This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
It’s official. 31 year-old John Anthony Gillis, aka Jack White,
is the new guitar god. This gig rubber-stamped his undisputable class. Temporarily
sidelining ex-missus Meg of the White Stripes, Jack White’s ‘other’ project
continues to flourish.
America’s new ‘super group’ The Raconteurs threw down the gauntlet to their
peers at the Apollo in Manchester. Right now, there’s no-one to challenge them.
A chock-a-bloc Apollo witnessed the blockbusting band pull out all the stops
in a magnificent set of classic '70s style rock, with White dropping the
Stripes’ childlike aesthetic for amore mature sound. If anything, White and
co are going in the Led Zep direction.
With hit single Steady As She Goes and classic album Broken Boy
Soldiers in the bag, the quartet, expanded to a quintet for the night,
showed the music muscle they are now flexing. Co-writer and vocalist Brendon
Benson has also dumped his solo work to unite with White, bassist Jack
Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler.
Their relatively short set of just over 60 minutes, included all their debut
album tracks bar one, plus three newies, 5 On The 5, Christian Life
and Bang Bang, showing there’s much more in their songwriting arsenal.
Coming on in darkness to the opening sequence of Level, the crowd
raised the atmosphere, soon followed by his trademark wiry picks.
In truth, it’s Jack they were here to see. Without him, there would be no
Raconteurs. Nevertheless, for a man with such a reputation with the White
Stripes, there was no attempt to hog the limelight, though he did having his
odd showboating moments as he fronted the stage for Yellow Sun.
For the most part, he was happy to blend in with his new-found band mates, he
proved a worthy team player. Raucous Hands soon followed segued by a
monstrous rocker 5 On The 5 with screaming solos by White. Eventually
an introduction, "Are you out there? You’re so far away. Good evening,
we’re the Raconteurs from Nashville Tennessee… I’m Brendon Benson, thanks
for having us."
Thereafter, more album tracks: a genteel acoustic-led Together showcased
Benson and White’s vocal ranges as did new song Christian Life, whereas a
bluesy Store Bought Bones (yes, White likes to collect ancient human
bones) was more of a traditional exploratory jam a la Led Zeppelin.
A three song encore brought, "Thanks for having us Manchester, it’s good
to see you again, those of you I can see", followed by Intimate
Secretary, Steady As She Goes which predictably raised the roof, closing
a glorious night for rock’s future with a pulsating Broken Boy Soldiers.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
A chock-a-bloc Apollo witnessed the blockbusting band pull out all the stops
in a magnificent set of classic '70s style rock, with White dropping the
Stripes’ childlike aesthetic for amore mature sound. If anything, White and
co are going in the Led Zep direction.
In truth, it’s Jack they were here to see. Without him, there would be no
Raconteurs. Nevertheless, for a man with such a reputation with the White
Stripes, there was no attempt to hog the limelight, though he did having his
odd showboating moments as he fronted the stage for Yellow Sun.
Thereafter, more album tracks: a genteel acoustic-led Together showcased
Benson and White’s vocal ranges as did new song Christian Life, whereas a
bluesy Store Bought Bones (yes, White likes to collect ancient human
bones) was more of a traditional exploratory jam a la Led Zeppelin.