OAKLAND, CA | The legendary Robert Plant is back with a new project—Saving Grace—which includes a new album and a tour that is absolutely not to be missed. Recorded over the last 5+ years between the pandemic and Plant’s other obligations, Saving Grace was inspired by traditional folk and blues and highlights his collaboration with local musicians Oli Jefferson (drums), Tony Kelsey (guitar), Matt Worley (banjo, other strings), Barney Morse-Brown (cello), and his vocal muse, Suzi Dian.
The Bay Area normally shows up en masse whenever Robert Plant comes to town, so it was no surprise that Oakland’s Fox Theater was sold out for Saving Grace’s “Roar in the Fall” Tour, featuring songs from Plant’s twelfth solo album, which was released a mere two months ago, as well as a few surprises for the long-time fans.
The evening kicked off with a heavy dose of Americana courtesy of Rosie Flores (aka the Rockabilly Filly). With a red flower, a stark contrast against her jet black hair, Rosie and her band tore through 30 minutes of originals and classic covers, including Johnny Kidd and the Pirates’ “Shakin’ All Over” and Dave Alvin’s “Long White Cadillac.” That set the gathering crowd a-rockin’. Flores seemed as down for the party as the rest of the Fox crowd, suggesting post-show drinks at one of her old Bay Area haunts (Larry Blake’s, RIP) after the show and promising, “I’m a good hang!”
The sold-out theater was packed by the time Plant and his band took the stage at 8:40, every seat filled and nearly every hand with a fresh drink. The band took the stage with little fanfare and launched into “The Cuckoo,” immediately highlighting Worley’s mastery of the banjo. But after a cover of Martha Scanlan’s “Higher Rock” and a display of Robert’s skills with a harmonica, the show took an unexpected turn when the stage monitors (the speakers that allow Plant and Dian to hear themselves) went out. What to do?
Leave it to Robert to riff for a good 10 minutes as the crew tried to sort out the issue. The Oakland crowd hung on every word, knowing that this was something that no one else was getting on this tour. And you know what, Plant was absolutely hilarious as he recounted Led Zeppelin’s first San Francisco show in 1969 and pretty much anything else that came to mind. Obviously a bit frustrated but still in good humor, he joked that they had perfected their set over 150 shows only to f*** it all up in Oakland. With things seemingly back in order, he exclaimed, “I have a question for you, does anybody remember laughter?” and things were back in business (for then).
What followed was a goose-bump-inducing rendition of Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” which had cell phone screens lighting up across the venue as the band’s orchestration awed the audience in Oakland. Unfortunately, the vibe was short-lived, and another technical problem led to Plant announcing an unplanned intermission. The band left the stage, and a hilarious number of folks dashed for the bars and/or the restrooms.
Forty minutes into their set, the band was back on the stage and ready to launch into their fourth song as folks were still making their way back to their seats. Plant was obviously anxious to get the show back on track, prodding the Oakland crowd hilariously with, “Come on, hurry up!” Thankfully, it was smooth sailing from there, and no one in the band seemed to have been thrown off in the slightest by disruptions as the set gave everyone in the band opportunities to shine—Worley in particular with his vocals on “Soul of a Man.”
With plenty of time still on the clock, Robert took the time to introduce most of the songs storyteller style and was particularly effusive over how Moby Grape inspired his early forays into music and his early links to the music of San Francisco, directing the Oakland crowd to, “dig it, it’s from your people,” as the band launched into “It’s a Beautiful Day Today.”
For his part, the 77-year-old Plant looked and sounded great. The iconic mane of hair is now grey, but no less impressive. His voice remains powerful, demonstrating remarkable range and control. Holding the final note of “Everybody’s Song” along with Diaz would have erased any lingering doubts.
As the evening wound down, Plant aptly summed up the show with, “It wasn’t quite how I expected the night to go, but I kind of enjoyed it.” Same Robert, same! As if to make sure there wouldn’t be any lingering complaints, the band wrapped their set with a healthy dose of Zeppelin for good measure, a mashup of “Gallows Pole” and “Black Dog” bringing the room to its feet. Add this band to your “do not miss” list.
ROSIE FLORES
