The best worst show I ever went to (awesome even though shit went down) was The White Stripes at the Pageant many years ago when Jack White was in his homemade instrument phase. Saint Louis being the ungodly humid hellfire it is during the summer, his pedals failed to work and Jack stormed off the stage, Meg sheepishly tapping on a cymbal before she disappeared as well. Some 35 minutes later, they come back with an apology and resumed the party.
That was probably 20 years, two wives, and tons of side projects ago. I was eager to see him play again. Dave, recovering from the flu, opted not to go, so it was just Will and I. First bonus of the day was finding street parking, free, on the bridge. What luck!
It was an odd sensation to relinquish my phone to a locked bag, but the beauty of that was the freedom to do other things instead of stare at the computer in my hand. It all felt less hurried, and time ticked away in real time, if that makes any sense. With transactions going cashless at the concessions as well as the merch table, the pace seemed less hurried as well.
Opening act was Olivia Jane, a band fronted by the new Mrs. White. It was Wanda Jackson meets 60s punk surf. Entertaining.
Jack came out in all of his indigo glory and blazed through 23 songs from his solo work, White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and even a U2 cover of Love Is Blindness that was lovely, confusing, and bluesy. Fans had been looking forward to The White Raven live, and it made its debut here. All The White Stripes songs received a huge ovation, but I was delighted by The Raconteurs numbers You Don't Understand Me and Steady As She Goes. I thought Love Interruption was a Raconteurs song too, but I may be wrong.
Disappointed that we didn't get some of the gentler White Stripes songs like I Think We're Going to Be Friends. Conquest is so bonkers, there was no way. Fell in Love with a Girl, not on the list, after you just married the opening act? C'mon Jack!
Will at times seemed to be getting into it, but otherwise seemed bored with it all. He brightened when he saw kids his age at the show with their parents, and had hoped to see someone he knew. Because he was headed back to school after spring break, I was anxious about him getting enough sleep and had suggested leaving several times but he still wanted to hang out, knowing the encore would be Seven Nation Army. We laughingly debated when we would come roaring up the driveway, him taking 11:16 and 11:18, me taking 11:17 and 11:19; he won that battle.
For reference, here is the setlist from the 2003 show, including Jack's meltdown 13 songs in:
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-white-stripes/2003/the-pageant-st-louis-mo-6bde2282.html
Setlist for Sunday's show:
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/jack-white/2022/van-andel-arena-grand-rapids-mi-13b6e9f9.html
No comments:
Post a Comment