None of the 500 people lucky enough to see The Dead Weather on Saturday night knew when the day started that they'd be doing so, much less at the Marquardt Trucking Company. But what started as a secret show at an unknown location became the place to be when fans flocked to the "venue" after it was announced on Facebook at 4 p.m. that the band would be playing a free show at a renovated horse carriage house located on Aberdeen Street between Madison and Monroe in the West Loop.
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I arrived in line a couple minutes past 4:30 p.m. and was about 150th in line. Nobody knew initially how many people would be able to see the show, though word quickly spread that the first 500 would get in the door. It took at least an hour or two for that many to arrive and I heard the line eventually stretched a couple blocks. Not everyone made it inside to see the show.
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There was a buzz in the air greater than what you'd find at a typical concert. Being able to suddenly see Jack White's latest band had everyone jacked. The concert was a promotion for Microsoft's KIN phone. The overt advertising was a bit much, but such is the price one must pay for a free show. More about that in a minute.
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No matter that it was a marketing event, I couldn't pass on the opportunity to see The Dead Weather. I'm a big fan of White's. I've seen The White Stripes a couple times along with his first side project, The Raconteurs, once. I was eager to see The Dead Weather, especially after their shows last year at the Vic Theatre received raves.
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The Dead Weather opened with a ferocious "60 Feet Tall." White banged the drums and lead singer Alison Mosshart stood on the monitors and crawled on stage as she howled. I knew right then that this was going to be much better than a Raconteurs show. My problem with the Raconteurs is that they were too much like White and a bunch of guys playing with White. White tried to fit in with them at the same time his bandmates deferred to him. It smacked of everyone mindful of staying in their place - not exactly a recipe for a great rock show. But The Dead Weather made sparks fly from the start thanks to Mosshart. She's an equal of White onstage and that's saying a lot. Wearing a leopard-print top, Mosshart prowled around the stage all night with the raw animal magneticism. The slinky siren stood on top of the monitors almost as much as on the stage's floor.
X The Dead Weather featured a heavy blues sound with jagged edges. White played the drums instinctually much like Meg White does in The White Stripes. He also ventured out from behind the kit to play his guitar. Mosshart's high howels complemented the sound of White's gutteral guitar. Their chemistry is explosive. A highlight was when they shared a mic to sing together on "Will There Be Enough Water?" A key to the band is Dean Fertita from Queens of the Stone Age. He added to the group's menacing sound whether on keyboards or guitar. Bassist Jack Lawrence, also from The Raconteurs, provided a big bottom end.
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You don't remember The Dead Weather's songs as much as their sound, which attacked from the shadows. That was heightened by the murky, flashing lighting that often didn't so much illuminate the musicians as light their profiles through a haze.
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It was a thrilling performance that unfortunately was diluted by Microsoft's omnipresent marketing throughout the event. A corporate sponsor deserves to get a bang for its buck, but I thought this one went too far, even for a free show. The KIN demonstrations to fans waiting in line and the videos played inside the building were fine. But the videos near the stage continued during the band's performance. That was over the top. Overall, Microsoft put on a good event - the line was well organized, fans were treated to an open bar and a promotional package including a show specific poster was handed out at the end of the night. However, I found it odd that White would involve himself in such a marketing event. I read later that the band would be donating its pay to a Nashville flood relief fund. I don't know if that's true, but it's laudable if it is. I don't think it was cool to play a 21+ show, thereby shutting out younger fans who could have especially used a free ticket, so a corporation could market its product with an open bar. White might want to reconsider allowing his band and artistic vision to be so much involved with such crass commercialism.
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I didn't try to write down the setlist because I thought it would be found online easily thanks to The White Stripes active online community. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find the setlist, but here's an unofficial list of songs played in general order:
