I will start this off by saying that I am not a big fan of music reviews of any kind.

They usually make me think that some poor social outcast with a decent vocabulary is being paid to sit at his computer desk and download hundreds of records a day, comparing and contrasting genres, guitar sounds and vocal styling until he is blue in the face and does not know right from left anymore- thinking the more he criticizes things like “artistic integrity” the more cool points he gets, but secretly he longs to be any one of those boys on stage moaning trite lyrics and making ladies swoon…

My point being- when I read a review, I want it to be direct. I want it to communicate the point without all the quasi- clever quips that sound more like envy than education.

I am trying a different approach in my review of the The Raconteurs recent live shows in Nashville, Tennessee. I obviously can not be objective. I love the band, and I helped design the suit Jack White wore… However, I will do my best to bring you the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The Band-
Jack White (of the White Stripes)- Vocals, guitars, piano
Brendan Benson- Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Patrick Keeler (of the Greenhornes)-Drums, percussion
Jack Lawrence (of the Greenhornes)-Bass, backing vocals, banjo
Dean Fertita Unofficial member (of Queens of the Stoneage)- guitar, keys, percussion

The Name-
RAC*ON*TEUR- [rak-uhn-tur]
n. One who tells stories and anecdotes with skill and wit.
A person who is skilled in relating stories and anecdotes interestingly.

The Dates-
April 14th and 15th 2008

The Venue-
The Cannery Ballroom (although the shows were originally booked next door at the Mercy lounge, tickets for both dates sold out within ten minutes with very little prior advertisement.
The Venue was changed just a few days before the shows.)
I was extremely disappointed in the Cannery as usual. I speculate only about 25% of the crowd could actually really see the stage from where they were standing.

The Opening Band-
“The Magic Wands” was not very interesting. I gave them fifteen seconds to attract my attention and it did not happen.

The Songs That Stood Out-
I am very happy to report that the set list was not exactly the same both nights. Overall I did favor Monday night’s selection. Each show was a little over an hour long including the encore.
The most ear catching, enjoyable and impressive live songs for me personally were as follows (in no particular order-mind you)

Level
Broken Boy Soldier
Consolers of the Lonely
You Don’t Understand Me
Top Yourself ( my all time favorite)
Carolina Drama
Blue Veins

The Crowd-
It was a good mix of jaded musicians and/or music industry people, up and coming hipsters, typical indie show attendees, restaurant industry folk, average college radio kids and borderline hippies

Monday night’s crowd however seemed a bit older and more seasoned.

The Example-

If you must, read Rolling Stone’s review of the new album “consolers of the lonely” here

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