Make A Joyful Noise

If you're looking for an archetype of the ultimate rock 'n' roll front man, Robert Plant is the obvious choice. As the tight-trousered, sex-oozing, golden-fleeced singer for Led Zeppelin, he became a shining example of the glory and excess of the bloated 1970s music industry. His vocal prowess kicked Zeppelin's bluesy, hard rock jams up a few notches, setting them apart from other English groups who were electrifying American blues and inadvertently creating the genre of heavy metal. Plant was pure sex, punctuating his lyrics with orgasmic moans and innuendo almost to the point of parody. But back then, it worked like a sleazy charm. In Led Zeppelin's disappointing concert film, The Song Remains the Same, Plant was shot from low angles much of the time, accentuating the ever-present bulge that was the epicenter of his power. After Zeppelin broke up following the death of super-drummer John Bonham, Plant released several successful solo albums. Now he is back with a new group called Band of Joy (featuring Patty Griffin and Buddy Miller), which was also the name of Plant's first band way back in 1965. He still knows how to bust out the jams like nobody else, so don't miss the rocktastic "sexplosion" as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy perform 8 p.m. Friday at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Tickets are $65 to $95. Visit ticketmaster.com for details.
Fri., July 23, 2010