Showdate: July 25th, 2010
I think it is pretty obvious that if you have Jack White in a band, he will drive the economics, promotion, musical direction, and overall aesthetic of the project. Equally obvious after watching a Dead Weather set is the conclusion that just because Mr. White may drive, doesn’t mean the other musicians have their feet up off the pedals. There is no coasting on White’s reputation. Everyone in this band can fucking bring it and watching them live is an amazing treat.
Walking up from Lola’s into the Crystal on the stairwell, Tim commented he felt like such a rock star when they were climbing to the stage when they played there. Totally get it. The venue already was buzzing and had the pent up energy that any human, let alone performer, would love to feel. Holy hell, I love rock shows.
The Crystal is jammed. Show is way sold out. Secondary ticket market dried up at noon. If you weren’t ticketed, you needed connections or the backbone to deal with street commerce to get in. Hype. The air is laden with marijuana and soaking heat.
Lights drop. The Dead Weather hit the stage with Dean Fertita (guitar/keys) in his signature black and white stripe shirt. He’s your left. LJ (bass) all in black on your right. Jack rocking the all black look as well, and Alison with her leopard print coat (like the photo on the back of the Horehound CD package) and hair sprayed up at gravity defying angles. Strung-out-scary chic.
Opening song I don’t immediately recognize until right before the opening verse. Hell yeah!
Well Portland Oregon and sloe gin fizz
If that ain’t love then tell me what is
Well I lost my heart it didn’t take no time
But that ain’t all. I lost my mind in Oregon
Totally nice touch starting off the set with “Portland Oregon” from Jack’s project with Loretta Lynn. Awww good feelings. Enough of that. Next number is “60 Feet Tall” with Alison standing on top of the stage monitors, pointing to the sky belting. We’ve officially started living just fine on the top. Setlist.
Portland Oregon (From the Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose Album)
60 Feet Tall
Hang You From The Heavens
You Just Can’t Win (Van Morrison Cover)
So Far From Your Weapon
Cut Like a Buffalo
No Horse
The Difference Between Us
Rocking Horse
I’m Mad
Hustle And Cuss
Die By The Drop
New Pony
Will There Be Enough Water?
—–>Encore
Blue Blood Blues
Jawbreaker
I Can’t Hear You
Treat Me Like Your Mother
I’m so excited for future Alison Mosshart projects after watching this show. In my opinion, she seems a far more confident and strong performer in this role compared to the sexual tension shtick of The Kills live performances. Stalking the stage like a predator, I think the songs that she shined most on were “New Pony” and “Treat Me Like Your Mother”. Tracks she could snarl and forcefully sing the lyrics while demanding the crowd’s attention. I’m sure someone better than me could come up with a metaphor for her groaning into the mic during “So Far From Your Weapon”. I’ll just say it was hot.
Dean Fertita is alot of fun to watch. Switching from keyboards to guitar seamlessly. The solo on “Jawbreaker” is sick. Sick, sick, sick. Here’s a taste from a different show (@ 1:01).
The tone he gets from his Gretsch is a snack. I have to admit, on many songs I’m just waiting for Dean to attack that guitar cause I just want to shake my head around.
I doubt I am the only person who thinks LJ is a very under rated bassist. My favorite moments were watching him play drums on “Will There Be Enough Water?” and they way he bounces around on “Treat Me Like Your Mother” and toward the end of that song when he slides up to his amp start feedback. Love.
Jack is a fun live drummer. I’m no expert, or else I wouldn’t write this shit…right? From what I see, he keeps the rhythm and puts on a show. I have fun. Good enough for me. He had a killer run during “Hang You From The Heavens”. I really have no clue how Jack got some of the sounds out of his guitar on the solo for “I Can’t Hear You”. Amazing. Worth my money right there. I’d love to have a bootleg of this show. My only complaints sometimes was it seemed White’s vocals were under-miced. Best moment of the night was when he gave a shout out to (again!) to one of my fave local haunts…”this one goes out to the hard working ladies at Mary’s and all you sinners out there.” So awesome.
As usual. Great fucking show. I doubt you are on the fence about going if you are reading this. Sell some plasma and take a bus to the next show. It is worth it.
The negative things I read about Jack White seem to try and classify him in the narcissit-charlatan-asshole camp. Oddly, these people usually are the ones screaming the loudest about the shitty state of the music industry and live music. Rather than reeling from one idiotic strategy to the next, shouldn’t the industry take more note of Jack White? Owns his own masters. Averages a solid full LP recording every year. If you live in a major market you can see him at least once a year or so in an intimate venue at a reasonable price. His fans are loyal. His merch is usually pretty fucking cool. He makes money. Bangs a model for a wife. Not alot seems wrong with that picture to me. Rather than worrying about what bunch of shitheads can maybe sell out a stadium, why not focus on this? The industry is more in love with home runs. The stadium. Ooooooooh. Like alot of old home run hitters, this theory when it goes to shit gets real flabby and disgusting in a hurry. Here’s my input: seeing a show in a football stadium is a generally shit experience.
Took my brother-in-law to the show. He seriously thought it was the best rock show he’s ever been to. I’m not going that far, but it was stellar. Awesome night boys, thanks for going…always fun being with people who get it and love it.
