Shows > The Dead Weather
The Weather’s Great Coming From The Basement
By Ryan Magner
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Dead Weather played a live streaming show From The Basement last night, and it hit me at the last minute that they were playing at 9pm GMT, which measures out to 4PM my time. I ran to my computer, but the website just looked frozen. After I walked off, pissed, I heard this buzzing noise come from my speakers. As I ran back over to my computer I saw an empty studio appear onscreen.
That opening shot did just as much for me as the actual show did: The buzzing amplifiers, cuts to close ups of the instruments, and then the band walking on camera. An epic feeling that, for the second time, I’m surprised I can get from a live internet stream.
The Dead Weather started the set off with their first released song, Hang You From The Heavens, following it with Treat Me Like Your Mother.
Alison Mosshart (also of The Kills) gave a kickass performance, and she is clearly no stranger to the band-fronting business. She wraps herself around that microphone stand and whips her hair around, fully complimenting the energy of the songs. Jack White on drums is just as vibrant behind the kit as he is up front, and lending his vocals completes that perfect package.
Little Jack is, well, Little Jack. He does his long hair swingy thing and plays some sweet bass. In most of the songs played, he has a thick distortion on his bass which creates this great deep, heavy tone.
Dean Fertita went back and forth from playing the guitar and the keyboards. In a new, previously unheard song the keyboard replaced the guitar entirely.
They played four songs, maybe five. My point is that it was too quick, and they left me wanting way more. Which I’m beginning to think was maybe the point, since their album won’t see a release until July 14.
One sure thing I pulled from the experience is that The Dead Weather is way heavier than most of the Jack White library of music. It’s almost like mixing Queens Of The Stone Age with some White Stripes, and maybe some Raconteurs as well. A fitting concept, given that that’s exactly the chemical makeup of the band.
This was a fantastic set, and The Dead Weather are definitely a must-see live show this year. I enjoyed them on my computer screen, and still felt a part of it. But nothing will compare to being in the live presence of these guys. And girl.
UPDATE: We’ve put together a little YouTube playlist for you, assembling all of the clips as they were captured by a couple of very considerate viewers. Check it out here.
…you don’t know how many songs they played? Seriously?
The hype on this band is bordering on Radiohead bullshit levels. I’m completely turned off already.
Well, I think that we can all concede the fact that Jack White has ADD. My personal jury is still out on this incarnation of his 8th personality. The fuzz and density is more charming than anything White Stripped but I’m not yet “feeling” a reason to stand in line outside a venue, precious ticket in hand, in hopes of riding the rail and having a few precious drops of Ms. Mosshart’s whiskey-warm sweat annoint me for an hour or watch Jackie bash out in ways Meg could only hope to in her next lifetime. But that’s just me.
@Fernando Seriously I was so mesmerized, and the flow of the songs into one another was amazing. When it was all over I just felt so blown away, and don’t remember the intricate details. I promise, like 4 or 5. That’s PRETTY accurate, man. I guarantee it. That’s your only input though? seriously?
Yeah, that’s my only input. 10 seconds of research would’ve granted the setlist.
Ryan – great writeup, kicking myself for having missed it. Definitely looking forward to this album. @Fernando you’re a dick, by the way. “10 seconds” of courtesy might have yielded you providing the setlist instead of some snarky comment.
Actually James, Fernando is one of our favorite/most loyal readers/sources, and he raises a good point (although maybe not in the nicest way). But it’s only the guy’s 2nd or 3rd piece on Antiquiet, so he deserves a break. Check out his Taking Back Sunday interview.
The Taking Back Sunday interview is definitely a good piece of writing. I’m bummed I missed the Dead Weather webcast. Sounds like it was good.
Yeah I’m bummed about missing that too. Anyone got a link to some clips (and not the shitty “I recorded my tv” ones on youtube)? Something like this hot batch of fucking awesome.
Johnny, you should’ve asked me! This is the best stuff so far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oNdfue9wd4
Same user has more.
Also, we’ll probably never get quality as good as that Radiohead video. According to a FTB spokesperson, it was a one-time broadcast. No future release planned.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQwSyjsKClg
that has the 5th song in a little shittier quality (has other 4 too)
i caught the last 2 after remembering it wasn’t 9 EST
That song is a hot bucket of awesome.
here you go folks:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=CF8CB59967856ED9
thanks for the links! i just threw them together into a single ordered playlist.
[...] Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) to form The Dead Weather, which you may have seen us mention here and there. The band’s massively-anticipated debut album, Horehound, is available for your [...]
I know Im way late coming to the party but i dug this up for you guys. It’s the full performance in pretty nice quality (alot better then the YouTube videos though) but much more importantly in my opinion the sound quality is superbhttp://www.fromthebasement.tv/live
Now everyone that missed it can get in on the love. GET YOU SOME
EDIT:
bah I dont know why the link didn’t work. Guess I’m still more then a little newby at posting. Copy/paste the http and ignore “superb” right before it and it should work. If not feel free to flame me for getting your hopes up.