by Allison Duck
Though they shy away from the supergroup label, The Raconteurs truly are a combination of some of the most magnificent musical minds. They managed to dodge the sophomore slump with their new album Consolers of the Lonely, and their show Saturday night at the Joint offered a sampling of the best from each of their albums. The show proved the band can no longer be called Jack White’s side project. Singer/guitarist Brendan Benson held his own and stepped out of the shadows of White’s star power. With his soulful vocals and skillful guitar playing, he provided the yin to White’s yang.
Opening the show with the title track off their newest album, the band jumped right into an extended jam session, showcasing the talents of each musician and touring keyboardist Mark Watrous. White, sporting massive mutton chops pre-pubescent boys only dream about, was met with thunderous applause as he swapped verses with Benson. The Raconteurs seamlessly blended rock, blues and country in many of their songs, particularly in “The Switch and the Spur,” where White’s eerie, plaintive vocals seemed to channel a lonesome coyote in the desert. Watrous managed to juggle the keys and his violin on “Old Enough,” giving it some upbeat country undertones. Benson’s opening vocals channeled Bob Dylan on this tune, as the violin sound dominated the room like an upright bass.
Though they never were one-trick ponies, The Raconteurs no longer need to save their hit “Steady As She Goes” for the encore, and chose to sandwich it in the middle of the set. I had heard from friends that the live version of “Blue Veins” would blow me away, and it certainly lived up to my expectations. White took the vocal lead on this song, which sounds more like his work on The White Stripes’ Get Behind Me Satan that any other Raconteurs song.
The Raconteurs chose to end their set with the ballad “Carolina Drama,” which displayed their mastery of the art of storytelling and gave validation to the band’s name. The song starts with the line “I’m not sure if there’s a point to this story but I’m going to tell it again.” I think the crowd at the Joint would gladly agree that we are willing to hear their stories again and again.
The Raconteurs
****
April 26, The Joint