Album Review: Jack White - Break It All Down

Jack White

Break It All Down

***and1/2 out of *****

For the most recent Vault release from Third Man Records, the company focuses on their founder via Jack White's Break It All Down. The triple vinyl offering showcases White's recent (well reviewed) No Name Tour, as Jack and company stripped it down and went back to basic, heavy, rock and roll. 

CBGB Festival Announced for September 27th in Brooklyn with Iggy Pop, Jack White and many more

The Bowery Presents has put together the upcoming CBGB Festival and it is a doozy.

Icons from Iggy Pop to Jimmy G will be hitting the stage as the great lineup was announced today.

Live Review: Jack White - Live at Brooklyn Paramount 2/12/25

Jack White

Live at Brooklyn Paramount 2/12/25

Having caught Jack White at the intimate Irving Plaza just two days before, his Wednesday night, sold-out show at the gorgeous Brooklyn Paramount had a lot to live up to. With the way Jack and the band is currently playing though, that shouldn't have even been a worry as the group surpassed Monday's concert and let it all hang out for this gig. 

Live Review: Jack White @ Irving Plaza NYC 2/10/25

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here:

It is of Jack White Live at Irving Plaza on Monday February 10th. RtBE are huge fans of White and he is back to four on the floor, rock and roll these days. His current live shows kick ass. We will be seeing him tonight in Brooklyn as well. 

Support the artist, read the review and peep some video below:

Year In Review 2024 - Favorite Albums of 2024

Here are our all of our favorite albums of 2024. This is the year end review, all in one place.

Below are our picks for RtBE's favorite albums of the year. It starts with our honorable mentions then moves into our top ten albums of the year. There is a short blurb about the album and a song from it, click on the title to read our full review of the selected records. The focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen to all the way through.

We also took some time to discuss our favorite album artwork, our favorite archive/live album releases and favorite live shows from the year if you are interested.   

Thanks for reading. Until next year....

Year In Review 2024 - Favorite Albums Part 2 (#10-6)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2024's Favorite Albums Part 2 (Numbers 10-6):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation; click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20 so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify or singles for us.

This begins our top ten and we will wrap it up tomorrow. You can also find our list of Honorable Mentions that were just out of our top ten. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of' roundups, these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Album Review: Jack White - No Name

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right Chere!!!

It is of Jack White's newest release, No Name. RtBE are huge fans of White and this album grounds him back in his rock sound after a few albums of him wandering away from those roots. Not as adventurous as some past work, but solid. 

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review, check out some video below:

Live Stream: The Concert at Michigan Central feat. Diana Ross, Jack White, Big Sean and more

We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 and beyond era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE.  We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.

The Concert at Michigan Central in Detroit, MI in honor of the station's historic reopening.

Stream the concert on Peacock tonight at 8:30pm, a replay will air June 9th at 7pm. 

To get in the mood here are some artists who will be playing. 

Year In Review 2022 - Favorite Albums of 2022

Here are our all of our favorite albums of 2022. This is the year end review, all in one place.

You can click the links to also find our favorite album cover art, RtBE's favorite archive releases and picks for best live shows. 

Below are our picks for RtBE's favorite albums of the year. It starts with our honorable mentions then moves into our top ten albums of the year. There is a short blurb about the album and a song from it, click on the title to read our full review of the selected records. The focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen to all the way through.

We worked with the Glide Staff on their list as well, so there may be a few overlaps if you read that already. 

Thanks for reading. Until next year....

Year In Review 2022 - Favorite Albums Part 2 (#10-6)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2022's Favorite Albums Part 2 (Numbers 10-6):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation; click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20 so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify or singles for us.

This begins our top ten and we will wrap it up tomorrow. You can find our list of Honorable Mentions and let downs here. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of' roundups, these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Year In Review 2022 - Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions and Let Downs)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2022's Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions and Let Downs):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation; click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE also worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20 so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify playlists or streaming for us.

