Walking on stage to some Nashville country strains, The Dead Weather are quick to dismiss any such conceptions of them as they cut into some raw, dirty rock ‘n’ roll. There’s a gritty, brash quality to the band live, that they could never quite capture on a recording. The combination of the Raconteurs/Saboteurs bluesy rock with The Kills RnB and the key addition of Dean Fertita’s Queens of the Stoneage style dirtying the whole thing up and dragging it through the desert makes for the only slightly disparate elements forming an intuitive whole. In fact, the great thing about The Dead Weather is that they quickly shirk the image of a supergroup. Gelling as a tight unit rather than phenomenal, yet ultimately separate parts.

The Forum provides an idyllic setting as always with the sound quality on par with the spectacular design of the building. It’s encouraging to see that the sold out crowd are more interested in the actual band (singalong to the majority of songs and having a general good time) as opposed to clinging to the hopes of seeing Seven Nation Army. Sure there is much Jack White lauding but it is within the context of the current band and not a reflection of the White Stripes. It’s good to see him using these so called side projects to expand musically without the limitations of being a two piece. Speaking of which, from the outset you can’t help but observe that Jack is doing a better job from his new position behind the kit than a certain other White. Laying down creatively tinged beats on the upbeat rock of 60 Feet Tall and the slow burn western opus So Far From Your Weapon with equal vigour.

Alison Mosshart is the focus of many an ogling eye for the majority of the show playing the sultry seductress with relish. Walking atop fold back speakers and leaning out into the audience she seeps the kind of combination of danger and sex that all leading rock stars seem to exude. When Jack White comes out from behind the kit to sing a country ballad the cheers are deafening. Quiet a few tracks off the impending new album make it in to the set and are all well received, as are tracks from Horehound like Hang You From The Heavens and New Pony, which gets the crowd chanting along. The best new track White announces as Hustle and Cuss and is driven by the deep distorted bass of the gawky looking Jack Lawrence. There is a bit of movement between instruments too with Fertita jumping between guitar and some classic blues tinged organs, Mosshart playing a box shaped guitar and Lawrence filling in for White on drums briefly.

Closing with an extended rendition of album closer Will There Be Enough Water, White takes to the guitar shredding on a pitched solo and intimately sharing a microphone with Mosshart. The band return for a three song encore including the irresistibly catchy I Cut Like A Buffalo with White singing vocals from behind the drums. Finally they finish up on the excellent Treat Me Like Your Mother before taking a linked bow as a band. The gig certainly wasn’t one of the longest but it was definitely one of the more satisfying with the band playing so tightly together. Their new album and a second Australian tour will be eagerly awaited.