Rock god Robert Plant, who has dialed it down of late with Alison Krauss and Patty Griffin, will make his low-key return on April 12 at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. He's touring with the Band of Joy, featuring Griffin, Buddy Miller and other roots-rock players. Band of Joy also happens to be the name of Plant's pre-Led Zeppelin band with John Bonham.
Plant's September release, "Band of Joy," features songs by Los Lobos, Richard Thompson, Townes Van Zandt and Duluth's Low as well as some Plant/Miller originals.
"Band of Joy" has led to two Grammy nominations for Plant -- best Americana album and best male rock vocal performance for "Silver Rider," a Low song. Plant and Krauss won the Grammy for album of the year for 2007's "Raising Sand."
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Plant pooh-poohed a Led Zeppelin reunion tour with Jason Bonham on drums, who joined Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Plant for a 2007 concert in London. "I've gone so far somewhere else that I almost can't relate to it," Plant, 62, told Rolling Stone. "Who cares? I know people care, but think about it from my angle --soon, I'm going to need help crossing the street."
Band of Joy tickets, priced from $55 to $99.50, will go on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday at the State box office and Ticketmaster outlets.
JON BREAM
