I'm too dazed to write an eloquent and proper review so I'll just give you my thoughts about last night as they come to me:

-The Raconteurs...one word: ridiculous. No one should ever be allowed to be that good! This show just made the best shows I've ever been to seem completely subpar. Everything was intense and tight and awe-inspiring and just absolutely amazing! I think I'm going to be gushing about this one for a long time...

-FRONT ROW CENTER!!! And it was only a three-hour wait. Around two hours before doors opened, the line was starting to snake around the block. I've gotta give Ivey plenty of kudos for this one. Right after the doors opened, I lost her during the mad rush. My short little legs can only carry me so fast, so Ivey zoomed to the best spot in the house. I found her, ran, slipped a bit, and slammed into the barrier (since when does the Tabernacle have a barrier?!?), claiming the last spot in the front row. Muahahahaha!

-The Kills opened up the show. Poor Alison/VV. She lost her voice. They were excellent, despite that bit. And despite the fact that their tour bus (and apparently Jamie/Hotel's virginity...) got stolen. They were electric, definite frissons, though the intensity might have been watered down a little by VV's sickness. Ever the seductress, VV writhed around the stage while giving the "come hither" look to the audience through a veil of messy black hair. Sad to say they only played for thirty minutes, but I got to hear "Kissy Kissy," "Black Balloon," and "Sour Cherry" so I didn't mind so much.

-Oh my! I was two feet away from Jack White! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH#($&&#&$#((#@$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Even though Jack's injury was messing with his voice, he sounded great. Different (a bit scruffier and at times not as high as usual) but great!

-Brendan Benson held his own. And that's gotta be really hard to do when Jack White is going off on his guitar right beside you.

-Really glad Benson shaved off the 'stache. I wasn't digging it. Don't get me wrong, I liked the scruff he had before. But just the mustache...eh...

-Speaking of Benson, I think I have a crush. I'm noticing a pattern here. Skinny, slightly rumpled guitar players in tight pants (like Caleb Followill, and Britt Daniel, and Alex Turner, just to name a few...)

-Set list was PERFECT! Seriously. Everything from "Consoler of the Lonely" to "Hands" to "The Switch and the Spur" to "Hold Up" to "Broken Boy Soldier" to "Blue Veins" to "Top Yourself" (with the crowd) to my personal favorite, "Intimate Secretary." I couldn't have asked for more.

-The band got the whole venue on their feet and dancing. I don't think I've ever been to a show where every single person was up and moving for the whole set.

-Jack's guitars are beautiful. Can someone tell me whose picture is on the back of his acoustic? Karen maybe? (VV's red one isn't so bad either.)

-Jack on the guitar...wow. Just...wow. That squealing, bluesy guitar solo during "Blue Veins" was jaw-dropping. And the jams...I usually don't appreciate them as much but last night made me rethink that.

-Atlanta was the last stop on the tour. I guess the boys just unleashed everything they had left (and what a release it was!)

-Benson rode his bike on and offstage during the encore. Can't say I've ever seen that one before!

-The Raconteurs + VV on "Steady, As She Goes" = awesome. Push-and-shove war between VV and Jack was cute. Fun tune, nothing life-changing, but the audience was beaming/bouncing.

-Ivey and I made a new friend in line, Bree (Bri? Bre?). She's an uber-Jack White fan. I was really happy for her when Jack winked at her. I bet a little piece of her died of happiness that night.

-Jack didn't strike me as the eccentric that everyone makes him out to be. He just seems like a very, very talented creative artsy-type who just has a little OCD and a fondness for the theatrical, that's all. No different than my friend Melissa who has to wipe stray marks off the whiteboard/overhead/handouts/etc. or else she goes crazy.

-Loved the stagehands' outfits. Grey shirts, black ties, fedora with a feather. Very dapper.

-The Raconteurs shirt I bought last night has to be my new favorite thing. It's so comfy and fits amazingly well. Loose but not overwhelming, just the way I like it.

-I'm going to be deaf, distracted, and in a daze for the next four days (there's a constant buzzing in my ear...my brain is fried...my tongue is tied...). But it was so worth it!

Shots from last night:

I wish I could pull off the gorgeously disheveled look like VV.

Kate Moss's man seems to be staring me down...

Oh, the chemistry!

Benson!

White!

Lawrence!

Keeler!

"We're bad."

Jack let Benson take the lead for a bit...

...but not for long!

Guitar solo.

Little onstage guitar lesson?

Steady, as she goes.

So much love in the indie rock world.