The Dead Weather in Auckland

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What better night than St Paddy's to have the part-seductress, part howling banshee Alison Mosshart staring down an Auckland crowd? Reviewer Nicholas Russell was there.

The Dead Weather
Where: Powerstation, Auckland
When: Wednesday, 17 March

What better night than St Paddy's to have the part-seductress, part howling banshee Alison Mosshart staring down the Powerstation crowd in Auckland on Wednesday night?

Backed by the sleazy blues rock of The Dead Weather she was a captivating presence behind the mike and propelled the show forward, jumping up on the monitors to leer over the audience or crouching down in a feral growl on the stage.

However, it was when drummer Jack White stepped from behind the kit and joined her out in front that the best moments of the night came.

It seems odd for a bonafide guitar hero such as White to be hitting the skins, but with Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age and the Raconteurs) handling guitar and keyboards, White could pick his moments to grab a six-string for maximum effect.

The Dead Weather are the latest 'super-group' to hit town and with Mosshart (The Kills and Discount), White (The White Stripes, and The Raconteurs) Fertita and bassist Jack Lawrence, (The Racounteurs) you had a group of seasoned pros on full throttle.

There was no doubt about the musicianship on display, although the vocal mix seemed to get swamped by the guitar fuzz at times for me down the back.

Highlights were undoubtedly the simmering finale Will There Be Enough Water, with White and Mosshart sharing vocals and White carving it up high on the fretboard.

New Pony, had Mosshart at her seductive best with her tale of demonic ponies accompanied by a nasty-ass guitar riff.

The encore I Cut Like A Buffalo was another hit with it's shouted:

'You know I look like a woman, but I cut like a buffalo' ringing through the building and the crowd sing along for their last song Treat Me Like Your Mother put the final touches on a no-frills night of low-fi blues rock.

*Were you at the concert? What did you think? Post your comments below.

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Ash   #5   01:15 pm Mar 19 2010

Wow. That was one wicked gig! Jack White was so humble sharing the limelight with the others, as opposed to fronting White Stripes. Was very interesting to see this side of him. Not to mention the up close and personal venue in which they played. Totally blew me away to have the four of them in my face like that. Excellent gig guys, made my year!

Jen   #4   10:45 am Mar 19 2010

Awesome! What an amazing performance...an intimate experience I won't forget quickly.

Tim   #3   03:00 pm Mar 18 2010

Fantastic show with each and every one on stage showing what highclass musicians they are. Jack played drums for his first band (Goober and the Peas) but as the few songs where he stepped up showed, he is an incredible guitarist, born to play the guitar. Fantastic arrangement of "Will there be enough water" I just wish I knew all the songs they had covered so I can hunt them down. ps Dean Fertita isn't in the Raconteurs.

rockabella   #2   01:35 pm Mar 18 2010

so SO good! loved every second of it, madly in love with alison now and more in love with jack!

sue   #1   12:56 pm Mar 18 2010

Yes!! It was amazing ! So privileged to see them up close and personal - power houses each and every one. A treat to see Jack White and I think everyone is now in love with Alison M.

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