Photo courtesy of Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune
Robert Plant & the Band of Joy opened their Jazz Fest set in a mostly unsurprising, yet still admirable manner—an Americana’d version Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” transitioning straight into Page & Plant’s classic “Kashmir.” After enthusing the crowd with just a few of those generally familiar tunes, Plant & the Band of Joy took the liberty to launch into a set comprised almost equally of covers—including Plant’s “favorite UK songwriter” Richard Thompson’s “House of Cards,” and Low’s “Monkey.” Band of Joy originals, like “Angel Dance,” were played out in a more subdued manner, showcasing the individual members of the band (Byron House, Marco Giovino, Patti Griffin, Buddy Miller, and Darrell Scott) almost as much as Plant himself. The spotlight shined on each of the members’ instrumental talent during these numbers—mandolin, upright bass, and banjo generously layered on many songs—leading to a “jam” element throughout the set. Needless to say, the Fest crowd appeared much more pleased with the renditions of Zeppelin songs, such as “Ramble On” and “Houses of the Holy,” than the country-tinged numbers that allowed Griffin to command the stage (for the remainder of the set, she mostly stood stage left shakin’ it in a sequined mini dress banging miscellaneous percussive instruments against her body whilst doing so….) While it was clear that what the crowd ultimately desired was a Led Zeppelin reunion, there’s no doubt that each of the members of Band of Joy held their own in front of thousands on the Jazz Fest main stage and breathed new life to a generous handful of well-loved classics.–Michelle Landry