I covered the The Raconteurs show at Verizon Wireless Theater last night (Thursday, 9.14.06) for Space City Rock and was blown away. I bought the band’s debut, Broken Boy Soldiers, when it came out and the songs slowly grew on me. I knew their show would be good–they’re all talented musicians and I particularly enjoy some of Brendan Benson’s solo stuff–but I was not at all prepared for the force of The Raconteurs’ live performance.

Although I wasn’t impressed by the sound at the Verizon–most likely due to the fact the show sold poorly because of ACL, the free Gnarls Barkley show (anyone go to this? let me know how it was), or the fact that they should have been playing The Meridian or Warehouse Live’s smaller rooms. Regardless, they put on a full-blown rock show.

Since their album’s only about 40 minutes, I was curious as to how they’d keep the crowd’s attention for more than an hour. One word: jam. Jack White and company’s improvised noodling and extended solos would make the Bonnaroo crowd proud. At times, they played melodic, almost Floyd-y solos, and other times they’d break into Zeppelin-esque blues jams that seemed to go on forever (in a good way).

I’ll put it to you this way: my wife, who is a huge music fan and very particular about what is considered talent in a musician, said that she almost cried during the 10-plus minute “Blue Veins.” Anyone who witnessed the powerful solos during last night’s show will understand. Here’s a YouTube video of the song from a London show. Yeah, his solos were like that. I have chills…

If you get a chance to see them–yes, they’re playing at ACL–check them out. Forget about The White Stripes and all the hype White has received over the years. Watching him onstage with The Raconteurs proves he deserves respect.

Visit the band online here.