The Raconteurs

The Raconteurs
yoowan · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	The Raconteurs
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee
Genre	Alternative rock, Garage rock revival
Years active	2005–2010, 2019–present
Label	Third Man Records, V2 Records
Associated acts	The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, The Dead Weather, Black Crowes

The Raconteurs are an American rock band formed in 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee by guitarist and vocalist Jack White and guitarist and vocalist Brendan Benson, with bassist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler; the group released their debut album in 2006 and reunited for subsequent releases and tours in the 2010s.

History

The band formed in 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee when Jack White, known for work with The White Stripes and Third Man Records, collaborated with Brendan Benson, noted for albums on V2 Records and associations with Sony Music Entertainment, recruiting Jack Lawrence from The Greenhornes and Patrick Keeler from The Greenhornes and The Raveonettes before recording at studios linked to Sun Studio and producers affiliated with Jack White (musician), leading to the release of the debut album produced with input from engineers connected to Abbey Road Studios and mixers who had worked with Beck and Arctic Monkeys; after touring with lineups that included musicians from The Black Keys and appearances at festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury Festival, the group entered hiatus as members pursued projects with The Dead Weather, Queens of the Stone Age, and solo careers, later reconvening to release a follow-up album and perform at venues including Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall.

Musical style and influences

Their sound blends elements of 1960s British Invasion pop associated with The Beatles and The Kinks, garage rock touches similar to The Stooges and MC5, and classic rock songwriting traditions linked to Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen, while drawing on blues influences connected to Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf and production aesthetics reminiscent of Phil Spector and Motown sessions; critics compared arrangements to works by Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and noted songwriting echoes of Ray Davies and Neil Young with modern indie touches akin to Arcade Fire and Wilco.

Band members

Current members include Jack White (lead vocals, guitar), Brendan Benson (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jack Lawrence (bass, backing vocals), and Patrick Keeler (drums, percussion); members have longstanding connections to acts such as The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, The Greenhornes, The Detroit Cobras, The Raconteurs (side projects), and collaborations with artists like Meg White, Alison Mosshart, Josh Homme, and Eddie Vedder while participating in events organized by entities including Third Man Records, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo Music Festival.

Discography

Studio albums include the debut released in 2006 on V2 Records and Third Man Records, a follow-up record released in the late 2010s, and deluxe editions featuring singles, B-sides, and live tracks produced in sessions that involved engineers from studios such as Sun Studio, Abbey Road Studios, and mixing by personnel who worked with Nirvana and Foo Fighters; notable singles charted on listings compiled by Billboard and received airplay on stations tied to BBC Radio 1, KEXP, and streaming curated playlists from services owned by Apple Inc. and Spotify.

Tours and live performances

They toured extensively after their debut, performing at major festivals including Coachella, Glastonbury Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, and stadium shows in arenas like Madison Square Garden and theaters such as Royal Albert Hall; supporting slots and headlining runs included shared bills with The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, and festival stages alongside Radiohead, Coldplay, and Arcade Fire, with performances captured for broadcast by outlets including BBC Radio and MTV and released on live recordings promoted through Third Man Records.

Critical reception and legacy

Critics from publications such as Rolling Stone, NME, Pitchfork, The Guardian, and Spin praised songwriting and musicianship while noting influences from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones; the band earned nominations and placements on year-end lists compiled by Billboard and Mojo and influenced subsequent artists in the garage rock revival and alternative rock scenes, leaving a legacy referenced by contemporary acts like The Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, and Jack White (musician)'s continued work with Third Man Records and collaborations spanning Queens of the Stone Age and The Dead Weather.

Category:American rock bands Category:Musical groups from Nashville, Tennessee