I'd Run Around the World for You...

If there's one thing I've learned in my time of following the Dead Weather it's if you've got the opportunity- GO! So when my generous buddy Steve told me last Wednesday afternoon I could be his +1 for their Thursday night listening party in NYC you can bet your bottom dollar I dropped everything on my plate and booked me a ticket for an aero plane.

Pretty sure I slept not a wink Wednesday night leading up to my 3am wake up call. 6am flight to Houston, layover and final leg into NYC went off without a hitch. Walked off my plane and straight onto the Q70 which delivered me promptly to the F train and I was in downtown Manhattan in a flash.

My brother met me for a quick drink to quell my nerves (because tequila is good for an anxious stomach don't you know) and shortly after my man of the hour and friend for life Steve Ruta arrived. Our first time to meet in person, Steve proved funny as all get out and I knew immediately I had a great partner in crime for this experience of a lifetime.

Upon arriving at the venue (a dark little not-seedy-but-might-be-perceived-that-way-from-the-outside corner bar located on Avenue A) we were acquainted with Third Man friends.

TMRC 'Family Photo'- Post Party Shot

Putting names to new faces we cumulatively exhaled a sigh of nervous relief as they began to check us into the venue. After readily handing over our phones to the one and only Lalo for the evening- which were promptly stowed in TMR yellow bags with a copy of our claim ticket stapled to it- we were ushered upstairs where we were welcomed by a stocked open bar and tables of tasty looking treats I could not even begin to think of eating (garlic bread before meeting the band? no thanks! haha).

Nervous chatter ensued as guests continued to filter in. I heard some folks were leaving when they found out they had to turn in their cell phones. Are you kidding me???? But much to my pleasant surprise some folks I didn't think would make it to the event did! Our friendly buzz was heightened when LJ 'Little Jack' Lawrence popped in and began chatting with folks here and there. Once we were all assembled, about 60 of us altogether is my guess, we were greeted and escorted to the basement area where the 'Dodge and Burn' listening was to take place.

Now here's where things get a bit fuzzy as far as order of events because as soon as we were settled in, the presence of the band became clear as Mr. White himself filtered through the crowd and the effects of the free booze started to sink in. Dean was bellied up to the speak-easy style bar and Alison stood shining like the star she is in the corner. I tell you, this is the stuff my little Dead Weather Denver dreams are made of!

Mr. Ben Swank took to the little corner stage, urging us make use of this five minute warning that they were going to close the bar while the album played and encouraging us to 'two-fist' our beverages of choice and basically prepare to get our faces melted. By this time a photographer was taking parting-gift polaroid photos of guests with our gracious hosts.

Photo courtesy of Harry Portnof, Greenway Records

Photo Courtesy of Will James

Photo courtesy of Macwacky

Photo Courtesy of Eileen Corsano

I took my drink and a seat with Momma Boat and right before things got going Jack came by and gave her a little shoulder squeeze and a quick smooch- lucky lady!!! The album kicked off hard and heavy with the by now all too familiar sounds of 'I Feel Love (Every Million Miles)'. You know that feeling when, in the summer time, you leave a fully air conditioned building and it's so so so cold inside that when you open the door you get this blast of super hot air and it almost melts your eyelashes but it feels really good at the same time? Yeah, it was kind of like that. I couldn't stop myself moving- you just can't sit still to the Dead Weather! I decided I no longer could, in fact, keep to my seat and joined up with some friends at the sidelines of the chair area. Finally enough liquid courage prompting me and grabbing my buddy Jay for moral support, we were fortunate to get a snap and a quick word with Miss Baby Ruthless herself.

And there it was. I had met (and thanked) my Rock Goddess Hero. Night made. That was all that I needed.
...


Except then I encountered Mr. Dean Fertita at the bar! I couldn't let the opportunity slide to let him know how appreciative I was for new Dead Weather tunes. He thanked me and mentioned how excited they were to be premiering the album for us all. Feeling I had taken up enough of his time, I tuned back into paying attention to the true purpose of our attendance- listening to Dodge and Burn!

Of the twelve tracks, I already knew five front to back, much thanks to Vault package singles released over the past year. 'Rough Detective' is still claiming a top spot as one of my favorites. Other stand outs are (Jack's) Three Dollar Hat- a surprising rap number reminiscent (to me) of the late 80's/early 90's hip hop flavor, 'Mile Markers' and 'Cop and Go'. If you've been sitting around wishing for a solid follow up to their 2010 Sea of Cowards, Dodge and Burn will not disappoint. Hard, heavy, vascillating between the rhythmic and varied change-ups you might already be familiar with as a Dead Weather fan, all the while emitting this almost frenetic energy that is too big for any speaker. The longing and hopes I had built in my mind over this long wait was eased upon first listen and I personally cannot wait until September 25 to have it in my hot little hands!

The festivities continued and part of me wishes the photo opp's had been set up just a bit differently because, as the night wore on, a good majority of the crowd became so focused on that they kind of lost sight of actually listening to the album. At one point I did manage to greet and shake hands with the Invisible Man himself (aka Jackie White) who, while in motion of his continued efforts to keep shaking up the picture-taking by redirecting locations, took a few seconds to welcome me and ask if I was doing alright and having a good time. A good time???? Major understatement. I wanted to shout 'I have been waiting for for five years for new DW tunes! I can't believe this is happening!!!' But instead I just smiled, stammered 'yes' and thanked him. On his way he went, our gallant Pied Piper of the night.

By this time there was a dull roar filling the basement bar we occupied. Dean and LJ were making the rounds and while in conversation with one of my buddies I mentioned to Dean I really hoped they would consider a tour because the world was sorely in need of one. Our brief convo ended with a little hug and I think my face about split in half from smiling.

Dodge and Burn Tracklist, TMR- 331

Dodge and Burn ended on a sweet note with an Alison-dominant song 'Impossible Winner', akin in some fashion to the Kills 'The Last Goodbye'. The band took to the stage to thank us for coming. Witty banter ensued as Jack introduced everyone, and their obvious enjoyment of one another jumped off the stage and smacked us in our faces. All I could think was 'tour! Tour! TOURRRR!!!!' but instead I just yelled out 'thank you!'

They left us with a screening of a variant video for 'I Feel Love' that was super tripped out in all of its Dead Weathery fashion: Jack keeps time surrounded by piles of mannequins and Alison's writhing self was sometimes replaced with a completely nude-body-stocking version of herself. It may have also happened to LJ but it went by kind of fast. A Tidal version? I have no idea, you tell me.

We prepared to start saying our own last goodbye's by wishing various band members farewell. Steve decided we needed to 'tuck LJ in' and after hug-passing him through our tiny group of assembled fans, we turned our attention to Miss X who quickly realized she was in for the same fate. I took a minute to impart that I hoped she could convince the boys to hit the road and she mentioned that it was kind of her fault they couldn't. Well I could never fault VV for anything so hopefully it will turn out if it's meant to be.

What a night!!!!!!!!!!!!! Steve I honestly can't thank you enough!

In parting... Thanks Third Man! Taking the time, making the effort and footing the expense to put together events like this for we fans is so appreciated! I just want you to know how much it means to the lot of us. You guys rock! I also know there are a load of folks who sit at home watching events like this go down via the Internet and social networking and it's sometimes really hard if not impossible to fight that green-eyed monster of jealousy that never fails to arise in some level. Trust me, I've been there plenty of times myself and I know it creates some real feels. I hope I have done my part to relay one fans perspective of the night for those of you who were not able to be in attendance. Viva la Dead Weather!!!!!

... and pretty pretty pretty PLEASE will you do a few live show dates????? I'd love you forever, but you already knew that