These are the albums that just missed out on being included in our top ten favorite for the year (coming soon). After some very excellent albums we have a few releases from artists we dig, which we were let down by. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of'' these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Dylan Cover #548 The Dead Weather "New Pony"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by The Dead Weather playing "New Pony"

Thoughts on Original:

Street Legal is a messy mid-life Dylan outing that is odd for many reasons. "New Pony" is probably the first of those oddities, coming on the heels of album opener "Changing of the Guards". This slow, drawn out blues based number lazily rides the country with over done backing vocals helping Bob and the old nag along. The tune brings in a saxophone and conga drums as it fades out. A fairly forgettable song on a fairly forgettable album. 

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:

RtBE have loved The Dead Weather from the first time we heard them, which was live back in 2009. One of the instant attractions was that they covered a long lost Dylan tune. The quartet, Jack White on drums, Allison Mosshart from The Kills, Dean Fertita from Queens of the Stone Age and Jack Lawrence from The Raconteurs and Greenhornes are formidable. Each of their albums (Horehound, Seas of Cowards and Dodge and Burn) have been good in slightly different ways. 

Thoughts on Cover:

This leather jacket clad, swaggering outfit, took a below par Dylan effort and pumped it full of sexual energy as all four DW's slap their imprint on it. A bad ass cover, and probably the best ever of this nearly forgotten Dylan tune. 

Album Review: Jack White - Entering Heaven Alive

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of Jack White's second release of 2022, Entering Heaven Alive

RtBE are huge fans of White an here are a few thoughts not in the review. 

I mention this is one of White's best solo efforts, and that started a discussion with the RtBE site editor. I would rank it under Blunderbuss, which RtBE rates very highly and on par with Lazaretto as a complete record. Clearly above both Boarding House Reach and Fear of the Dawn. 

The promo pic released for Jack White in early 2022 had him holding a bass. 

Most people thought it was an homage to Bob Dylan's famous studio picture,

It probably is, but after hearing Entering Heaven Alive, it is clear that instrument also plays a huge part of White's current musical mind-state. The bass (played by White or Dominick Davis) rings so clearly throughout this album it is fantastic.  As a major fan of the instrument, this is a welcome addition to Jack's song writing and recording.  

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video:

Live Streams: Jack White - Olympia, Paris France

We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Jack White Live from Paris France

Jack is broadcasting his show on InterFrance live in about an hour (3:15 EST) from the Olympia in Paris.

To get in the mood, here is a recent live tune from White and company:

Live Review: Jack White - 4/21/22 @ Barclay's Center Brooklyn, NY

Jack White

Live 4/21/2022

Barclay's Center, Brooklyn NY

Jack White brought his Supply Chain Issues Tour to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday night as the blue haired, bluesman fired off distorted riffs and strutted around the stage with fierce confidence.

However, before White took the stage, a reunited Be Your Own Pet opened the show with their clanging punk rock as the band has returned after a 14 year hiatus to play a few shows on this tour. Front woman Jemina Pearl propelled herself around the stage as Jonas Stein blasted out guitar lines like a young Pete Townshend on the raucous “The Kelly Affair”. Nathan Vasquez on bass and John Eatherly on drums laid down the rhythm for upbeat numbers ending their opening slot with the angular “Bunk Trunk Skunk” and raging “Bicycle Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle”.

White and band (Daru Jones – drums, Dominic Davis – bass, Quincy McCrary – keys) started their set behind a curtain, playing like a velvet blue Wizard of Oz, as they cranked out new rippers “Taking Me Back” and the wah-wah drenched “Fear of the Dawn”. The curtain slowly rose to reveal the band in front of a super high-tech lighting/video screen set up that dazzled throughout the night. The headbanging rock of White Stripes classics “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” and “I Think I Smell A Rat” had the crowd bobbing up and down; while the Barclays Center was far from sold out, the fans in attendance were loud in support of the artists on stage.

