Real musicians love to collaborate and play in other formats, especially if it gets them out of the spotlight for a bit. Eric Clapton toured as part of Roger Waters' band in 1984. Or in recent years you can look at Dave Grohl joining forces with John Paul Jones and Josh Homme in Them Crooked Vultures, John Mayer forming his trio or stepping in with the Dead and Damon Albarn becoming part of Gorillaz after ruling Britpop with Blur.
For real fans it is an opportunity to see a different side of their favorite artist. To see their hero often more relaxed, getting to explore different musical styles or simply show their fun side because it doesn't all fall on them. The so-called side project, it is a win-win for real fans and real artists.
That was the case Thursday night when Jack White and his Raconteurs band mates, and be clear, they are band mates, not a backing band, played a surprise intimate show at L.A.'s very underrated Jewell's Catch One.
White is, by all measures a real artist. He loves playing with other musicians and mixing things up, as he has done time and time again, whether it's producing Loretta Lynn, forming the Dead Weather with Alison Mosshart and the Raconteurs, who brought out a heavy industry crowd Thursday.
Gleefully sharing the spotlight with longtime friend Brendan Benson, as well as Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence, White and the band delivered a largely sonic assault, like Dinosaur Jr. and My Bloody Valentine level decibels for roughly 90 minutes, save for a few very well-placed quieter numbers.
Opening with the new album's furious opening track, "Bored And Razed," the band leaned heavily on the critically acclaimed new album, Help Us Stranger, which has drawn raves from critics and fans.
Seeing the album live it's easy to see why the universal praise as the record shows a wide range of strengths. From the second track, the Queen "Sheer Heart Attack" era like "Don't Bother Me" and the twang-y, gorgeous "Somedays (I Don't Feel Like Trying") to the almost indescribable title track and the haunting, pained "Only Child," the full spectrum of Help Us Stranger was on display.
The band also pulled from their previous two albums, whether it was the obvious final track, the impeccable pop single, "Steady, As She Goes" or the funky "You Don't Understand Me," a song steeped in the musical eclecticism of '70s giants like Leon Russell.
The quartet begins a two month tour this week. Though they will not be playing venues this intimate, the amount of joy they had on stage and the musicality they exhibited is going to be a can't miss wherever they go.
