Jack White delivered an unexpected treat to Nashville concertgoers on October 10 when he reunited The Raconteurs for their first live performance in nearly seven years.
The reunion took place at The Truth, a new Nashville music venue where White was completing a two-night engagement. What began as another stop on his solo tour turned into a special occasion when his longtime bandmates joined him for a five-song encore.
Brendan Benson returned on guitar and vocals, Jack Lawrence handled bass, and Patrick Keeler took his place behind the drums alongside White. Keeler has also been performing as part of White’s current touring lineup, making the transition to the reunion particularly seamless.
The band revisited several familiar favorites, including “Steady, As She Goes,” “Hands,” “Level,” “Broken Boy Soldier,” and “Carolina Drama.” The performance brought together material from different chapters of The Raconteurs’ catalog, giving the Nashville audience a rare opportunity to experience the original lineup in concert.
The reunion was not entirely without warning. Earlier in the week, White had used social media to suggest that fans attending the Nashville performances could be in for something special. While he stopped short of formally announcing the band’s return, the message provided enough intrigue to raise expectations.
The Raconteurs last performed together in December 2019, the same year they released their third studio album, Help Us Stranger. That record marked their return to recording after an extended break following 2008’s Consolers of the Lonely.
In 2020, the group followed up with Live at Electric Lady, an EP accompanied by a documentary from filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. Since then, the musicians have largely focused on other projects, with White continuing his prolific solo career.
The Nashville appearance also arrives during a significant anniversary year for the band. White’s Third Man Records recently revealed plans for Broken Boy Soldiers XX, a special vinyl collection commemorating two decades since The Raconteurs released their debut album in 2006.
The anniversary package, part of Third Man’s Vault subscription series, will feature demo recordings, studio outtakes, and live material captured during the group’s earliest concert appearance.
Meanwhile, White remains active as a solo performer following the July release of his latest album, Frozen Charlotte. His current concerts have featured selections from across his musical career, including material associated with The White Stripes.
Although the Nashville reunion demonstrated that The Raconteurs can still come together onstage, there has been no confirmed announcement of additional performances, a new album, or a full reunion tour.
For now, the October 10 concert stands as a memorable return for a band whose members have spent much of the past two decades moving between individual projects and occasional collaborations.
And for the fans fortunate enough to attend, an ordinary Saturday night concert became something considerably more historic.
