The Dead Weather @Brixton Academy

28/10/09

As Jack White, who only shot to fame at the start of this decade, stands behind his drum kit in front of 5,000 people hollering and whooping for his third band The Dead Weather it’s easy to understand why people continue to form ‘super-bands’ so prolifically.

Under normal circumstances a band featuring the superb but commercial minnows The Kills Alison Mosshart and a squad member of Queens Of The Stone Age would not get the chance to play anywhere near the size of Brixton Academy but add the name Jack White to the fray and suddenly everyone wants to know. It’s an odd sense of loyalty that music fans have that they will follow one mans journey through the genres but such is the devotion to White and his past in The White Stripes that tonight’s venue is sold-out. Ditching the country blues of Brendan Benson and The Raconteurs in favour of the arched and sleek Mossheart with her vintage distortion in The Dead Weather is definitely a good look for White. Towards the end of their last tour some of The Raconteurs guitar solos went on for so long there are rumours you can still hear them going on if you stand in certain corners of the nations gig halls. The band had become flabby and middle aged, Jack White is neither of these things as his imposing black clad frame testifies tonight.

The first thing that strikes you about this group is just how incredibly loud they are. Guitarist Dean Fertita’s day job in QOTSA has certainly permeated through into the stage set-up as the next day’s ringing ears testify. Also refreshing and new is Mossheart’s demonic kidnapping. Away from the drum machine and stylish restrain of The Kills she shows herself to be an aggressive and engaging performer as she stalks the stage kicking and metaphorically spitting at the front rows before strutting to the front and assessing the baying mass before her. ‘Hang You From The Heavens’ is Mosshearts signature tune, the only time The Dead Weather feel like being exclusively her band. Pushing the trio supporting her into obscurity she purrs and whirrs through the dirty seduction as everyone in the building offers their own hair in sacrifice. It is Mossheart who impresses most tonight, from playing guitar on ‘New Pony’ to matching White pound for pound on charisma during their numerous duets. White on the other hand feels like he is on auto-pilot. People are accepting The Dead Weather as the methadone to their White Stripes addiction and whilst the return of the duo lies in Meg White’s anxious hands you get the feeling Jack White is as eager to get back as his fans are. He is a fine drummer and gives the crowd what they want as he emerges from behind his kit to sing and raise the decibel level even further by wailing on his guitar but you can’t help feeling the man is just coasting. The adrenaline and passion of his performance are nothing compared to his improvised set-lists and instrument flipping genius of The White Stripes.

The set ends on a high with the one-two uppercut of ‘Treat Me Like Your Mother’ and ‘I Cut Like A Buffalo’ but as the band take a bow the feeling is more a hankering to see The Kills/ White Stripes than it is to hear more from their current incarnation.

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The Dead Weather- 'Horehound'

Jack White is one of the most prolific men in rock and here he returns with another side project. Joining forces with Dean Fertita and Jack Lawrence the trio form a backdrop for The Kills Alison Mosshart to play out to. Written and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee ‘Horehound’ drips with a smokey authenticity and steel from Mosshart’s yearning and jagged vocals to the reliably vintage guitars that fuzz and distort throughout. Say what you will about Jack White being anachronistic he has a definitive sound and it works as a classy signature.

The furious and throbbing ‘Treat Me Like Your Mother’ is the first track that grabs attention, no surprise given that it switches tempo every thirty seconds and features huge synth riffs and a vocal tête-à-tête between White and Mosshart seeing the pair come together to chant “M-A-N-I-P-U-Late”. Glorious and angry ‘Treat Me Like Your Mother’ shines above all else on ‘Horehound’. Elsewhere ‘I Cut You Like A Buffalo’ recreated a similar foot tapping pace whilst ‘Hang You Up From The Heavens’ sees Mosshart contact her inner deviant to talk of wanting to “Grab your by the hair and drag you to the devil” over a grimy blues explosion- devastating stuff. Jack White appears like a flash of lightning amidst the storm on ‘Horehound’ emerging from the thunder and rumbles to illuminate and already impressive sound. With an unmistakable voice and hi-hat heavy drumming he provides the flourishes and twirls to the album however it is Mosshart who provides the spine and the brawn. Sounding sultry and confident throughout The Kill’s front woman transfers the skills learnt from working with Jamie Hince and puts them alongside the more impressive and authentic White, kind of like she’s having an affair with a richer and more powerful man. It should be said though that The Dead Weather have not created anything that matches a single Kills or White Stripes album to date.

Ultimately the success of The Dead Weather and ‘Horehound’ hinges on your tolerance for Jack White. With his various projects appearing at a rate of knots unrivalled by his peers it’s only a matter of time before another band emerge and you can hazard a guess at what they’ll sound like too. Had ‘Horehound’ come before The Raconteurs then maybe it would be greeted differently. However in 2009 an album featuring Jack White feels expected rather than treasured. He’s spreading himself a bit too thin and The Dead Weather could well be the switch off point.

7/10

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White Stripes play on Conan O'Brien's final show

Old friends of the Late Show Jack and Meg were the only band who could wave goodbye to the Conan O'Brien last night. They performed 'We're Going To Be Friends' with the pair sharing guitar and vocal duties, you can see it below.



From a previous Late Show appearance here is why The White Stripes are one of the most electric live bands in the world.

The White Stripes
by molivera

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