Cambridge Folk 2000 Review

Priory of Brion

Compere Andrew Webster introduces Priory of Brion with reference to Robert Plant's past life in Zepplin. How could he not? Here's what happens when a man decides he's tired of being a legend, and it's time to just play some good hard rock and roll.

PoB may be only a year old, but the ties that bind the band stretch back a long way. Kevyn 'Carlyle Egypt' Hammond used to play with Plant and John Bonham in the 'Band of Joy' before Zepplin ever played a note. That's a long time ago!

Plant seems genuinely emotional about his new project. After giving joking instructions before he comes on stage that he'll only allow 'flattering photos - no double chins!'  he mounts the boards looking  far younger than his years - challenging anyone to portray him as in any way over the hill and far away.

'These songs are my babies and my friends,' he (almost) chokes, 'they're ones I couldn't sing for a long time...'

The Kidderminster posse strike poses and chords that are certainly worthy of their lineage, and a few thousand folk fans are treated to a performance by (arguably) one of the true greats. Plant, for me, takes his place amongst the musical legends of yesteryear who have managed to maintain their dignity, presence and validity.

Without a doubt you can still hear Zepplin peaking from behind the skirts of all of the songs this afternoon. But each track is a cover version that lets Plant put his own mark on some of the sounds that obviously shaped and formed his early stylistic development. It's a little like listening to Oasis doing a set made up exclusively of Beatles' songs...

Love's 'Bummer in the Summer', Tim Hardin's 'If I were a Carpenter' (to be found somewhere back on one of Plant's solo recordings) and 'Bluebird' by Buffalo Springfield are just a few of the tracks that PoB treat us to. Their rendition of Morrison's (Van, not Jim...) 'Gloria' may have been some people's highlight as it gave everyone the chance for a nice sing-a-long.