#6

I’m very firmly in the camp that there’s always great rock music, and what changes is the narrative surrounding it. I read and really enjoyed Lizzie Goodman’s book about the early 2000s bands, but if I’m being honest with myself, I’d easily take the big rock albums and EPs of last year over the output of the bands heavily featured in it. Protomartyr, Priests, Meat Wave, METZ, and The Hand all had great albums that felt either more wild or urgent than what was coming out in that early 2000s scene. (Priests and The Hand probably fit best for the sense of wildness he’s talking about).

Because of the metal thread I was thinking of that sense of wildness yesterday - it’s hard to describe and sort of intangible, but I know it when I hear it. Kind of like when a band simultaneously feels like they’re out of control but know exactly what they’re doing maybe? The System of a Down self-titled album certainly had it (and pretty much embodies it), as did Trail of the Dead’s Madonna, Mclusky Do Dallas, Mr. Gnome’s Deliver this Creature, Mars Volta’s Bedlam in Goliath, and many more. I’m realizing those are pretty old now.

Using albums from the past 5 years, in addition to the previously mentioned ones, I’d go with the following ones of having at least shades of it:

These are all to varying degrees, and some aren’t over the course of the whole album.

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#7

When it comes to live shows, during that early 2000s period, I don’t think many bands came close to the on stage craziness and unpredictability of the Parkinsons. But there are bands around now, and young kids too, who are at that level of wildness on stage. Not all of them have translated it to their recordings, though, perhaps.

#8

From reading what Jack White said I dont think he means there are no exciting rock bands at the moment. Think he means there is no exciting rock movements or enough exciting rock bands taking over the charts. I think what hes actually saying is that theres plenty of exciting rock bands around and he hopes/thinks they will spill over hence his quote: “So I can tell somethings about to explode again.”

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#9

So, basically, too many people aren’t buying music by bands who know how to fucking rock and roll?

#10

Regarding exciting rock bands - 3 that get my vote that seem to be getting a bit of press recently - Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees and King Gizzard I would say are exciting rock N Roll bands…

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#11

That’s how i read his comments…

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#12

I’m with you there. Plus Dirty Fences, Playboy Manbaby, Future Primitives, Suicide Generation, and many more.

#13

Is there a link somewhere to these comments by Jack White that everyone seems to know about, and that this thread is apparently referring to?

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#14

The comment really isn’t bad:

#15
#16

There are good bands who have that wildness, though. The festival organisers don’t book them because the mainstream audience they want to attract don’t want to see them.

#17

… or maybe many of the listeners are just a bit over the need for yet another “injection of wildness”.

I’m sure he means well, but to me it does sound slightly patronising to say “this is how the music scene should be, and it’s not, so something’s wrong”. And anyway, if our local music scene is anything to go by, I don’t hear any shortage of new upcoming bands with “punk attitude”.

#18

Maybe the dancing in this video from 3 mins onwards is the kind of thing he was talking about? I was kind of cringing watching this, but also simultaneously quite into it.

#19

What’s local for you? Maybe you need to start your own night and book some bands that need to be seen.

#20

No, I don’t think so.

I think he means stuff like Flat Duo Jets.

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#21

Is Jack White saying the music scene needs a good kick up the arse/roof blown off?

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#22

I wasn’t being entirely serious, though I do like the dancing (or rather, I get a vicarious thrill cringing at the memory of dancing in that style at various indie discos in the early 90s).

There is no shortage of exciting rock bands around atm, either in the US or the UK, but there don’t seem to be any who want to be figureheads for a movement (or even have ambitions beyond gaining a fanbase big enough to support themselves financially), which I guess is probably what Jack White is on about.

#23

I don’t think anyone goes out thinking that they want to be figureheads. It happens more by accident than design.

#24

Maybe. But Kassbian didn’t do so 15 years ago and aren’t going to do it now.

#25

Kasabian are biding their time, perfecting a roof-destroyer to end all…er…roofs?