DVD Review: Robert Plant and the Band of Joy Live From the Artists Den

The presser for the Robert Plant and the Band of Joy Live From The Artists Den DVD states that Plant presents "six Led Zeppelin classics..." Yea, well...  If you've come here from a google search for "Whatever happened to Robert Plant Led Zeppelin?", stop reading now. That Robert Plant left the building some time ago.



If, however, you have followed and enjoyed Robert Plant's solo career, keep reading, there's good news.

Live From The Artists Den was recorded on Feb 8 and 9th, 2011 at the intimate War Memorial Auditorium. The Band of Joy had progressed and developed over the winter of 2011, and by this stage had developed a bit of an edge. That edge is in full flower on the Live From The Artists Den DVD of reworked Led Zeppelin songs, songs from the the Band of Joy album and some old-timey Americana.

Truthfully, by the time The Band of Joy rolled into Nashville even a known to be sceptical blogger was becoming sold that Band of Joy was doing some interesting music. That impression is proven fully on Live From The Artists Den.

The Band of Joy was fully a band in every sense of the word by the time this show was recorded for PBS. So far gone is the Golden God from the land of ice and snow that Plant takes a secondary position on a series of songs while guitarists Buddy Miller, Darrell Scott and his "companion" Patty Griffin take a song each. Plant even moves into the background physically during these moments, doing his best bass-less John Paul Jones imitation.

But the Band of Joy had an edge, and it is fully on display on Live From The Artists Den. While Plant purrs his vocals, the guitars virtually growl, giving a dark, rock edge to the country and traditional tinged setlist.

The DVD itself is first rate, the videography providing an intimate feel - catching the band members smiling at each other for example - and spreading the screen time around the band. This is no Robert Plant show, and no Robert Plant DVD. It is Band of Joy all the way.

If you missed the Band of Joy when they came around, as I did, it's OK: you can see them now up close and personal, a DVD so good it feel like your there.

Information on the DVD is here, including the tracklist.

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy in the Artists Den DVD Preview

Robert Plant & The Band of Joy DVD and Blu-ray from Artists Den on Vimeo.

Band of Joy DVD

Last April PBS, the American public broadcasting channel featured a Robert Plant and the Band of Joy concert on their Live From the Artists Den series. This week Artists Den and Universal Music announced that Robert Plant & the Band of Joy: Live from the Artists Den would be released on DVD and Blue Ray. Here's a partial press release:

Artists Den Entertainment and Universal Music Group will releaseRobert Plant & the Band of Joy: Live from the Artists Den on 5.1 BluRay and DVD in the US on July 10th. On July 9th, these products will be released internationally under exclusive license through Universal Music Group International. This epic show was filmed as a rare, intimate performance at the historic War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Selections from the show aired nationwide on public television's Live from the Artists Den, the hit music series featuring acclaimed artists performing in extraordinary settings. Now released in full for the first time, the DVD features bonus interview clips and concert footage not included in the television broadcast, including six Led Zeppelin classics, three of which have never been shown before.

The DVD will also be presented as a featured story and product release for public television's National Pledge starting July 26th, The series is a production of Artists Den Entertainment in association with WNET New York Public Media, and is distributed by American Public Television.

By my reading of that, there will be material on the DVD/BlueRay that was not on the original show.

Release date is July 9th internationally, July 10th in US and Canada.

Here's the tracklist:

1. Black Dog


2. Angel Dance


3. Houses of the Holy


4. House of Cards


5. Cindy, I'll Marry You Someday


6. Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down


7. Somewhere Trouble Don't Go


8. Tangerine


9. A Satisfied Mind


10. Move Up


11. Down to the Sea


12. Ramble On


13. Gallows Pole


14. In the Mood


15. Rock and Roll


16. I Bid You Goodnight

Robert Plant on PBS

PBS, the American public broadcasting channel, will be featuring Robert Plant and the Band of Joy in an upcoming show.

Live from the Artists Den features concerts in unusual and intimate settings. The third season will kick off with Elvis Costello at the New York Public Library.

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy were filmed at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville on Feb 9th. It was the last show of the winter leg of the Band of Joy's North American tour. The tour continues in April.

Past artists featured on Live at the Artists Den include The Black Crowes and Band of Joy singer Patty Griffin. Also appearing on season three is A Fine Frenzy, the former band of Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience utility player Stephen LeBlanc.

No date yet has been announced for the Robert Plant performance. Robert Plant and the Band of Joy will be on Artists Den April 22nd.