Wednesday, 11 Jun 2008
It’s been some time since I walked out on a headlining act, especially one as widely renowned as The Raconteurs. Despite their talents, forgive me if I just can’t appreciate them. Give me Brendan Benson’s The Alternative to Love as required daily listening and you won’t once hear me plead for a listen to Consolers Of The Lonely, I suppose Broken Boy Soldiers would be a nice change of pace. I simply couldn’t bring myself to wait around another minute hoping to hear “Level” or “Broken Boy Soldiers.”
I remember feeling somewhat similar the last time I saw this group at ACL a few years ago, but chalked up my underwhelming impression to the extreme heat. Maybe they got a raw deal being the first band I saw after seeing R.E.M. for the first time, but more likely I just realized I’m just not into the group.
The Black Lips opened things up and for the first half of their set demonstrated very little of the almost legendary live performance I’ve been reading about for some time now. That changed mid-set and I would up really liking the second half. The guitar parts, at times, remind me of vintage surf licks and their drummer is all over the place awesome.
Help me understand your appreciation of this rock and roll supergroup. Have they ever melted your face in concert? Do you think they are better on record than in concert? Do you miss the White Stripes? Perhaps they released their album unannounced because they knew their days of playing major festivals and sheds was ticking. Comments. Discuss.
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Myspace: Black Lips
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June 11th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Are you kidding me, you thought the Black Lips drummer was “all over the place awesome” and you can’t appreciate The Raconteurs, they are an amazing band in the sea of crap that is mainstream right now. How can you not like the way they play off eachother in the group and how they truly enjoy being on stage together. Consolers is an amazing album, if you think Level is the only highlight of their show you shouldn’t be reviewing bands. Jack White is flat out original and talented, he doesn’t ask to be lauded for being great he just is. Their rhythm section of Pat and Jack is very very solid and Brendan and Jack play off one another like few bands today can even touch. If you can’t appreciate “Consolers” than you just don’t like flat out good blues infused rock.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am
I saw The Raconteurs at Coachella this year. It was one of the highlights of the festival for me. They have the presence of a real rock ‘n roll band, something that has been disappearing in music in this day and age. They play their instruments well, their lyrics are good, they have personality on stage — all in all, they’re a solid band. I wish there were more bands like them.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Maybe it’s because you went with the expectation of hearing BB or the White Stripes. Maybe its because you expected it to sound like the cd. I don’t want to sound like a mythical creature here, but I saw them in Nashville two nights in a row before they really took off on tour. The first night was probably what you would have liked. exactly like the cd, so much in fact it was creepy but awesome. The next night Jack and BB let loose and it was what we read about back in the late sixties and early seventies of Led Zeppelin, JIMI etc. A great mess of leads and on the fly rock star magic. Every since then it made me appreciate bands that DON’T sound like the CD. The same reason I used to love the band TOOL is now the reason I despise them. I might as well have just bought the cd, ate some acid and sat at home. I wanna see rock rawness like my parents spoke of, and by GOD I appreciate the fact that the Raconteurs, White Stripes, Black Keys and other bands of this nature are doing it. Take note people, it may be another 30 years before we get it again.
To each his/her own…..
June 11th, 2008 at 10:50 am
I love to see/read the passion in these comments. That is what music is all about. Awesome!
June 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
MORON, black lips were disguisting, both musically and in apperance, there drummer was difficult to watch at the very least, AND YOU WALKED OUT ON THE F*$%ing RACONTEURS, the best rock band on the planet right now, shame on you, this band is doing more musically right now that most bands put together, and the people that show up to hear one or two of their “favorite songs” are the same that show up to “like…see jack white…cause he’s like…soooo HOT”, heard this muttered a few times behind me BTW, In the words of DAN SARTAIN: “Give me some room from those that don’t have a clue”
June 11th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I liked the Black Lips, nice opening act. I thought the Raconteurs were amazing. They reminded of Led Zeppelin in the late sixties. It was also my first oppurtunity to see Jack White, who in my opinion is one of the best guitarist performing today. They really made us work for the encore. Still, a great concert.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
I saw the Coachella stream online and I like Consolers a LOT (as well as more and more with each additional listen). They do, however, have that a-little-too-slick feel to them live. They put a great album together and I think they could be resting on those laurels a bit, if they’re not as great live as you say they are.
