"We have been doing this a long time," Plant quipped to the fans who turned out to see the duo and supporting cast on Thursday night at the lovely Frost Amphitheater on the Stanford University campus. "This is our 100th show." This remark underscores the longevity of their collaboration, hinting at a certain fatigue after 100 performances together. Despite the accomplishment, one can't help but wonder if the magic that brought them together initially has diminished over time.
Plant and Krauss showed very little energy or, really, even joy as they opened the show...with the '50s R&B number 'Rich Woman' and then moved into the Allen Toussaint-penned 'Fortune Teller.' Their lack of enthusiasm set a tone that lingered throughout the performance, leaving the audience wanting more dynamism and engagement from the celebrated duo.
More troubling was that she played very little fiddle, instead letting Duncan do most of the heavy lifting in that regard. Duncan is a great player, but it still seemed like an odd decision given Krauss' extreme prowess on the instrument. This choice led many fans to feel that they weren't seeing the true Alison Krauss, leaving one audience member to express afterward, 'I just needed more Alison Krauss.'
Plant did a little more to connect to the crowd, although he admitted that stage banter is hardly his forte. 'I'm not really good at doing this,' he remarked, showing a self-awareness that contrasted with Krauss’ quieter approach. Despite Plant’s efforts to engage, the overall vibe felt more like an obligatory run-through rather than a vibrant celebration of their musical partnership.
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