Last night we were fortunate enough to see Robert Plant and Alison Krauss play in one of the best live music venues in the country The Santa Barbara Bowl.  Those of you who haven't had the pleasure or the luck to see a show at the Santa Barbara Bowl are missing out on a small ( 4k seat) venue that brings intimacy back to the live concert.  I love " />   this place.  There is not a bad seat in the house and the backdrop of the Pacific ocean and the city of Santa Barbara are a generous addition to the gorgeous stage and amphitheater.

Plant & Krauss's album has been playing non stop since last year when I picked up a copy.  The musicianship present on this gem is stunning top that off with the incomparable vocal skills of Alison Krauss and even without Plant you would have a classic but throw in Plant's amazing phrasing and suddenly you have a masterpiece of American music.

Last night the air was filled with the beautiful tone of Americana.  Alison Krauss has the sweetness and most subtle voice I have ever heard.  She has a small stature that keeps her almost motionless but from within this tiny frame a sound larger than life emerges.  Plant looks great for a man who survived not only the 70's but as the single greatest rock singer.  He swaggered onto stage with a gate and stride reminiscent of a drunken cat.  Red wine in hand his appearance was enough to garner screams and shouts from nearly every man and women in attendance.  "ITS ROBERT FRIGGIN PLANT!!!" one woman shouted.  Yes, it was Robert Plant in person, for real!

They popped right into the albums opener and warmed up the speakers and the crowd.  As the band came up to speed the sound system opened up and they began to take advantage of the open air theatre and warm atmosphere.  Surrounded by the best players in the genre the tone and patina that flowed from the vintage racks were welcomed by these ears.  T-Bone who stands at least 7 ft tall looked like a character out of a civil war film.  Long coat and floppy hair hardly overshadowed his keen playing style.  His playing was solid, fair and perhaps most important, dead-on.

I have to admit that I was more than blown away by the rendering of Going To California.  I am a huge Zeppelin fan (they are the sole reason that I play guitar) and having never had the chance to see them (or Plant) play live to see and hear Going to California with Alison Krauss supporting the highs was one of the greater live music moments of my life.  This song was stunningly beautiful. Layered with mandolin, and acoustic bass I was in a jaw dropped awe inspired smile for  the entire song.   By no means was this show a Zep cover show.  They rolled through most of the better songs on the album and threw in a few random covers.  Alison did an a capella version of Down by the River from Oh Brother that might have converted a few heathens is was so beautiful.   

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