An early set highlight was “You Don’t Understand Me” as White moved his talents to the piano weaving around the tune and singing with passion as Davis and McCrary provided background vocals. The newly married White went deep on the subject love as he covered U2’s “Love is Blindness” with power and sang “Love Interruption” with yearning before a brilliantly delivered, acoustic led, “The Same Boy You’ve Always Known”.

The electro funk got amplified for “Lazaretto” while White’s loud blues pumped throughout the “Cannon” > “Give Me Back My Wig” > “Catch Hell Blues” > “Cannon” segue, shining brightest with ferocious slide playing during “Catch Hell Blues”. The set ended with a thundering “I’m Slowly Turning Into You” as Jones punched the drums, leaving the stage in darkness before returning for a five song encore which hit the peak with a crowd aided “Steady As She Goes” and one of the best arena rock songs of all time “Seven Nation Army”.

White is one of the few guitar slinging rock stars on the scene today and this tour is solidifying his standing as the quartet blazed through new and old efforts with feral sense of vitality.

_______________________

Support the artist, and peep some video below:

Album Review: Jack White - Fear of the Dawn

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of Jack White's newest album Fear of the Dawn. 

It is no secret RtBE are super fans of Mr. White and eat up everything he does.  Sometimes we eat it up too fast as we over-hyped the exciting, yet flawed, Boarding House Reach. This new album is a super charged version of those sounds. On the first few spins it was not working to these ears at all, but the more it spun, the more it sunk in and the better it felt. 

It has issues for certain, but we shall see if it improves as we listen even more. The problem with reviewing in general is that you have limited time to listen, absorb and write opinions that are captured in digital amber. The 9 stars Boarding House Reach originally received would probably be 6 or 7 if we went back and reviewed it today, but the creative explosions like "Connected By Love" and "Over and Over and Over" just blew us away in the moment. 

There are no great songs up tot that level on this new album but the overall tone and feeling is probably stronger than BHR. The highs aren't as high but it is more consistent, does that make it better? You be the judge. 

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below:

  

Nola Jazzfest 2022 Artist Predections

 So... we did this back in early 2020, and got a bunch right...then Jazzfest was canceled. Then tried again for a special October 2021 edition of Jazzfest and that was canceled as well...third times a charm for 2022? 

The lineup for the 2022 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be announced tomorrow but RtBE got the early scoop...

Actually no we don't...but since it is fun to predict, lets look into the crystal ball and guess who will be and who should be playing.

We will exclude the brass bands and local acts (even though they are truly the main reason we go each year) including nationally touring NOLA acts like Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, Funky Big Sam,  Galactic, Trombone Shorty who will all definitely be there.

Also we are obviously skipping the great jazz, blues and gospel acts who will be the foundation of the festival in their respective tents. Lets just talk about the bigger national touring artists for now....We will focus more on locals closer to the show. 

To get in the southern festive NOLA mood, here is a great video done by Jeronimo Acero that my friend the fantastic Lu Brow sent north to warm me up during the winter.

a glimpse of LOUISIANA from Jeronimo Acero on Vimeo.

Now on to the predictions....

Jack White Announces 'Supply Chain Issues' Tour Dates

One of RtBE's all-time favorites, Jack White has announced a wide ranging tour for the spring and summer of 2022.

It is being described as the 'Supply Chain Issues' tour and full dates can be found here. Very excited for his early stop in Brooklyn. 

Jack will be supporting two new albums next year and it should be a hell of a year for the constantly evolving artist. To get in the mood here is a tune from Jack:

Two New Albums from Jack White Coming in 2022

Jack White is coming out with two separate albums in 2022. Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive will be released in April and July respectively. 

RtBE are super fans of White and can not wait to hear these. Below is the official video for "Taking Me Back" which will be on Fear of the Dawn.

New Single from Jack White "Taking Me Back (Gently)"

A new single from Jack White has been released titled "Taking Me Back (Gently)" 

Jack is one of our all-time favorites and RtBE has rated his past releases highly on top albums of the past decade.  Needless to say we can't wait for his next full length release. 

Check out the new single below: