If you’ve had the pleasure of seeing The White Stripes in concert, you’re already well aware of Jack White’s status as a bona fide rock virtuoso. And for those lucky enough to be in attendance for the string of three sold-out shows at Terminal 5 by Mr. White’s “supergroup”/side-project The Raconteurs, it’s safe to say that this reputation was reaffirmed, with an exclamation point.
The Raconteurs are composed of White, singer/songwriter Brendan Benson, and two members of one of White’s favorite bands from his native Detroit: The Greenhornes’ Jack Lawrence (bass) and Patrick Keeler (drums). Sporting mega, Zeppelin riffs merged with the garage rock sensibilities of Weezer and a country tinge, The Racs produce an infectious brand of straight-up, shit-kicking rock n’ roll. Their sophomore album Consolers of the Lonely, released with only one week’s advance notice via iTunes, marks a notable progression from the foursome thanks in large part to a more measured contribution from Benson.
Unfortunately, the band had to deal with one of the most maligned venues in New York City. Yes, I’m talking about Terminal (“interminable”) 5 - a midsized concert hall with a reputation for shite acoustics. Despite their inherent energy, opener The Black Lips fell victim to this Bermuda Triangle of sound; their nasty scuzz-rock mutated into indistinct, fuzzy noise.
Opening with the title track off Consolers of the Lonely, the Raconteurs immediately put any venue concerns to rest through sheer dynamism, churning out 90 minutes of catchy hooks and killer guitar solos. On record, The Racs repertoire seems a bit too restrained, but when these tunes are let loose live, they absolutely soar. The crowd of mostly sandal-wearing fratboys drunkenly swayed while raising their beer glasses to the Benson tune “Together,” before rocking out during White and Benson’s vocal trade-off on “Level.” An alternating lighting scheme of blue, white, and green accentuated the band’s onstage aesthetic, and an 8-minute rendition of “Blue Veins,” the Racs last song before the encore, saw White working himself into a fit as he, with his back to the crowd, stared into a mirror and wailed into a jury-rigged auxiliary mic.
And if this wasn’t enough, the band then emerged after a 10-minute break with local guitarist Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and burst into a mind-blowing performance of my favorite track of theirs, “Broken Boy Solider.”
Somewhere out there, Meg White is getting very jealous.
--Marlow Stern [June 11, 2008]
SET LIST:
Consoler of the Lonely
Hold Up
You Don’t Understand Me
Top Yourself
The Switch and the Spur
Intimate Secretary
Old Enough
Together
Rich Kid Blues
Level
Steady As She Goes
Blue Veins
Encore:
Broken Boy Soldier (with Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
Salute Your Solution
Many Shades of Black
Carolina Drama
