A Lone Cry in the Crowd: The Power of One Voice

Two years ago, Robert Plant left his Belgian fans sad when he canceled his performance with Alison Krauss at the Cactus Festival at the very last minute. With an artist of his age – the Led Zeppelin frontman now 76 – you never know when the last time will be, so we had a sigh of relief when it was announced that the rock icon was announcing a concert in Antwerp. At the Queen Elizabeth Hall, he gave the audience, along with Suzi Dian and backing band Saving Grace, a chance to wash away the Cactus Festival hangover.

He must have known that Plant still had something to make up for with the Belgian audience, because the singer was extremely punctual at the nine o’clock appointment. “The Cuckoo” was used on its own by Saving Grace and the combination of banjo, mandolin and drums was immediately exciting enough to set the mood. Plant got the audience clapping for the first time, and then spoiled the fans with a powerful vocal explosion as he did so often during the Led Zeppelin era.

After a beautiful mandolin solo was played during the opening song, the bluegrass instruments briefly gave way to electric and acoustic guitar, while Suzi Dian also brought out her bass guitar for the atmospheric “Let the Four Winds Blow”. She in turn exchanged that for her accordion, which we first heard with “Four Sticks”, the first Led Zeppelin song of the night and also the first time we saw many phone screens go up. At the same time it became clear that the Brit still liked the heavier and faster rock songs.

We don’t have to have illusions after all; Plant no longer sings exactly as he did more than fifty years ago, but his voice timbre and ditto range still made the hairs on many arms stand up. The fact that the tenor’s register is slightly lower than before is therefore only normal and in some quieter songs it even added something because of the peace that the lows have, for example, Los Lobos covers “Angel Face” and came with her.

Despite the fact that he himself is very strong vocally, Plant also shared the spotlight with his fellow musicians. For example, multi-instrumentalist Matt Worley took lead vocals on the heavy riff-driven “Move Along Train”. Worley was perhaps the most impressive of Saving Grace throughout the night if you don’t count Plant, as we saw few others do what he conjured from his many stringed instruments. It is difficult to choose a highlight, but if I had to choose it would be the cuatrosolo during the theatrical “Cân Pawb”.

Anyone wanting to hear “Whole Lotta Love” and “Stairway To Heaven” had come to the wrong place at Queen Elizabeth Hall, but compared to other Led Zeppelin songs, “The Rain Song” was somewhat degraded is presented, and also in a beautiful way, presented. It suited the musical offering perfectly and Plant himself had no choice but to conclude that ‘that still works’. The affable Brit spoke to his audience throughout the concert, although some of his lame jokes did not receive a lukewarm reception. What was appreciated was a joke where he referred to “Immigrant Song” saying he was from ‘the land of ice and snow’.

Suzi Dian also had her moment in the spotlight and in her case it was during a cover of Neil Young’s “For the Turnstiles”, where she took lead vocals during the verses and harmonized brilliantly with Plant in the chorus. She also showed her best vocally during “Friends”, although all eyes were now focused on the Led Zeppelin frontman. The two also harmonized beautifully in the encore, which was even more evident this time, because “I Will Never Marry” was performed a cappella. The perfect finale was – how could it be otherwise – to a song he also played with Led Zeppelin. The honor went to “Gallows Pole”, which included a section of “Black Dog”, where Plant started a bit hesitantly but in the end came through completely and made the room rock one last time as usual.

Supported by Saving Grace and Suzi Dian, Robert Plant gave free rein to his well-oiled vocal cords at Queen Elizabeth Hall. The British frontman still has a great voice, although he literally sings a few notes lower than before. With a Led Zeppelin song here and there, he gave the fans what many of them wanted, while the traditional and covers also flowed freely and were presented in great versions.

Anyone who was unable to attend at Queen Elizabeth Hall should keep the evening of May 3 free in their diary, as Robert Plant, Suzi Dian and Saving Grace will be in the spotlight. Royal Circus.