Show Review: The Dead Weather/ 7.31.2010/ The Chicago Theatre

If you’ve read this blog even once before, you most likely understand that I am head over heels in love with The Dead Weather. Let there be no mistake, anything I’ve ever written and will ever write about them will be stained with bias. I love them, I love everything they do and I really, really, really want to be Alison Mosshart.
I don’t really buy into the fame/celebrity thing, but there are two people in the world I would faint if I shared an intimate space with: Alison Mosshart and Jack White.
You should know this as I go into a (delayed) review of their Chicago show I saw a few weeks ago.
React Presents hosted the super group at The Chicago Theatre July 31st, opened by Harlem. Can you imagine a more perfect night for me? I know.
I don’t really want to go into Harlem’s performance, because I like these guys and I like their albums but their live performance was shocking levels of shitty. Therefore, like a honest, true journalist, I will pretend it didn’t happen.
On to the good stuff…
I was given a photo pass, which would have been incredible, except I didn’t have a photographer with me. No, that did not stop me from going into the photo pit. Luckily, I had my brother’s camera with me (because my other option was my iPhone), and I shuffled my way between the other photographers, their eight different cameras and their extensive camera baggage and tried really hard to fit in. I didn’t.
Somebody should have told the amateur that we only had three songs to shoot the band, because I spent most of that time gaping at Miss Mosshart, who flung so close to me, her sweat hit me multiple times. As you might imagine, I was peeing my pants, “oohing” and “ahhing” and not clicking nearly as much as I should have been.
It doesn’t matter because seeing her that close reaffirmed that she is the world’s coolest person. Ever. Up close, her cross-stage staggers and bulging eyes translate to a woman you might find in an exorcism movie, and it’s really, really cool. She looks downright crazy, but in a way that is sexy, alluring and inspiringly seductive. Cameras snapped wildly when she drew in close to the crowd and she didn’t flinch once, she just soaked it up, posed as needed and sauntered away.
Once my three songs were up and I was forced back with “the regulars”, I was still in heaven. This is only the second time I’ve seen them live, but the shows are so exhilaratingly present, that you walk away knowing that there is not possibly anything better in the world.
As they powered through songs from both albums, people danced in involuntary, electrically charged orgasmic movements, as if this was the best they had ever had, and honestly- it probably was.
I felt like I needed a sedative after leaving, I was high on this perfect band and their perfect concert and I didn’t know what to do, because it’s so rare to see something that incredibly grand.
The only fault of the night was that, though, ironically it was the coldest night we’ve had all summer, the theatre was a shocking 8000 degrees. But, even with my makeup dripping down my face, my clothes all wet and the loss of 10 pounds, I couldn’t be anything but ecstatic walking out. They really are the best band in the world.
So, alas, closes another Dead Weather review that is basically a love letter, but it’s just the way it is around here, folks.
And don’t leave rude comments about the quality of the photos above. Yes, I know they suck, but guess what? I was still really fucking close to Alison Mosshart.

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