Most big touring acts that play the Triangle don't stick around for long, usually leaving either as soon as the performance is over or the next day. But Robert Plant spent another day in Raleigh after his Wednesday night show.

There were reports of a sighting at Poole's Diner, and rumors went around town that Plant was going to put in an onstage appearance Thursday night at Slim's. While that didn't happen, he and singer Patty Griffin took a shopping trip to Schoolkids Records, where Plant reportedly bought a compilation of African music and also did a bit of representin'.

"He came in around 6:00 and there were only a few people in here," said Schoolkids employee Kyle Rosko, who took this picture. "One of them left but then came back in and said, 'I've gotta go shake his hand.' But nobody was really bothering them. In fact, a group of three teenagers came in and didn't recognize him."

Blasphemy!

(Thanks to Robert W.)

Classic-rock deity Robert Plant played Raleigh Wednesday night, still following the idiosyncratic path of misty mountain twang that his muse has been leading him down for the past few years. Click on through for the review; and check the photo gallery.

The record industry is still dying, and yet very fine albums keep right on coming out. Here are my 10 favorites from 2010 -- that was the year that was.

(1) Arcade Fire, "The Suburbs" (Merge) -- Supposedly there aren't any "consensus" bands anymore, acts everyone can agree are worthy. Except for Arcade Fire, a Montreal band that's easy to love all the way around. Truly great.

(2) Laura Veirs, "July Flame" (Raven Marching Band) -- If you want someone's attention, whisper. Better still, murmur softly and set it to catchy, exquisitely crafted acoustic pop arrangements. Lovely.

(3) Doug Paisley, "Constant Companion" (No Quarter) -- Speaking of quiet, this is the sort of record that might have you holding your breath for fear of breaking the spell. It's sturdy enough to hold up, though.

(4) Robert Plant, "Band of Joy" (Rounder) -- Plant continues his Appalachian Mountain hop, this time with iconic Nashville country-blues guitarist Buddy Miller in charge of the proceedings, yielding wonderfully spooky results. Plant will bring this show to Raleigh in February. You'd be crazy to miss it.

(5) Titus Andronicus, "The Mointor" (XL) -- Screaming bloody murder also has much to recommend it, especially if one is obsessed with the Civil War and Bruce Springsteen in equal parts. Club-sized arena rock never had it so good.

(6) Kanye West, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" (Roc-A-Fella) -- You have to give the guy credit for boundless ambition, as befits an ego of West's magnitude, and danged if he doesn't pull it off. West still ain't quite as good as he thinks he is, but he's getting closer.

(7) Carolina Chocolate Drops, "Genuine Negro Jig" (Nonesuch) -- In which the best new old-time stringband in America (not just the Triangle) graduates from cool novelty to serious contender. The aforementioned Buddy Miller is tentatively set to produce their next album, which should be fantastic.

(8) Sharon Van Etten, "Epic" (Ba Da Bing) -- It's only 32 minutes long, barely album-length nowadays. Nevertheless, the cheekily titled "Epic" packs a year's worth of obsession, single-minded determination and emotion into its seven songs.

(9) The Love Language, "Libraries" (Merge) -- Brian Wilson has nothing on Stuart McLamb, main man of The Love Language. "Libraries" is a sonic pop cathedral, both beautiful and terrifying, haunted by McLamb's dead-of-night howl.

(10) Alejandro Escovedo, "Street Songs of Love" (Fantasy) -- Love lost, found, squandered and thrown away is the overriding theme to Escovedo's rippin' new album, a great followup to 2008's equally stellar "Real Animal." Long may he roar.

Robert Plant (or his booking agent) must have a soft spot for North Carolina. Plant just announced a 15-date U.S. tour to coincide with his right fine new album, and a full 20 percent of the shows are scheduled for The Old North State -- that would be three for the math-impaired among us.

The tour kicks off Jan. 18 at Asheville's Thomas Wolfe Auditorium; hits Raleigh Memorial Auditorium on Feb. 2; and makes its penultimate stop at Charlotte's Ovens Auditorium on Feb. 7. The incomparable Buddy Miller serves as Plant's guitarist/bandleader, and North Mississippi Allstars are the opening act. Tickets for the Raleigh show go on sale this Friday.

When I interviewed Robert Plant back in July, he was absolutely unequivocal: Led Zeppelin would not be getting back together anytime soon -- no way, no how. Plant was quite happy singing with Alison Krauss, he said; and he claimed to have no interest in revisiting the past again for any amount of money.

