Concert review: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss with JD McPherson in Highland, Calif.

The epitome of classic rock frontmen as a member of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant was sometimes called a “golden god” for his electrifying stage presence. Yet the Americana music the British singer has made with critically acclaimed, award-winning bluegrass artist Alison Krauss – 2007’s highly acclaimed, multiple Grammy-winning debut album Raising Sand, and equally engaging 2021 sophomore effort Raise the Roof - translates into a calm, cool, and collected manner onstage.

Still, whenever Plant added a dramatic vocal flourish to the folk noir tunes and other selections during a captivating concert on Sunday with Krauss at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland, Calif., it brought down the house. The energy level also climbed exponentially each time a handful of Led Zeppelin tunes were performed.

Interestingly, the venue bars offered special Plant and Krauss-themed cocktails, including a Raise the Roof Margarita, High and Lonesome Paloma, Trouble with My Lover Mule and Can’t Let Go Whiskey Sour.

Krauss and Plant’s harmonies were seamless throughout the 90-minute Yaamava’ Theater show. They frequently traded lead duties. Plant watched her honeyed vocal turns in obvious admiration. In a 2022 Billboard interview after the initial Raise the Roof tour. Plant said of Krauss, “I always find it such as adventure to join and contribute to her personality as a lead singer. I love that. I didn’t have that for several years.”

Opening the 17-song set with the slow, shimmering reverb-drenched sound of “Rich Woman,” the singers entered from opposite sides of the stage, clasped hands and started. The slinky Allen Toussaint stomper “Fortune Teller” was an early highlight, especially with JD McPherson’s wicked electric guitar solo ending. The tight five-piece band – all but McPherson recorded the latest album – continually displayed power in subtlety. The quick, rockabilly tinged “Can’t Let Go” was riveting. Haunting ballad “The Price of Love,” the first of three Everly Brothers-written or popularized songs included in the set, proved trance-inducing.

Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” became a feisty, violin-infused hoedown in the Plant and Krauss band’s hands. He did a slight wail and seemed pleased by the overwhelmingly positive reaction. Krauss played fiddle alongside Stuart Duncan on a bunch of songs, resulting in a fascinating push and pull dynamic.

A folk take on “In the Mood” (Plant’s Top 10 AOR radio hit from 1983) worked nicely. It led straight into the gorgeous Krauss-led traditional English folk ballad “Matty Groves” and a frantic cover of Zeppelin’s “Gallows Pole,” where the violin strains really came in handy. The group continued with intense reworked versions of Zeppelin classics like “The Battle of Evermore” and epic main set closer, “When the Levee Breaks.”

Come encore time, Plant and Krauss returned to sing the beautifully hushed Everlys-via-Mel Tillis ballad “Stick with Me Baby” and another Phil and Don tune, the rocking “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On),” as McPherson proved his mettle on lead guitar once again.

Throughout the evening, Plant let the music do most of the talking, except toward the end, when he mentioned having a spectacular time and feeling emotional. Fans likely did too after experiencing the duo’s mesmerizing performance.

McPherson delivered a sharp half-hour set with his own band that came across like an exciting mix of Jack White and The Black Keys. Standouts included catchy recent single “Sunshine Getaway” (off upcoming fifth album Nite Owls), the skittering, bluesy “Lucky Penny” (from 2017’s Undivided Heart & Soul), plus a low-key cover of Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life.”

Remaining Can’t Let Go U.S. Tour Dates:

AUG. 29 – Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Opera

AUG. 31 – Colorado Springs, CO – Ford Amphitheater

SEPT. 1 – Vail, CO – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Selected Yaamava’ Theater Shows:

SEPT. 3 – Chris Isaak

SEPT. 5 – Buddy Guy

SEPT. 19 – Bret Michaels & Vince Neil

SEPT. 28 – Experience Hendrix featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zakk Wylde, Eric Johnson

SEPT. 29 – The Cult

OCT. 1 – Tom Jones

OCT. 5 – Flogging Molly

OCT. 7 – Godsmack

NOV. 8 – Tesla

NOV. 11-12 – Styx

NOV. 22 – America

DEC. 18 – Beat: Eighties King Crimson albums performed by Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, Steve Vai, Danny Carey

Photos by Becky Herrington, courtesy Yaamava' Resort and Casino

This review originally ran at rockcellarmagazine.com.