Concert Review: Jack White!

Given that I had already seen the blues rock legend at Sasquatch, I didn't really consider going to Jack White's concert at the WAMU theater last night. However, luck proved to be on my side, as I scored some free tickets at the last minute.

It was my first time seeing a show at the WAMU theater, and I was impressed with the large floor space in front of the seated area. This contributed to a very intimate concert atmosphere despite the venues large capacity. 

Upon entering the theater it was clear that I did not fit the image of the average Jack White fan. Most of the concert's attendees appeared to be well in to their 30's, and I seemed to be the youngest person in the building. Needless to say I felt a bit out of place, but once the light's went down and deafening feedback came blasting out of the venues PA system I knew I was in the right spot. Mixing things up from his Sasquatch performance, Jack White was joined by an all female backing band. The group's look was perfect. Most of the band members looked like female versions of Jack White, with long matted hair and ghostly pale skin. However, they're biggest similarity to the concert's main attraction was their remarkable musical talent. With all members sporting white clothing, the backing band came on stage first and ran straight in to the concert's opening song, "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground". Wearing a black shirt, vest, and fedora, Jack White soon joined the ladies on stage. 

The set list was balanced between White Stripes songs and tracks off White's most recent solo album Blunderbuss, with a couple songs from the Dead Weather and The Racontuers thrown in there as well. The show started off with mostly low key songs from Blunderbuss. The most notable of the concert's opeing songs, White carried out a moving performance of "Love Interruption"  while sharing the mic with his female backup singer. A white curtain hung behind the stage that majestically projected Jack White's shadow. That curtain soon came down though, exposing three blue lights resembling the Blunderbuss logo. The concert picked up from there as the band delved into a more upbeat section of Jack White's repetiore. Highlights of the performance included the White Stripes' "Ball in a Biscuit", "Blue Blood Blues" from the Dead Weather, and Steady as She Goes" from the Racontuers. With such a deep songbook after being involved in four seperate projects, White was able to keep the audience guessing as to which song he would play next throughout the entire show. This contributed to a thoroughly engaging and entertaining performance.  Despite the old age of many of the crowd members, the concert proved to have a lively atmosphere. With each screeching guitar solo, powerful breakdown, and opening chords of another hit song, the crowd got more into it, and was emphatically jumping up and down from front to back by the time Jack White reached the chorus of "Seven Nation Army". 

Although it had barely been over two months since the last time I saw this rock hero, Jack White's immense musical capability, style and showmanship made it a truly memorable experience. Before his last song, Jack White touchingly complimented the audience. "Those are about all the songs I have left, now I don't want to waste your time, because I know you haven't wasted mine".

To make the concert even more memorable, I ran in to Seattle soul singer Allen Stone, and my favorite new artist, and possibly the next Jack White, Reignwolf! as I was leaving the show. I made sure to let each of them know that I was a huge fan.