"You know, I work and work and work and work and work, and I have good intentions," Plant said with the slightest hint of testiness. "And sometimes, it's very simple, the way the media will manipulate an idea or a story. In the end, a lot of artists are moved into spaces they do not need to go by the force of others' opinions. Every dog has his day... But right now, this is what I'm doing, and it's spectacular and a joy. In my time and my career, joy is the greatest commodity that I have."

He was adamant enough that I believed him. But that resolve apparently lasted all of two months. According to a report out of England, Plant will reunite with his old Zeppelin mates for a U.S. tour next summer. No word yet on dates or cities; but it will no doubt be huger than huge.

(Thanks, Dana.)

ADDENDUM (9/29/08): Not so fast, says Mr. Plant.

SECOND ADDENDUM (10/27/08): Mr. Page responds.  

Plant and Krauss conjure up a new spirit
By David Menconi, News & Observer
July 14, 2008

Conventional wisdom on popular music nowadays is that it's all been done. The frontier is closed and everythings been invented, with nothing left to do but recycle, reuse and rehash.

But if you believe that, you werent at the RBC Center on Friday night listening to the indelible guitar riff from Led Zeppelins "Black Dog" being plunked on a banjo, the lyrics murmured like a prayer - topped off by a fiddle solo that somehow sounded like a screaming electric guitar.

The Robert Plant/Alison Krauss show was in town, and if this wasnt a new kind of music then I dont know what is. Its a spectacularly unlikely combination of sensibilities that ought to clash violently. He's the frontman for Led Zeppelin, legendary swingers of the hammer of the gods, while she's a quietly demure country/bluegrass singer of rare beauty.

Somehow, what should be an oil-and-water mixture comes out weirdly wonderful, thanks to some impressive roots-rock alchemy from producer T-Bone Burnett. In addition to producing last years Plant/Krauss album "Raising Sand" (Rounder Records), Burnett is bandleader for this tour. The touring ensemble's overall sound was reminiscent of Chris Isaak's tiki-torch noir, shot through with stark Old Testament country blues.

Add it all up, and it was a veritable playground for Plant and Krauss to stretch out in unexpected ways. Plant has never exactly been noted for restraint, while belting has never been Krauss strong suit. But danged if they both didn't go in those respective directions, with handsome dividends.

Krauss showed more sass than ever, embracing the inner rock goddess we (and she, probably) never knew she had. If nothing else, this tour should definitively establish Krauss as a singer for the ages. When she soared into a ghostly wail on "Fortune Teller, " hairs were standing on every neck in the building.

Plant, meanwhile, rocked the leather pants and radiated star quality. But he also showed surprising facility as a harmony singer, meshing his voice with hers in ways you wouldn't imagine possible. He sang beautiful harmonies on "Down to the River to Pray," giving it just the right touch.

"This is new, old, modified, " Plant said at one point. "Its a new spirit up here."

No kidding.

"Raising Sand" provided the backbone for the just-under-two-hour set, augmented with a handful of Led Zeppelin songs. The aforementioned "Black Dog" was one highlight, as was "Black Country Woman." And the surreal folk of "The Battle of Evermore" made it an obvious choice.

Less obvious was "In the Mood, " originally a 1983 solo hit for Plant. This version played up the original's gliding offbeats, which drummer Jay Bellerose turned into something like a Bo Diddley backbeat. To top it off, they made it into a medley with the old fiddle tune "Matty Groves." Somehow, it worked.

There were also plenty of obscure covers, including the gospel standard "You Dont Knock, " Ray Charles' "Leave My Woman Alone" and a couple I couldnt for the life of me identify. I cant wait to hear what they cook up for the next chapter.

I never got to see Led Zeppelin back in the day, but I've been working my way through each surviving member individually. I caught John Paul Jones at South By Southwest a few years back; and Jimmy Page with the Black Crowes. And after tonight, I'll be able to cross Robert Plant off the list when I see him with Alison Krauss, a most unlikely pairing.

I even got to interview Plant last week, in rather amusing
circumstances. At his publicist's behest, I dialed the number of a
hotel in Phoenix and asked for "Mr. Fish."
Next thing I knew, Plant was on the line. He was completely charming,
except on the subject of whether or not his old band would ever do a reunion tour. See the interview in Friday's paper, a package that also includes brief chats with various sidemen plus multiple recaps of other musical odd couples through history.

While I'm at it, click through to see a 2000 interview/review from that Page show in Raleigh.