Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Reviews

Jack White Review

Oct 21, 2018
-
Posted by Steve Clements

With the eerie refrain of Artie Shaw’s ‘Nightmare’ fading out, the band entered and were warming up when White ran out to the front of the stage to whip up the fans, grabbed a guitar, then did the same on the other end of the stage, obviously keen to get things ramped up quickly. Opening with a Hammond organ-backed ‘Over And Over And Over’, White prowled the stage, knocking over a cymbal while the crowd lapped it up. Also from the latest album, a heavy guitar chug and hard drumming saw White playing to drummer Carla Azar, recalling his White Stripes days. The “Who’s with me?” refrain generated a strong response from the crowd to which White replied with wailing Little Richard screams.

A White Stripes double began with a countrified ‘Hotel Yorba’ which featured some great rock‘n’roll piano from Neil Evans on an upright and a looser solo-heavy ‘Hello Operator’. This was followed by a few selections from ‘Boarding House Reach’ where White was able to showcase his impressive guitar skills while conducting the band and summoning his snappily-dressed stagehands. The funky ‘Ice Station Zebra’ was an organ versus guitar jam that closed this section before White utilised all three microphones to screech out The Dead Weather’s ‘I Cut Like A Buffalo’. He showed with skill and apparent ease what a proper rock star should be: a strong voice (despite the lengthy tour), amazing musicanship, plenty of Brighton shouts and great songs with big choruses and fiery finishes. He’s also playing a different set on each date, so is obviously keen to keep things fresh.

White showed his piano prowess with some classy Jerry Lee Lewis thumbnail glissandos on ‘Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground’ and his gentler side on ‘The Same Boy You’ve Always Known’. There was a touch of Southern Gothic to end the set with Meg and Jack’s ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ and The Raconteurs’ ‘Carolina Drama’ given a Muscle Shoals touch.

The encore was hit heavy, beginning with a second Raconteurs song ‘Steady As She Goes’, with its killer chorus reminding us of what a great band they were. The show ended with ‘Seven Nation Army’ – no Corbyn chant, just a blokey, football shoutalong as the drums pounded out the beat for White to let loose on that iconic bottleneck solo. As always, there was a group bow and a heartfelt sign off with “My band thanks you and I thank you”. Amazingly, everyone adhered to the no phones/photos request and it was a rare treat to see the crowd in shadows and not have to watch the gig through a sea of phone screens.

Brighton Centre, Tuesday 16th October 2018
Words by Steve Clements
Photos by David James Swanson

Oct 21, 2018
Email
Steve Clements
Steve has been a SOURCE contributor since Summer 2010. Favourite quote - "There's no such thing as a sold out gig".
← PREVIOUS POST
SOURCE Writers Wanted
NEXT POST →
Dawn Landes Review
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Love Supreme Festival 2025 Review
    Jul 13, 2025

    Despite the poor weather, the performers, whether legends or newcomers, shone to ensure this year's festival ranked as one of the best yet.

  • Ghost Stories Review
    Jul 8, 2025

    A genuinely terrifying production, beautifully produced, stunningly acted and wonderfully directed. If you love a good psychological horror; don’t miss this.

  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Get Ready For Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer and free live music beside the seaside. What's not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Jack White Review - Brighton Source