That being said, I have full faith in the Raconteurs being terrific live.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:45 am
WOW! I don’t think I have ever heard of someone not only not liking their live performance but WALKING out on it!?! I can’t speak for your expectation or experience but I find this band extremely talented and addicting. I think their live performance is where the meat of their magic happens. Their albums are a taste of what to expect but by no means does it limit the potential of the band. All I can think of is you had a notion in mind that you didn’t like them and it stuck. I know that I could die a happy woman listening to The Raconteurs and The White Stripes only for the rest of my life. Their live performances are, for me, nothing short of spectacular. The more shows I see in a tour the better they are too. I think with each passing show their cohesion becomes tighter as a unit and their playfulness of being friends and band mates shines through. I feel sorry for you that your reaction was what it was, but you are entitled to your opinion.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I agree with all the other people leaving comments. The Raconteurs are amazing live. Jack White is always worth the price of admission.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Absolute insanity. I cannot even comprehend anyone disliking the Racs live let alone actually walking out.. especially a music reviewer. I’ve seen them twice on this tour and they are absolutely amazing. I completely concur with all the responses. However, I guess I can’t be too down on this reviewer, if everyone loved them as much as some of these responders do we wouldn’t be getting the absolute pleasure of seeing this incredible band in such small venues. Cheers
June 12th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I was at this concert. I went in honestly not expecting too much, I had never seen them before, nor have I seen Jack White live before. I can now honestly say that after seeing the raconteurs live, that they are one of the best live bands around, and Jack White is a musical genius. BB was awesom as well. I think they will be around for a while, and we are all very lucky for that.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
MikeD – perhaps I went in with my expectations too high. I wish my experience would have been different as it’s always nice to come away surprised and having expectations exceeded.
June 12th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I saw the Raconteurs in Minneapolis last year and the brought the house down. It put their record (they only had BBS out at the time) to shame. Jack White went to town with the solos which made the evening so great. Consolers doesn’t seem very special to me, especially since Jack and BB have both produced much better work in the past.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Saw them here in Denver a few weeks ago. Pretty amazing show.
June 15th, 2008 at 9:57 am
I think their high-profiles and “super group” status shaped your listening, and it’s always harder to listen with preconceived notions. I think I read Jack White saying something like, “we’re a new band of old friends,” and the super group factor isn’t all that endearing. I don’t get why people are especially critical of and often times dismiss these kind of rock star composed groups as corny or something. If could shred like Jack White, I’d love to be doing it with my friends along side me.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I agree with Yahrennat. And as to the whole super group thing……what of Led Zep?
June 17th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Just got from ‘roo. This set easily in top part of my top 5 best moments. JW and BB as well as the rest of the band are serious performers and put on a pretty epic show on the main stage. The people were very into it. Good way to open for MEtallica later in the evening (which I did not attend but heard very well from tent)!
June 21st, 2008 at 9:02 am
What an idiot, Raconteurs are the best thing going, if i could quit my job and follow them on tour i would. Go listen to coldplay and radiohead you pansy.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Saw them twice on the tour, Boston and Bonnaroo and they blew me away. Most people I spoke to at Roo had heard very little if anything about them, and I practically begged people to go see them for at least the last half (they were up against Les Claypool for the firs 45 mins or so.) I have never seen a crowd be turned around so dramatically. Jack White was straight up legendary during that set. Needless to say everyone at camp was raving about how sick they were live, and thanking me for making sure they didn’t miss one of the best acts at ‘Roo(Metallica and PJ were epic, heard the same about MMJ,but given the 90 minutes the Racs were given nobody put on a better show.) And to answer your question, more faces were probably melted during Blue Veins than at any other point in the festival, and thats saying something