the raconteurs gave a rapturously received acoustic performance at hmv on oxford street today. i'd have thought the songs were difficult to render acoustically, but they actually took on new lives.
while watching the show, i was thinking about what an all-rounder jack is: he conceptualises, writes, performs, produces, MIXES (and mixing your own vocals is no joke, no one else does this that i can think of) and is of course a remarkable guitar player. he does everything, and he does it to an incredibly high standard.
it struck me that he's maybe the most consumate all-rounder since prince, but that prince has one up on jack in that prince did also used to dance, and i'm not saying jack cant dance, i've just never seen it.
just as that occurred to me, during the final song, my favourite raconteurs number "broken boy soldiers", jack took off his guitar and picked up a tambourine and looked set to bust some moves, but sadly it wasn't to be. but i wouldnt rule it out at some point. (when i saw kanye west perform a few months back, i noted that he is not a naturally gifted dancer but seems to have put some real effort into his steps).
i was also fortunate to see the movie "borat: cultural learnings of america for make benefit glorious nation of kazakhstan" last night, and just as i think jack white continues the tradition of legendary rock performers like bob dylan, sacha baron cohen would seem to wear the peter sellers crown; the combination of subtlety and vulgarity, the timing, the intelligence...the movie is really an awe-inspiring achievement.