Sounds Around Town: February

Robert Plant w/ the Band of Joy

February 1, Constitution Hall, Washington, DC

Taking his band name from the one he used pre-Led Zeppelin, this band is packed with heavy hitters who really bring it home: particularly blues singer/songwriter Patty Griffin and guitarist/singer-songwriter/arranger Buddy Miller.

Having seen his recent acoustic tour with Alison Krauss, I expected much of the same, particularly since the current self-titled album, and Raising Sand before it, are both so mellow. But what ensued was a rocking, bluesy, somewhat raucous set in which Plant put away the coy and let out the fire vocally. On the floor at Constitution Hall, we were all on our feet dancing the whole night. Outstanding.

Setlist:

Black Dog (Led Zep)
Down to the Sea
Angel Dance (Los Lobos cover on Plant’s latest disc)
Houses of the Holy
Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down (Uncle Tupelo cover)
Move Up (Patty Griffin singing)
Cindy, I’ll Marry You Someday
12 Gates to the City/Wade in the Water/In My Time of Dying (Rev Gary Davis cover)
A Satisfied Mind (Porter Wagoner cover—Darrell Scott singing)
Tangerine (Led Zep)
Harm’s Swift Way (Townes Van Zandt cover)
House of Cards (Richard Thompson cover)
Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go (Buddy Miller cover-Buddy singing)
Monkey (Low cover)
You Can’t Buy My Love (Barbara Lynn cover)
Ramble On (Led Zep)
Tall Cool One
Gallows Pole (Led Zep)
Encore:
In the Mood
Rock & Roll (Led Zep)
And We Bid You Goodnight

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Thao

February 8, Iota, Arlington VA

Thao Nguyen is a fireball of sound. Touring in support of her latest disc, Know Better, Learn Faster, the free-spirited, alt-indie rockin’ Thao let loose vocally and on guitar at Iota.

Born and raised in Falls Church, Virginia, she now calls San Francisco home, where she performs with her band the Get Down Stay Down. But at this show, fans were treated to a solo performance, accompanied only by her drummer Willis Thompson. The show was a Virginia homecoming of sorts (in fact, her mom was in the crowd). Thao played to old fans and made some new ones that night, including me.

Opener Andy Zipf played a fantastic opening set.

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Blues at the Crossroads: Robert Johnson Centennial Concert

February 17, The Strathmore, Bethesda, MD

It was an enigma seeing the headliner listed for this show: Big Head Todd & the Monsters. After all, they’re a rock band. From Colorado. Could they do justice to the music of the Mississippi Delta? But when Todd Park Mohr started to play, strumming that Dobro, that boy could certainly channel the blues. He and his Monster cohorts did a fine job memorializing the music of the legendary Robert Johnson and even tossed in the music of other blues greats as well.

Also on the bill, and coming in and out to play with the Monsters, was drummer Cedric Burnside (bluesman RL Burnside’s grandson) and Lightnin’ Malcolm, a young blues talent from Missouri. But the night belonged to two legendary bluesmen, who took the stage for only a fraction of the two sets: Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s guitarist and David “Honeyboy” Edwards, who played with Robert Johnson and many other blues greats. At 97 years old, he is one of the last original acoustic Delta blues players.

The two sets were electric…and the night ended with the boys taking a musical journey, from the Delta to Chicago, as the audience sprung to their feet to clap and sing to a rousing “Sweet Home Chicago.”

Where will ClubD Be in February?

Feb 1: Robert Plant & Band of Joy w/ the North Mississippi All-Stars, Constitution Hall, D.C.

Feb. 8: Thao, Iota, Arlington, VA

Feb. 11: Satori Trova, Axum's Level X Lounge, D.C.

Feb. 17: Blues at the Crossroads (Big Head Todd & The Monsters; David “Honeyboy” Edwards; Hubert Sumlin; Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm), the Strathmore, Bethesda, MD