pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four’s Music and Media Blog

A review from Nilina Mason-Campbell.
Operating sans set-list, The Raconteurs returned to Portland via the Wonder Ballroom last night with a set full of enough guitar solos and duels in an hour and a half to out-do a Stephen Malkmus set three times as long. The Raconteurs co-frontman Brendan Benson handled the bulk of mic duties once the headliners took their spot after a support set by Birds of Avalon. In front of the sold-out crowd, the band paraded out tune after tune in addition to an assortment of visuals ode to skeletons and a tour crew all accessorized in smart hats.

Has the Wonder Ballroom ever played host to a show of this magnitude? By the looks of things, I’ll go with a no, because everything was different. The box-office was shuttered for the evening as there was an outdoor ticket tent set-up to avoid scalpers and for the first time in my many visits to the concert venue there was a barrier between the band and audience.

While I knew not to expect any White Stripes covers, so many times when they’d start a new song it sounded like they were on the verge of the White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid.” I realized real soon that I didn’t even know what their current single is possibly maybe because I don’t listen to radio, but more likely because of the abrupt release of Consolers Of The Lonely which hasn’t given me too much time to immerse myself in their sophomore album world. Those crazy kids - always doing something inventive; from announcing this latest album a week before it’s late March release date to Jim Jarmusch filming the music video for debut single “Steady as She Goes” by way of V-cams bought at Toys “R” Us.

On the back of playing just that tune - “Steady as She Goes” - midway through the set, they broke their non-song silence, with Jack White taking to the mic to chat a little with the audience. Last time the Raconteurs played Portland in 2006 they included the Loretta Lynn/Jack White duet “Portland, OR” as a part of their set. This time there was no song, but Jack merely saying the name of this fair city predictably had the audience cheering along. Then he let slip that he considered moving to the Rose City, welcoming yet more cheers, and that it was still on his “list.” Moving onto a list of a different sort, Mr. White went onto band introductions. After each band-member’s name was said, the named party played a little of their own instrument until it built into a five-part song. What song you ask? Why only Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” which Jack said was the first and last time he’d ever do that.

After an hour, the Raconteurs exited the stage only to return five minutes later to launch their encore with a dedication and “Many Shades of Black.” Afterwards the White one asked if there was anything the audience would like to hear, but the band didn’t pause long enough to listen. There were guitar chords to strum and that’s exactly what they did with little pause for near a half hour more before calling it a night. A worthwhile night at that.