The Dead Weather is Fine
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Jack White. Is there anything he can't do? Not content with just fronting The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, running his own record company, and writing Bond themes, he has now formed an alternative rock supergroup called The Dead Weather.
The Dead Weather consist of Alison Mosshart (frontwoman of The Kills) on vocals, Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) on guitar and keyboards, Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs) on bass and Jack White on drums.
This band is so new that their debut album, Horehound, isn't due to be released until July, so there was an unusual mixture of curiosity and anticipation at The Forum since no one in the packed audience knew what to expect. The support band, The Smoke Fairies, did a reasonable job of keeping the eager audience happy with their trance inducing Clannad-style acoustic folk, but clearly the punters were baying for some on-stage action.
Eventually, the house lights went down, The Dead Weather backdrop was lowered, and a musical introduction on the PA built up to an exciting crescendo. A slow bluesy guitar riff began, and the full band kicked in with a powerful, guttural sound and angular, punchy rhythms.
And the stunning Allison Mosshart and her hair have arrived on stage. She is the snake-hipped, dark eyed alt-rock chick supreme. All in black, she mesmerised the audience as her body responded to the rhythms and beats. Her long black hair swept back and forth to add to the mesmeric effect.
The band was very loud and this swamped the vocals a bit. But - bearing mind that the audience hadn't heard any of the songs before - they lapped it up anyway.
I got the impression, though, that not everyone is happy with Jack White being on drums. Obviously as a gifted guitarist he has many fans, and some people seemed disappointed that they didn't get to hear him playing the guitar. His drumming is very good though - quite meaty and powerful. A no-nonsense style that suits the band perfectly.
Having said that though, on the one occasion he did step out from behind the kit, it was superb. The song was Will There Be Enough Water - quite a show-stopper as Jack and Alison get very close for a scintillating vocal duet. Absolutely brilliant.
Overall, I thought The Dead Weather were excellent. They may be a bit too loud and raucous for some and not commercial enough for others, but when their debut album comes out, I'll be first in the queue. And I think I'll have to check out Alison Mosshart's other band, The Kills, as well.
This band is so new that their debut album, Horehound, isn't due to be released until July, so there was an unusual mixture of curiosity and anticipation at The Forum since no one in the packed audience knew what to expect. The support band, The Smoke Fairies, did a reasonable job of keeping the eager audience happy with their trance inducing Clannad-style acoustic folk, but clearly the punters were baying for some on-stage action.
Eventually, the house lights went down, The Dead Weather backdrop was lowered, and a musical introduction on the PA built up to an exciting crescendo. A slow bluesy guitar riff began, and the full band kicked in with a powerful, guttural sound and angular, punchy rhythms.
And the stunning Allison Mosshart and her hair have arrived on stage. She is the snake-hipped, dark eyed alt-rock chick supreme. All in black, she mesmerised the audience as her body responded to the rhythms and beats. Her long black hair swept back and forth to add to the mesmeric effect.
The band was very loud and this swamped the vocals a bit. But - bearing mind that the audience hadn't heard any of the songs before - they lapped it up anyway.
I got the impression, though, that not everyone is happy with Jack White being on drums. Obviously as a gifted guitarist he has many fans, and some people seemed disappointed that they didn't get to hear him playing the guitar. His drumming is very good though - quite meaty and powerful. A no-nonsense style that suits the band perfectly.
Having said that though, on the one occasion he did step out from behind the kit, it was superb. The song was Will There Be Enough Water - quite a show-stopper as Jack and Alison get very close for a scintillating vocal duet. Absolutely brilliant.
Overall, I thought The Dead Weather were excellent. They may be a bit too loud and raucous for some and not commercial enough for others, but when their debut album comes out, I'll be first in the queue. And I think I'll have to check out Alison Mosshart's other band, The Kills, as well.
Here Is The Writer : Lucho Payne
Lucho Payne works at UBS as an IT Consultant, and has spent the last eight years working in banking and investment management in The City. He regularly attends gigs and concerts, and his favourite venues are the Astoria, Borderline and the 100 Club. He occasionally plays guitar at various venues around town as one half of the acoustic duo "Fagan and Payne".
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