last night we went to see the raconteurs at the music box at the henry fonda theater.

this was a surprise, late announcement show that they did in LA. they were in the area for the kroq weenie roast last saturday. on thursday they announced they'd play at the fonda on sunday with tickets to go on sale the next day. i jumped at the chance! i really wanted to see jack white live, especially after we bought tickets for the white stripes and they cancelled that show along with the rest of the tour. to ensure that the fans went and not scalpers profiting off of this, you were only allowed to buy the tickets online for will call. you were also only allowed to buy 2 tickets. once you received them, you had to immediately enter the venue, leaving you no chance to walk out and sell them.

jack and his custom gretsch rancher

the opening band was imaad wasif with two part beast,whom i didn't really care for and neither did anyone around me. it seems like everyone just wanted to see jack white. i really wanted to be up front in from of jack because i'll never get a chance to see the white stripes at such a small place--i can't believe how huge they've gotten. however, we didn't get there early enough. we did manage to be 2nd row on the left side of the stage, offering a good view when jack played piano for only one song. mostly we had great views of brendan benson, who i enjoy on the albums but if it wasn't for jack white i probably would have never bought them in the first place. jack is a somewhat magical performer. i would have been more spellbound if i was right in front of him. i say somewhat magical because i found part of his performance funny. i can't help it but i think the faces some musicians make when they're in the moment is really funny. when he plays lead, which is often, jack's eyes go back as if he's possessed and he's so pale that it adds to the possessed look.

there were 3 songs i really wanted to hear and they did not play one of them, which is probably my #1 favorite: "broken boy soldier". to me that's like jimi hendrix not playing "are you experienced?" (or insert the ultimate hendrix song here). not that i'm a hendrix fan but the vibe of that song gives off a hendrix vibe. another song i wanted to hear, "store bought bones", was played in an alternative way to the album version, which made it not as exciting for me. the third song of course was their hit "steady, as she goes" which they played but i'm kind of done with that song. once the second album came out, which i'm still getting used to, i had moved on from that hit single and wanted to get into their new stuff.

take a bow and say goodnight

setlist:
consolers of the lonely
hold up
you don't understand me
top yourself
the switch and the spur
keep it clean (charley jordan cover)
old enough
level
rich kid blues
blue veins

encore:
many shades of black
store bought bones/intimate secretary (medley)
steady, as she goes
together
salute your solution
carolina drama