Reader Andrew C. wrote in with a detailed recap of last night’s Raconteurs’ show in Glasgow (it was the band’s second-ever). Of course, we had to share:
Four songs into their second ever gig and the cracks are already beginning to show. Brendan Benson seems to be starting to realise who the real star of the Raconteurs is – “What, you mean I don’t get a cheer when I take off my jacket, but he does?” But this is Glasgow, a city that loves Jack White. The Carling Academy recently played host to the White Stripes three nights in a row, and each night sold out in a matter of minutes. But the Scottish audience’s love of the White Stripes only partially explains the indifference to Benson. Let’s face it; any rock star wearing a kilt is going to steal the stage in Scotland’s largest city.Jack isn’t just wearing a kilt though. Full Highland dress is the order of the day, thick white socks up to his knees with black flashes, white furry sporran and a traditional Argyll jacket. The only nod to his rock star status is his black t-shirt, which is revealed two songs into their set as he throws his jacket to the side of the stage. The women in the audience go wild, prompting Benson’s failed attempt to please the ladies a couple of songs later. If it sounds like parts of the audience appear to be only here to ogle Mr White, then that is a fairly valid assumption; groups of women were in attendance as though this was just another girls night out. The conversation wasn’t so much about the music, more about Jacks hotness – “I hope we see a lot of his back. He has such a sexy back.” Despite this, there were at least some people in the ABC that were there for the music.
They sound as they do on their only single released so far; a good blues inspired rock band. Tonight they are a five piece. In addition to Jack, Brendan and the rhythm section from the Greenhornes, they have Dave Fertita on keyboards. The surprise is Jack; without the burden of having to create the background noise himself he is free to go off on Neil Young-esque solos. The tunes are solid and in the main manage to keep the crowd entertained, although on occasion the band really does sound like this is only their second gig. But the missed notes here and there don’t detract from the music. The best song of the night is a slow number on which both Jack and Brendan take turns at singing the lead vocal. It was received almost as warmly as “Steady As She Goes.”
Based on the performance in Glasgow, Jack is the dominant force in the band. Maybe it was the swish of his kilt as he swept across the stage, or just the quiet word in everyone’s ear before they ripped through a cover of Bowie’s “It Ain’t Easy,” but Jack seemed in control. This is not to say that the others minded, and Benson even played lead on their cover of Love’s “A House Is Not A Motel.” But even sonically you could hear Jack’s guitar drifting off into White Stripes territory.
They left the stage to rapturous applause slightly early, and the audience were expecting an encore. And they returned for just one number in the nick of time; some of the crowd were starting to boo. Which, in a strange way is a bit of a compliment; the Raconteurs were good enough for them to want more.
Oh, and Jack’s kilt? You’d probably expect it to be a red and white, but he was wearing Black Watch tartan; a kilt with black and white stripes on a GREEN background. Those candy cane coloured days appear to be over. For the time being at least.
Cheers, Andy! If you’ve ever got cool concert reports this lucid (after five pints of Kronenbourg, Andy admits) send ‘em our way.
Watch the Raconteurs’ music video for “Steady, As She Goes” here (QT).
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Pictures?
The keyboard player would be Dean Fertita, from Detroit’s Waxwings. He’s been touring with Brendan for the past couple years.
Setlist from the show:
“Level
Intimate
Hands
Steady
Together
House
Bones
Call It A Day
Yellow Sun
Broken Boy
5 on the 5
It Ain’t Easy (Bowie) <- not on setlist but sure that’s where it came
Blue Vein
—–
Encore: Texas”
Broken Boy was probably my favourite although Blue Vein was also something rather special too. ( “a heavy duty song” to quote Jack if i remember correctly)
as a graphic designer, i can without a doubt say this looks like crap?or worse.
Wow that video is edited poorly…and benson’s hat looks stupid. Can’t complain about the song, tho.
wheres that girl on drums? the one with the TATS
i was at the show and i think andrew understimates how many people were brendan benson fans. i heard a lot of cheering for him from where i was standing. as a fan of both brendan and the white stripes i thought it might be too good to be true, but they were goddamn brilliant. together, intimate secretary and 5 on the 5 were probably the best songs, but their love cover was the icing on a particularly sweet cake. great to see dean on keys, and i’ve not got a bad word to say about the guys from the greenhornes either, especially the quality drummer. quite good then.
Meh, I like the Stripes and Brendan Benson but this song is nothing special. A Hipster’s Traveling Wilburys they ain’t.
Eh, I like Brendon’s hat. 20 years from now, kids will be talking about that hat.
Jim Jarmusch directed this video, by the way.
http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article?article_id=2754
Anyone notice the homage to Joe Jackson in both the song and early on in the video? The bass line cops “Is She Really Going Out With Him” and they frame Jack’s white shoes early on just like the cover of the album ‘Look Sharp.’
I’m sorry to Andy but I was at this gig and I don’t think he is doing it justice at all. Everyone around me was in awe and I came away thinking it was one of the best gigs I had been to in a long time, and thats not from a lack of gigging. I and others I spoke to thought the gig was really tight and the fast songs were incredible. Sure Jack was the star ahead of Brendan, not that many people over here know Brendan and to be fair, Jack White has more stage presence than near anyone I have ever seen. Superb band and to be honest I think Steady as She Goes was one of the weakest tracks of the night. Support band 747s were a terrible choice though. Like a poor mans The Coral.
Cheers
pretty women out walking with gorillas dowm my street.
“It Ain’t Easy” isn’t actually a Bowie tune – he covered it on Ziggy, but it’s written by the Kinks…
I stand corrected.
Although to be absolutely honest I spent the first half convinced it was a Zeppelin track, totally forgot it was Bowie.
Agree with the sentiments about Brendan too, ok the majority of folk were there because they were White Stripes, especially the bloody young uns who led to that stupid “one drink per person” rule at the bar, but I digress…. When the band were introduced I thought Brendan got a pretty loud cheer.
I thought the 747s were entertaining but if they want to be great they need to perhaps get a new frontman. Seemed slightly out of place in the band.
Am going to see them tomorrow as part of MTV UK’s Spanking New Music Week. Going to be a good one.
I’m pretty sure that the “What, I don’t get a cheer?” remark by Brendan was tounge in cheek. He doesn’t have the same stage presence as Jack White, but I don’t think he’s that petty.
Go fist yourselfs arsholes my hat is not stupid pufter you shit faced turd
all you hat haters out there if you continu to
hat my hat i will personally ripe your balls of.
Take that comment of your websight or i will through a molitof in your door when your in your dickhead factory
go and cry to your prostotut mothers monkey fuckers
dont bag bensons hat.
to who wrote bensons hat sucks go root your mum u gay fuckers. u donkey rapein shit eaters.
Settle down, Beavis
DONT TEASE MY FRIENDS HAT YOU FUCKING CUNTS! HE LOVES HIS HAT!
GO FUCK YOURSELVES!