Review: The Raconteurs

"How many Kansas Cities are there?" Jack White asked the big crowd in front of him. "There are only two," he was told.

And how many Jack Whites are there? At least a few.

There's the guy who commands the White Stripes, the producer who helped Loretta Lynn win a country-music Grammy and the actor who played Georgia in "Cold Mountain." Tuesday night he was in Kansas City (the one in Missouri) as someone else: a member of the Raconteurs. He shared the stage at the Uptown Theater with four other musicians, including indie-pop craftsman Brendan Benson. But any room with Jack White in it is a room filled with the bright and heavy presence of Jack White, the star.

The Raconteurs began a few years ago as a side-project among friends. But these days, with Meg White on the disabled list, they are White's only band. Anyone who has seen the White Stripes knows what an immense force White is in that duo. With the Raconteurs, he is just as dynamic and formidable.

From start to finish, this was a great show (the best of the year for me). The 90-minute set included 10 songs off the band's latest album, "Consolers of the Lonely" and several off its debut, "Broken Boy Soldiers." There weren't many big sing-along moments -- "Steady As She Goes" was a big one; "Hold Up" was another -- but the near sell-out crowd was rowdy and enraptured all night. White has a way of igniting a buzz that doesn't subside until he has left the stage. Even with his back turned to the audience, he commands attention.

The Raconteurs' music appreciates several eras and genres of American music, primarily '70s rock based heavily in the blues. They evoke the sounds of many classic-rock bands, but they shift influences so regularly, sometimes within the same song, that they don't sound like anyone in particular.

A lot of that has to do with the difference between the two singers, vocally and musically. White is all fire-and-whiskey blues; Benson is something sweeter, tamer. When they sing and play together -- trading verses, at times -- the results can be splendid.

No rock-blues band is worth much without a good rhythm section, and the Raconteurs' (drummer Patrick Keeler and bassist Jack Lawrence of the Greenhornes) is very good. White showed off his inimitable guitar styles and techniques all night, but some of the better moments were those with acoustic/blues treatments, when the boys banged out songs on acoustic guitars, like "Old Enough," which included some nice fiddle work from guest musician (mostly keyboards) Mark Watrous, and "These Stones Will Shout." On that one, White led the  house in some peppy hand-clapping.

There were other highlights ("Steady As She Goes," "Blue Veins" and the closer, "Carolina Drama") but this was the rare show that suffered no lulls or letdowns. Instead of a showcase for "hits" or popular songs, this concert was an exhibition of rock and the blues -- in their many spectacular colors, weights and flavors.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Setlist: Consolers of the Lonely; The Switch and the Spur; You Don't Understand Me; Old Enough; Top Yourself; Hold Up; Level; Store Bought Bones; Rich Kid Blues; Blue Veins; These Stones Will Shout; Broken Boy Soldiers; Steady As She Goes; Many Shades of Black; Carolina Drama.

Comments

[Hamish Girvan]

One of the best shows for some time- shame about the opening act - awful. Jack played to the crowd - loved it. Amazing that a band with this cred is not a sell out however that's what makes seeing bands in KC great !

[GB]

awesome show. Jack does it all-- even pit security/rescue.

[Tim Finn]

I saw him go into the crowd and lift a woman ... I was too far back to tell what was happening.

[Steve]

It was a great experience and fun for me and my son (first concert). Also the first time I have been to the Uptown. That place is great, no smoking makes it better.

I did not see everything that happened. I saw someone carry the women out after Jack White helped get her out. That was cool, stopping near the end of a song to jump off stage and "save" someone in trouble. I think that is what happened.

Oh yea, what's up with the women "signing" on the right of the stage? Someone do that for every concert? Never seen that before.

[Joel Francis]

Nice review, Tim. You forgot Jack White as Elvis Presley, one of my favorite cameos in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

[Tim Finn]

Haven't seen that Dewey Cox flick; forgot he was in that.

I've seen signers at shows, but it's usually country shows.

It was loud in there, but I thought the sound was real good, at least it was back by the soundboard.

[Wadkc]

T, I was up in the crow's nest above the stage. How was the sound by the board? I've been up there for several shows and usually the sound is horrid but the view great. This night I could hear everything crystal clear. His guitar playing is so intriguing and different, you can't take your eyes off of him.

