Jack White on ACL

[Joachim Kettner]

Since Jay mentioned "Van Lear Rose".
At first I was very disapointed by the steel playing.
I've just listened to the album again, and I think he fits very well on this track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgOjLi_RYAM
But he leaves a lot to be required here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ7_H_k3Jj0

[Jay Fagerlie]

Wikki says David Feeny played steel on the CD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Lear_Rose

...I dunno, I thought the steel did what it needed to do on both songs.

Isn't that what it's all about anyway?

I liked both songs....I want to get the CD now!

[Bob Hoffnar]

http://teamcoco.com/video/jack-white-cell-phones

He really does kick people out of his show when they hold up there cel phones. It is super refreshing to see somebody fighting against our digital narcissistic isolation. Most of the tweeting zombies that get booted out are not even aware that they have been playing with there phones.

I didn't "get" his music until I heard him live. He is the real deal. Reminded me of a more musical Iggy sort of thing. The way he lets the band interact live with each other and the crowd is a very rare thing these days. It is a punk rock vibe. Not so much steering wheel or brakes but plenty of gas pedal.

I am sure as time goes by he will become an iconic figure. His music, preservation work and constant stream of ideas that he acts on will put him up there with the greats.

BTW: his Third Man label is keeping the greatest country music record of all time, "Texas Funeral", available .

[Steve Spitz]

Bob,
You provide some interesting insight . Like you , I didn't get it . Interesting that seeing him live would change your opinion of his music. To me , that's like saying " I didn't care for the way the meal tasted, but when I saw the way the Chef worked in the kitchen.....for me, the show wouldn't change my opinion , if I found it non-musical.
That's a big jump from not a fan to declaring him an icon. That's quite a powerful performance.
I really like his no Cell phone policy, and I think I could respect him as an artist. I like some of his ideas, his heart seems to be in the right place. His music just doesn't do it for me, and I'm being kind . Maybe I'll change my mind in time.
I really disliked the Loretta project. Once again, a few million people really dug it, so I'm again realizing I'm in the minority .
It's cool to hear a different perspective from someone you respect, but for now I still just don't get it.

[Mark Eaton]

I guess when it comes to the Van Lear Rose/Loretta CD, I could take it or leave it. Though I listened to it a fair amount when it was released, I haven't sent out a search party to the catacombs of my seemingly endless CD racks to find it in the past few years. Maybe I'll give it another shot.

I like Jack's attitude and I like his approach. I guess I'm not that hot on his music, but I'm glad he's out there.

Anyone else see the film "It Might Get Loud" from 2008? I took my son to the theater to see it when it was first released and we enjoyed it.

Portrait of three rock guitarists, documentary form, some jamming going on.

Jimmy Page, The Edge, Jack White. As a guitarist in the film, Jack isn't in the same league as The Edge, and The Edge couldn't hold a candle to Jimmy Page. Nothing wrong with The Edge, an accomplished guitarist for sure and it wouldn't be U2 without him, but to me he is sort of the archetype of the player (and I know a couple guys like this) who might have more money invested in his pedal board than his guitar and amp.

But I still like Jack.

[Bob Hoffnar]

Steve, One of my favorite things is getting the chance to really hear something new that I didn't notice before. It happens all the time. When I was a teenager I didn't care for Mozart at all. It sounded twerpy to me. Then I was playing string bass in a school orchestra and we did a piano concerto. This little trill worked its way across the the orchestra and landed on the piano and I really heard Mozart for the first time. From that moment on I loved it. Mozart sounds like what flowers would sing while they bloom.
A few years later I got dragged to a show by some cute girl and the Ramones where opening up on a 4 band bill. I thought they where terrible and hated the whole thing but the songs stuck with me. The next day I confessed to a buddy that I saw this terrible band but I think I maybe liked it. He took me straight to the local punk club in S.F. and I got it.
Think about how silly Hank Williams sounds to people that listen with there preconceptions instead of there ears.
You may not ever like Jack White and it is no big deal. But I heard his music by having a visceral experience of it at a show. Whatever it is that he is doing he is very freakin good at it.

[Curt Trisko]

I don't get the need to strictly focus on the musical aspect of what Jack White does. It's rock and roll. Since when has rock and roll ever been about making pretty music? Rock and roll is about how the music interacts with the visuals and the energy. Watching the ACL video, I was impressed with the visual display and the different male and female bands. I don't know what idea it's trying to communicate, but at least it's fresh.

The kind of thing doesn't have much of an impact on me, but I still appreciate it for what it is. Understatement in music performance has more of an impact on me. For pedal steel, I like seeing it in this setting because sometimes I like to imagine how steel could be incorporated into gritty rock and roll.

[b0b]

I'm listening to his new album "Lazaretto" right now. The song "Entitlement" is a waltz, 100% country in form, complete with pedal steel, mandolin and upright bass. Jack White has reached the point in his career where he can do whatever he wants. Yes, some of his music is ugly, but it's still very interesting. Never a dull moment.

[Curt Trisko]

It probably takes a lot of courage (or a giant ego) for a well-known artist to take liberties with different genres of music. A lot of the time I don't know whether it's deserving of respect or just plain foolishness. But that's just part of the personal listening experience... it doesn't matter what I think. It's still entertaining to watch artists try even if I can't stand listening to more than a few seconds of it.

I don't know more about Jack White's music than what I hear on stuff like ACL, but there's value to him making different music relatable to newer listeners even if some people think he fails to capture the essence of it. Listeners that find an interest in it can always listen directly to the artists that inspired Jack White.

[Barry Blackwood]

Somebody likes him. I've heard very little of him but what I did hear I enjoyed..
http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/ ... les-record