The Raconteurs - London Brixton Academy - 20/10/06
4/5
By: Hannah Thomas
Though only about two thirds (or one third empty, depending on your world view) when the support act was finishing up, Brixton Academy was certainly full and surging forward by the time the four members of The Raconteurs made their entrance (with the addition of a fifth member for keyboards and a little guitar), blasting straight into 'Intimate Secretary'.
They're an interesting combination, this bunch - the chemistry between Jack White and Brendan Benson palpable to the audience. Despite Jack's undeniable stage presence and natural charisma, the band is surprisingly balanced, all four of the guys looking very relaxed and sure of their place and role in proceedings. They feel very much like a 'proper' band, not merely Jack White's side project, and although more low key and physically less dominating, Brendan Benson holds the stage well and adds a less slick and more old school element which works very well next to Jack's boisterous on stage activity.
The album, which was performed in it's entirety, translated very well into live performance, as you would expect from an album as stripped down and simple (in the best of ways) as 'Broken Boy Soldiers'. It felt as though it were a really old fashioned rock'n'roll affair put on by accomplished musicians with a very natural synergy with each other. It came across as effortless. Brendan and Jack have an interesting relationship on stage which involves an element of competitiveness, only natural, but good natured, resulting in some amusing tussles with each other during guitar solos.
Because, as yet, there is only the one album from which to draw material, the set felt quite short before they exited stage, only to return (after rather a long gap, during which the crowd began to worry that might be in fact be all there was), for their encore, which included the massive single and crowd favourite 'Steady as she Goes'. In a manner which stirred memories of Led Zeppelin, Brendan and Jack extended both 'Blue Veins' and 'Hands' by adding lengthy additional guitar segments, both seemingly off in their own worlds temporarily and thoroughly happy about it, which the crowd were more than content to support, just glad to have them on stage that bit longer.
There was a nice touch at the end when all the band came centre stage to receive applause, and Jack walked the width of the Brixton stage to give everyone a smile, whilst Brendan did an admirable stage dive into the front row of the audience, jumping the width of the photo pit and clearing the barrier. When he was delivered back to the rest of the band, however he was missing the majority of his t-shirt. The crowd also received a pair of drumsticks, and for a moment it looked as if Jack might add his guitar to the shower of gifts, but no such luck.
However diplomatic you try to be, the fact of the matter is that Jack White, front of stage, delivering a virtuoso guitar riff on his beautiful metallic copper guitar is going to steal the show, and maybe that's okay. The rest of the band are suitably secure on stage to keep up with him, and you don't get the feeling that Jack is in any way attempting to grab the limelight, but he is used to being the focal point on stage, holding a show together more or less alone. Maybe the extra flourish and mischievous smiles he displayed on this night are a sign that he is enjoying having the burden of delivering a performance shared.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment