Hanni El Khatib

[mp3] Hanni El Khatib: "Dead Wrong" 

Been a fan of Hanni's since last year's SXSW. He's got this throwback 50's tattooed Outsiders look - with a sound that recalls The Black Lips played through a blues filter and laced with Jack White and rockabilly. We've had high hopes for Hanni - he's got the look - he's got the cool factor - he's got a great sound - and pulls it all off live; yet, we're not totally convinced on the songs yet. The new video above directed by Simon Cahn & Ricky Saiz for his lead track "Come Alive" is again "cool" just not that thrilled with the song (at this time). We're still holding out hope that there are some standouts on his forthcoming album 'Will The Guns Come Out' dropping on the 9/27, or maybe we just need to give this track a few more spins. This guy has some serious promise. Hanni plays the Vice Mag blowout in Brooklyn tonight and Glasslands tomorrow.

9/15 - Vice Magazine Event (RSVP only)
9/16 - Glasslands (8:30pm)
9/17 - Le Grand Fooding (6-10pm)
9/17 - Mercury Lounge (10:30pm)

The Kills Preview New Single "Satellite"

Alison Mosshart seems to have made it safely back to her day job with The Kills after a spin around the world on the good ship “Jack White." The duo are now prepping their fourth disk Blood Pressure as we speak and you (and we seriously mean only YOU) can dig the first single “Satellite” here, now, on the spot.

Hard not to hear a little “Get Behind Me Satan” in that uber-crunchy guitar and epilepsy inducing intro, but that’s just fine by this self-proclaimed Third Man junkie. Blood Pressure drops via Domino in the US on April 5


The Kills - Satellite by DominoRecordCo

Conan is Back!

So Conan is back on the air and all is right with the world. His opening montage was one of the funnier things I have seen on TV since the original Iron Chef Japan started rerunning every night at 11:00PM. It seems that Conan may have had a direct hand in the shows first music booking. With the Katy Perry's of the world vying for that last minute, fourth quarter look, it is Jack White that takes the stage. With Conan in tow, White rips through Eddie Cochran's "Twenty Flight Rock," and some of his more quintessential guitar solos. We can only hope that Conan starts the tradition of joining all his guest performers on stage. Next week, Conan whips his hair on the floor. He whips his hair. He whips his hair.

PS - Where can I get my 'Conan' guitar strap?

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Wanda Jackson Announces New Record

Wanda Jackson: The Party Aint Over January 25 (Nonesuch/Third Man)
Produced by Jack White

We've been waiting forever for this one to surface after the long rumored sessions. Looks like we'll have to wait even longer. From the PR

Tonight, Jackson was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Americana Music Awards in Nashville. The award – in the category of Performance – was presented to her by Jack White... The Party Ain’t Over was recorded in Nashville at White’s studio, where he brought together a formidable band, including himself, Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather/Raconteurs), Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), Patrick Keeler (Raconteurs), Ashley Monroe, Jackson Smith and Karen Elson, to name a few, and hand picked the songs – 11 tracks dating in origin from the early 1900’s to 2007. The result: a retro modern collection of music that showcases Wanda, now in her seventh decade and sounding as wickedly charismatic as ever. Tracklist after the jump.

1. Shakin All Over
2. Rip It Up
3. Busted
4. Rum and Coca-Cola
5. Thunder on the Mountain
6. You Know I’m No Good
7. Like A Baby
8. Nervous Breakdown
9. Dust on the Bible
10. Teach Me Tonight
11. Blue Yodle #6

Stark Spotlight: The Romwebers

[mp3] Dexter Romweber Duo: "Lookout"

Like most music fans, we here at Stark love to work backwards, piecing together the puzzle of influences that make our favorite artists who they are. The Dexter Romweber Duo is a group that would cause a lot of "ah ha" moments for mainstream fans if they weren't so damn obscure. The group is fronted by Dexter Romweber, singer/guitarist of 80's garage/rockabilly duo the Flat Duo Jets. One listen to a Duo Jets track is evidence enough that while these guys weren't even big when they were big, they had the ears of some future heavy hitters. Jack White wastes no time referencing Flat Duo Jets when asked where he managed to come up with "that White Stripes sound." Not only does White embrace the group's obvious influence on him, but he is also helping breath new life into Dex Romweber's career. In keeping with his "digital/vinyl" only approach, White teamed up with Romweber for a pair of records currently out on Third Man. "The Dexter Romweber Duo: Live at Third Man" LP hit shelves on February 4 with limited run 7" titled "The WInd Did Blow" currently awaiting a repress. For more info on the Dex Romweber Duo check out Third Man's website. And seriously, if you're into the garage-rock thing YouTube Flat Duo Jets.

-Tim Emmerick, Stark Contributing Writer

The Raconteurs - Terminal 5 - NY - 5/30/08

CONCERT REVIEW by Tara McCarthy

Meh to you, Jack White.

So here it is. I didn’t think the Friday Raconteurs show at Terminal 5 was that good. Don’t get me wrong—it was good. It just wasn’t that good. I left feeling disappointed. Perhaps it’s because the past two times I’ve seen them, I’ve been blown away. Or maybe I’ve just never seen a show at Terminal 5 before. Really though, the bottom line, at least for me, is that Jack White makes or breaks a Raconteurs concert...

The first time I saw them, Jack White was practically shitfaced off the crowd, giddy, grinning, ripping into every solo with nearly-carnal appetite, looking expectantly at the other four as if encouraging them to dig in. On Friday, it felt like he was going through the motions. The solos were lackluster. The vocal distortion on “Steady As She Goes” was depressingly superfluous. They didn’t even play their sick live arrangement of “Store Bought Bones”. They essentially stuck to the studio recordings, presumably relying on their characteristic energy to carry the day, and for me, it didn’t.

The second-worst part was the bizarre mirror set up on stage presumably just for Jack White; the worst part was how he kept gazing into it. I’m praying there was some sort of intended irony there? Or maybe he was more in the mood to noodle around in his bedroom in front of the mirror, playing with his new toys and practicing his rock face, than to actually play a rock show. (Wouldn’t blame him.) Either way, I found it utterly baffling. If you think I’m being harsh, I am. The concert had moments of greatness. The keyboardist’s fiddling on “Old Enough” gave me rockshow goosebumps. Brendan Benson nailed “Shades of Black” with that voice of his. I even managed to find my 5’2” self a step by the bar to stand on, so I could actually see. It just could have been better. I love the Raconteurs, and they’re a kickass band. Is there really anything so wrong with expecting the world?

Tara McCarthy Contributing Writer to Stark

Photo Credit: Ryan Dombal, Play Vicious.