Dex Romweber: the Jack White touch

(Credit: Bloodshot Records)

Long before the White Stripes stormed the rock charts with their raucous guitar-drums assault, Dexter Romweber fronted the similarly fierce twosome Flat Duo Jets, which formed in 1983. “Dexter Romweber was and is a huge influence on my music,” White says in the 2006 Romweber documentary “Two Headed Cow.” “I owned all of his records as a teenager…[He] is one of the best kept secrets of the rock ‘n’ roll underground.”

Flat Duo Jets disbanded in 1999 and Dex now performs with his drummer sister Sara Romweber (and yes, Sara is actually Dex’s sister, unlike Jack White’s ersatz drummer sister Meg). In February, the Dexter Romweber Duo released their excellent Bloodshot Records debut “Ruins of Berlin,” which features guest vocals by Neko Case, X’s Exene Cervenka and Cat Power’s Chan Marshall.

On April 29 and 30, the Romwebers collaborated for the first time with Jack White. The session took place at White’s home studio in Nashville. Two songs were cut for a seven-inch vinyl single scheduled to be released later this month on White’s newly formed Third Man label. White produced the tracks and can be heard on both—but it’s Dex who is given the spotlight.

“At one point, Dex was in the main room with his guitar and Jack was behind the control board,” Sara recalls as she and her brother drive from Nashville back to Chapel Hill, N.C. for a brief break before embarking on a tour with the Detroit Cobras. “Jack had the biggest smile on his face and he said, ‘You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear that guitar tone in my studio.’”

We spoke to Dex about working with his admirer, Jack White, about an hour or so after the two trailblazers had parted ways.
 
You just left Jack White’s guest house; was he a good host?
He was great! Couldn’t have been more cordial and unselfish.

You spent yesterday afternoon and the night before recording with White. Your manager told me the first song you guys recorded was the old, obscure Geeshie Wiley number “Last Kind Word Blues.” I understand White sang vocals with you and shared guitar duties, while Sara drummed.
And I put a little piano on it, too.

I’ve only heard the song done as an acoustic, folk-blues. How did you guys perform it?
Well, there’s electric and acoustic guitar. It’s a little bit more wide open and full-blown, a little bit harder edged—it’s not done folkie or acoustic blues.

What was it like working in the studio with White?
He’s just very nice. We got two songs done in two days, including overdubs. Jack likes to move things along quickly and he’s a very positive producer.

There are pundits who say there would be no White Stripes without Flat Duo Jets.
Well, that’s what they say, but it’s hard for me to believe that. Hard for me to see that. But I think maybe I influenced him a little by my singing. But, I can’t really say that, because he has such his own style. Jack’s very giving in his success. He told me his plan was to get bands that he liked, that were coming through Nashville, in his studio.

I think you’re one of the first artists outside of his own projects to record there, for his Third Man label.
Really? Well, I’m honored.

You returned to White’s studio yesterday to record an unreleased song you wrote called “The Wind Did Move.”
Yeah, well, we were trying to figure out an idea for the A or B side and Sara reminded me of it. It’s a kind of a dark, sort of hillbilly blues…folkie, rock and roll thing. It’s hard for me to describe. You’ll just have to hear it.

I’m sold. Who plays what on it?
Sara drums and plays tambourine. Jack played bass and sang and then I played electric guitar, sang and played organ. And then Jack put a saw sound on it—it’s him sawing on a board to get a sound the song needed.

Jack White cites you as major influence. How does it feel to be a musical hero of one of today’s biggest rock stars?
It feels good. I can go to my grave and at least know I accomplished something. Nothing gigantic. But still, it’s something. It’s touching.

I’m told that after you performed at the Basement in Nashville last night in front of a packed house—which included Jack White and his entourage—there was a party back at the guesthouse.
Yeah. [Laughs sheepishly]
 
Did you and White get to discuss anything other than music?
I wanted to but generally it always went straight to music. Today I thought I should go talk to him and thank him. I got up and went to see him and we went to his studio. He played me some recordings he’s been making, which were great. We talked music, the music industry and a little bit about how hard it is to say no to people and gigs and stuff. You know what Jack said? He never wanted to say no because he was afraid he would hurt someone’s feelings. I told him I know what you mean.

So the lesson learned from your stay at Jack White’s place was being able to “just say no”?
Well, I learned when it’s appropriate, one does have to learn to say no. But Jack can afford to say no. [Laughs] We’re not quite there.