I loved how he didn't even mention the woman in the front. Just doing the Superman thing and movin' on....

As I grooved all night to the jams, I couldn't help but remember the old Zeppelin or Prince shows where the force just moved you. Fantastic!

[Tim Finn]

Sound was great --- way, way better than it was for that poor first band. Yeah, he's as close to Prince as anyone: magnetic, charismatic and he doesn't really say shit. He just consumes the room

[-]

wadkc-

Can you give us an idea of what happened up front with the girl? All anyone else saw was this girl on his shoulder and heard the bassist scream at everyone to 'get back'. Did someone grab at his guitar (had to tune it later) or did the girl screw it up when he threw her over?

I was confused if they were going to play another song and then end it but the guitar was so out of wack they didn't want to spend another five minutes tuning, so they just quit.

Does anyone have clarification? It just seemed odd that they would spin the ball, drop the curtain, strum once and done.

All in all though, great concert for sure, probably the best of the year.

[vicky weaver]

Excellent show, very good review Jack White a genius, star and Hero.

[vicky weaver]

We were front,right. Seems the girl passed out and was handed forward. Jack came off stage and picked her up. She was very limp.He handed her off to the security and she was taken backstage. After a few moments he was back on stage, recouped and finished "Carolina" I hope she is ok, wish it had been me.

[Preston]

An excellent show: much better sound than the Spoon show. My "best of year" so far would have to be Black Mountain at Record Bar. Incredible.

[floydbizell]

Good show, nice mixed crowd. Biggest thing I took away from it is how deficient the music world is in quality bass players these days.

Opening band was horrendous.

[KevRocket]

Great show, the review hits the nail on the head. The interplay of the different vocal stylings makes for an incredible band, particularly live. At times I felt slightly bad for the other members of the band since Jack has such a commanding presence. But they should know about Jack's presence more than anyone else.
We were in balcony so we had a pretty clear view of the incident on the front row. A security person/bouncer stopped right in front of where the young lady was standing/leaning. He then walked away and I saw Jack just staring that same direction. I knew something was wrong when Jack came to the edge of the stage. I was surprised when he ended up picking this girl up and out of harms way. I have seen a lot of concerts and that was a first. I certainly hope she is okay.
Tim - did you get any concert photos? I could not bring in my camera per the security people at the door. I had no idea The Raconteurs were Amish!

[Tim Finn]

No. I forgot to "order" a Star photog in time. I brought my camera but saw them sending folks away with theirs (mine's a little too big to hide) so I took mine back to the car.

That rescue scene sure looked weird from where I was standing: He disappears into the crowd, then for a flash I see this gal on his back, then she disappears and he reappears on stage.

[steve wilson]

it was a really good show. these guys are in, what, their early 30's? and everything they did had roots in the early seventies. i heard george harrison, badfinger, traffic, small faces, mountain, dylan, queen, sheesh even benson's guitar quotes from alice cooper's 'school's out' during one of the jammier sections. of course they do a terrific terry reid cover, too; it would be great to hear them try 'speak now' or 'without expression' from the reid songbook. all sorts of vintage touches in their sound. but yer right, they approach it all freshly and distinctively. as eclectic as they are there is a unity to their sound that indicates they've made some choices about what to include and exclude. it's as if they grew up listening to a better than average classic rock station in an era when all the other radio stunk out loud.

it seemed to me that the audience was as rapt and enthusiastic as any i'd seen in awhile, too.

[Tim Finn]

One of the best crowds in a while, which always makes a great show even better.

[Joseph P]

they are the most powerful act in Rock. the industry is clamoring to bring Rock back, the Raconteurs are leading this trend!

[jason]

I drove down from Des Moines. WELL worth the trek. saw them at First Ave on BBS tour, too. Damn that Jack is amazing. nice to see I'm not the only that uses Prince and Jack White in the same breath. All hail JW.

[Winston]

For the opening act, the guitar on stage right wasn't in the house mix. We told the guy at the board and he just shrugged his shoulders. On the next song the two guitar players did a dueling solo and it was obvious that only one guitar was in the mix. I looked over and the sounds guys weren't paying attention. They finally fixed it for the last song.