bettye lavette to open for robert plant
This is huge. Robert Plant has invited Bettye Lavette to open for his July tour, which includes a stop at Austin’s legendary Stubb’s on the 26th.
I first heard Bettye Lavette when I was in college. Eugene’s independent radio station, KRVM, had a fabulous soul show on Sunday afternoons. When I had been responsible enough on Saturday nights to be awake in the afternoon I always tuned in. I was in my car driving somewhere on the particular Sunday that the DJ threw on “My Love is Showing” but it was one of those moments where you want to pull a u-turn and speed to your nearest record store. I probably played that song 500 times in the following days. I just absolutely fell in love with her incredible voice.
Her latest album “Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook“ is set to be released on May 25th. “Interpretations” features Bettye covering 13 British rock “standards” and has already received advance praise from the likes of Keith Richards and Pete Townshend. There are a couple places where you can get a sneak peak of the album online. Paste magazine is offering a free download of Bettye’s version of the Rolling Stones’ “Salt of the Earth.” And Spinner has her soulful cover of Led Zeppelin’s “All of My Love” (Do I smell a potential duet at the July shows???)
I was already too excited to see Robert Plant & The Band of Joy play the intimate awesomeness that is Stubb’s but adding Ms. Lavette to the roster really makes this a dream ticket. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this show!
Robert Plant & The Band of Joy play Stubb’s on Monday, July 26th
“My Love is Showing” – fall in love for yourself :)