The Raconteurs are officially back, performing their first show since 2011 on Saturday night.
For a few months now, music fans the world over have been excited at the prospect of hearing new music and seeing new performances from The Raconteurs (or The Saboteurs, as they’re known in Australia).
Formed back in 2005 by The White Stripes frontman Jack White, the group released two full-length records before going on a bit of a hiatus in 2010.
While they performed again in 2011, fans weren’t sure when – if ever – we would ever hear from the band again.
Late last year it was announced that not only were The Raconteurs celebrating the anniversary of 2008’s Consolers Of The Lonely, but that new music was on the way.
To make things more exciting, the group had their debut Aussie shows announced as part of Bluesfest, and were soon revealed to be performing at the tenth anniversary of Jack White’s Third Man Records, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now, The Raconteurs have officially reformed, playing their first performance since 2011.
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With their set being introduced by none other than Jack White’s mother, The Raconteurs quickly jumped into a 15-song set that featured tracks from their previous albums, and songs from their upcoming record, Help Us Stranger.
Amazingly, some fans also managed to capture footage of the gig, which is an impressive feat considering that the group are banning phones from their upcoming tour.
“I really react to the crowd, just like a stand-up comedian would,” Jack White explained to Metallica’s Lars Ulrich last year.
“If I finish a song and go, ‘Ta-da!’, and it’s crickets, I’m like, ‘Well, I don’t know what to do now.’ Am I supposed to play a heavier song, a faster song? Do you want me to play acoustic? Do you want me to leave? I’ll leave!’”
“But what I don’t like is, ‘Is that how they really feel, or are they just not even paying attention because they’re not engaged… because they’re texting?’” he continued.
“When you go to a movie theatre, a symphony, church, whatever – there are all these moments in life where people put those away and engage.”
While there’s no promise that Australian fans will be hearing this exact setlist when the band visit Australia for the first time in a matter of days, we can’t help but get a bit excited at the prospect of finally seeing them on Aussie shores in no time.
Check out the setlist below, along with the group’s upcoming tour dates.
Check out The Raconteurs’ ‘Steady, As She Goes’:
The Raconteurs @ Third Man Records, Nashville, USA 6/4/19 Setlist
‘Consoler Of The Lonely’
‘Bored And Razed’ (New Song)
‘Level’
‘Old Enough’
‘Sunday Driver’ (New Song)
‘Hands’
‘Help Me Stranger’ (New Song)
‘Now That You’re Gone’ (New Song)
‘Salute Your Solution’
‘Steady As She Goes’
‘Blue Veins’
Encore:
‘Unkno’
‘Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)’ (Donovan cover)
‘Carolina Drama’
The Saboteurs Australia & New Zealand Tour 2019
Presented by Frontier Touring
Thursday, April 18th
Regent Theatre, Melbourne, VIC (18+)
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Saturday, April 20
Big Top Luna Park, Sydney, NSW(18+)
Tickets: Big Top Sydney
Also appearing at Bluesfest on April 22nd.
Bluesfest 2019 Lineup
The Saboteurs (aka The Raconteurs)
Joining…
Iggy Pop
Norah Jones
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Imelda May
Melbourne Ska Orchestra
Archie Roach
Pierce Brothers
Backsliders
Fantastic Negrito
The Marcus King Band
Thando
Little Georgia
Benny Walker
Dallas Woods
Joining…
Jack Johnson
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Paul Kelly
Hozier
David Gray
Ray La Montagne
Julia Stone
Gary Clark Jr.
George Clinton And Parliament Funkadelic
Mavis Staples
Snarky Puppy
Kasey Chambers
Tommy Emmanuel
Meshell Ndegeocell0
Kurt Vile And The Violators
Keb’ Mo’
Colin Hay
St. Paul And The Broken Bones
Shaky Graves
Arlo Guthrie
Nahko And Medicine For The People
Tex Perkins
Allen Stone
Ruthie Foster
Richard Clapton
Russell Morris
Flogging Molly
Lukas Nelson And The Promise Of The Real
Samantha Fish
The War And Treaty
I’M With Her
Larkin Poe
The Black Sorrows
Vintage Trouble
Mojo Juju
Trevor Hall
Irish Mythen
Anderson East
The California Honeydrops
Elephant Sessions
Deva Mahal
Melody Angel
Hussy Hicks
Caiti Baker
RocKwiz Live
With even more artists yet to be announced…
Thursday, April 18th – Monday, April 22nd, 2019
Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Byron Bay, NSW
Tickets: Bluesfest
