Robert Plant still has a whole lotta love for one of Minnesota’s favorite indie-rock bands.
The former Led Zeppelin frontman released a cover of a Low song as the first single off a new album with a new band, all announced Wednesday along with details of a tour. This isn’t the first time the Golden God has shined his light on the cult-loved Duluth trio, but it’s the most high-profile example of it yet — and comes three years after the band’s drummer/co-vocalist Mimi Parker’s death to cancer.
Plant’s version of Low’s “Everybody’s Song” — now available on most streaming platforms — sounds wildly different from the loudly cranked 2005 original, which was featured on the Duluthians’ transformative seventh album, “The Great Destroyer.” His cover prominently features what sounds like a cuatro, a Latin American stringed instrument, which lends an exotic acoustic sound to the tune.
That seems to be the overall vibe of the new band, Saving Grace, which pairs the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer with a new female co-vocalist partner, Suzi Dian, and several string players, including a cellist.
This isn’t the first time Plant has recorded a Low song. He recorded two of their other 2005-era tunes, “Silver Rider” and “Monkey,” on his 2010 record, “Band of Joy.” Other rock stars to cover and/or sing the band’s praises in the wake of Parker’s death include the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde (who flat-out declared them her favorite band), Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and members of Sleater-Kinney.
Plant crossed paths with Low’s other co-founder (and Parker’s husband), Alan Sparhawk when the Duluth rock vet joined his pals Trampled by Turtles on the road for their dates on Willie Nelson’s Outlaws Music Festival in 2023 that also featured Plant performing with Alison Krauss.
Sadly, Plant won’t be coming onto Low’s turf for his fall tour with Saving Grace. The closest the band will be to Minnesota is Chicago for two dates, Nov. 12 and 13. His album, also called “Saving Grace,” is due out Sept. 28 and is now available via preorder.
