy came from, but just a little something was missing. STILL a great show though, don’t get me wrong. Hope to see Robert again very soon…

This from Ravi
This show was phenomenal! A friend of mine said that LA was the best show of this tour so far and he has
seen several shows. Hopefully you saw him this tour or will be seeing him, because Plant is in a great
mood and is on his game!
He was in a great mood last night and danced around a lot. His band is really great and they are very
solid; I hope that he keeps that lineup for the next album. Basically they nailed everything and his voice
was really great.. he hit all the high notes and screamed almost like the days of old. Also the
venue’s sound was really great so we could hear pretty much every instrument clearly. My favorites were Going to California, Morning Dew (which had a faster tempo than on the cd), Song to the Siren (which was simply beautiful), and Babe I’m Gonna Leave You. Calling to You had a monster riff; all of the middle
eastern elements that they add really spices up the old songs.

From Erik H..
Well, we finally get Robert back to the West Coast, after a four year absence. Overall, I like Dreamland a lot, and looked forward to hearing the new material. The band came out on all cylinders: If I Ever Get Lucky opened, and Robert holding the opening verse nicely. Then it’s straight into Four Sticks, well received, good cover. Then Robert takes us back to 1993, with Down to the Sea. Wasn’t as good live as I hoped, but that’s okay. Morning Dew next, great new faster live version. Really a good one. I don’t remember if Fixin to Die came before or after the acoustic set, but what a great song live, as it’s one of my favorites off the new album. Going to California and Hey Hey What Can I Do satisfy the crowd. Back to Fate of Nations, and Calling to You. Next, the one I hoped Robert would revive on his West Coast swing: Love’s House Is Not A Motel (Robert points out that Forever Changes was created “right here in your backyard, LA”). House did not disappoint, and is a really good cover. Then, Robert dedicates the next one to Elvis, a nice Tall Cool One, minus Phil Johnstone’s mid vocals (and replaced by good guitar solos, much better). We wrap up the set with Babe I’m Gonna Leave You.

As Robert appears before the first encore, Song To The Siren, he reminisces about old friends and LA, and says hello to a few guests, including Pat and Zowie (could the Bonham ladies been in the audience?). Robert then adds a new one to the set: Misty Mountain Hop, which sounded great. And the band leave again. One more return, and with three references to Barry White, we’re off to the new Whole Lotta Love.

Overall a good show. Robert seemed a little disappointed with crowd reaction early on, but got us to wake up a bit. I guess after having seen Robert so many times, I was disappointed with his decisions to play some songs. First, why play Song to the Siren? I don’t like it either – especially as an encore. I’d have much preferred a Moby Grape tune like Skip’s Song, or any Grape cover off their debut album (Sitting By the Window, Changes, etc…). If not that, maybe Dylan’s Cup of Coffee. As for Zep numbers? Babe I’m Gonna Leave You for the third tour in a row, and Whole Lotta Love just isn’t right without Jimmy. I would love to see Robert re-roast old solo chestnuts like Burning Down One Side or Slow Dancer off Pictures, but that’s just one fan’s opinion. His band is good, and they’re tight. Robert, don’t be such a stranger to the West Coast! Enjoy the UK and European legs of the tour!
Erik H.

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