the raconteurs

The Raconteurs have been on a tear this year after the release of their latest album, Consoler Of The Lonely, playing sold out theaters and crowded festival sets across the world. Apparently, in between all of that constant touring, they also had time to have a little fun for themselves. Jack White has always dabbled with his country influences, even taking the ultimate step into the genre by producing one of country legend Loretta Lynn's recent albums. The White Stripes never had much of a twang to their work, but The Raconteurs have always worked a country flair into their music. It wasn't until Consoler that they truly adapted to the western sound with the addition of a banjo and a fiddle to many of the songs. Now, with the help of bluegrass troubadour Ricky Skaggs and newcomer Ashley Monroe, they have truly crossed the genre barrier by making their "Old Enough" into a string-heavy, front-porch burner. As with the original video for this song, this video is also directed by up-and-coming photographer/videographer Autumn De Wilde.

I really dig it, and they all seem to be having a blast. What do you all think? Should they continue to explore their other influences, or just stick to making rock songs?

Although The Raconteurs have already played pretty much every major music festival in the world, they still don't seem to be losing any steam. In fact, they actually seem to further solidify their status in the music world each and every time they grace a stage. The success of their second album, Consoler of the Lonely, has certainly helped them escape the side project shadow cast by The White Stripes, and has also propelled them to a position as one of top acts touring today. We've been fortunate enough to have caught them a couple of times this year – Toast saw them in Kansas City in April, while Cereal and I watched their set at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September. They definitely know how to bring it live, and they've also cemented themselves as an amazing studio band. While I still have a soft spot in my heart for their debut album, Broken Boy Soldiers, Consoler features many gems. Countrified rocker "Old Enough" was definitely one of the standouts upon my first several listens. Now, with the help of photographer Autumn De Wilde, we get to experience said song in all its tree- and mirror-filled glory.

Who knew Jack White could rock a mandolin with such vigor?

Toast took a video of a live version of "Old Enough" from The Raconteurs show in Kansas City – watch it after the jump.

Yesterday, the Austin City Limits Music Festival released the schedule in grid form for this years event. The 2008 edition of the festival is being headlined by The Foo Fighters, Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, and Beck among others. With the schedule out a good three-and-a-half months before the start of the festival, It gives attendees plenty of time to plan their route of attack. Many conflicts are already standing out for me including N.E.R.D. vs. David Byrne on Friday, September 26th, Beck vs. Robert Plant & Allison Krauss on Saturday the 27th, and The Raconteurs vs. Gnarls Barkley on Sunday the 28th. There are plenty more conflicts on top of those, but when you enjoy and care about music as much as we do, you're bound to have these problems at music festivals.

Take a look at what conflicts you might/might not have after the jump

The Uptown Theater in Kansas City, MO was the venue for the April 29, 2008 showing of The Raconteurs with openers Birds of Avalon. I was not sure what to expect crowd wise for a Tuesday show, but was quickly greeted with a packed house in the beautiful venue. The Birds of Avalon were already well into their set as we were fashionably late.

The Raconteurs

Read more after the jump...

As reported last week, the 2008 edition of the Austin City Limits music festival is scheduled to release its line-up on the 15th of April. To tide you over until then, the kind folks at C3, who put on the festival, decided to leak a few of the artists (29 to be exact) to the masses. It is not as easy as reading a list though. This year they decided to release a mash-up which features the leaked artists all in one short mp3 file. From what I hear in the mash-up, it is going to be one fun September in Austin!

Check out the list of bands that have already been deciphered after the jump

Click on a BOThead to hear some weekend tunage:

Toast: State Radio - Barn Storming
Eggs: Tea Leaf Green - Taught to Be Proud
Cereal: The Dodos - Red and Purple
Pancakes: The Raconteurs - Old Enough

Recently the world saw the release of the sophomore efforts from both Gnarls Barkley and The Raconteurs. These super-sized side-projects both have had huge success with their 2006 debuts, and have both been heralded for their live performances. Since these bands have had such similar timelines, I decided to turn their album reviews into a bloody battle for supreme sophomore side-project domination!

See who wins after the jump!

Bonnaroo finally announced their line-up! The 2008 edition of the music and arts festival is set to take place June 12th through the 15th at the same farm we all know and love in Manchester, Tennessee. This year's headliners include Pearl Jam, Metallica, Kanye West, Phil Lesh & Friends and Jack Johnson. Other standout acts are festival veterans My Morning Jacket, The Allman Brothers Band, Umphrey's McGee and Yonder Mountain String Band as well as Bonnaroo virgins Vampire Weekend, Talib Kweli, Willie Nelson and The Raconteurs. The Comedy Tent is also making a return this year with David Cross, Zach Galifinakis and Brian Posehn among others.

Check out the initial line-up