Robert Plant Kicks Off North American Tour In Raleigh

On Friday night Robert Plant & The Sensational Space Shifters kicked-off an eleven date North American run at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina. The former Led Zeppelin frontman, who is touring in support of his most recent studio album Carry Fire, treated the sold-out crowd to a mix of material from throughout his career offering up Zeppelin classics alongside new material and traditional folk and blues tunes.

The 69-year-old singer got the night underway with a string of material from his last two solo efforts delivering takes on “New World…” and “The May Queen” from Carry Fire, while also looking to 2014’s Lullaby and… The Ceaseless Roar for “Turn It Up” and “Rainbow.” Plant than offered up his first Led Zeppelin tune of the night turning to the iconic band’s 1970 psychedelic-folk-tinged third release for “That’s The Way,” staying faithful to album’s version of the song. “All The King’s Horses” from 2005’s Mighty ReArranger proceeded Plant’s biggest hit in the last forty years – “Please Read The Letter.” The tune, which was originally recorded for his 1998 album with his former band mate Jimmy Page – Walking into Clarksdale, later appeared on Raising Sand, Plant’s Grammy-winning collaboration with Alison Krauss.

Plant than filled out the majority of his 13-song main set with a mix of traditional blues and folk tunes. Zeppelin fans were treated to takes on the centuries-old English folk song “Gallows Pole” and the more contemporary “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You” – which they covered for their 1969 self-titled debut album. “Little Maggie,” which has its roots in the bluegrass world and Bukka White’s Delta blues classic “Fixin To Die” followed before Plant brought things to a close with a take on Zep’s “Misty Mountain Hop.” Plant closed out the tour opener with a two-song encore offering up a take on “In The Mood” from his 1983 album The Principle of Moments and the Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love.”

Watch fan-shot video captured by Rico Suave and check out the full setlist below:

[That’s The Way]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTS8DvL7CrM

[Gallows Pole]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmuNXQVt_JE

[Babe I’m Gonna Leave You]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUhFNCcViyg

[Whole Lotta Love]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPFsIIx_XW8