After a rave review from Monday’s night show and persistence that I was witness to one of three performances by The White Stripes in Chicago - Luke tipped me off to a Craigslist posting with tickets to tonight’s show below face value.
Ok, sure why not.
We missed the opener, Brendan Benson - not a tragedy since we saw him earlier this year. Arrived at the Auditorium Theater @ Roosevelt University downtown just in time for the Stripes’ set.
It was rockin. Loved the set decor, the plethora of instruments on stage and the fact that it’s just Jack and Meg - no backup band, no sequenced tracks/effects, and definitely no sync’ed vocals. They’re raw, minimalist and high energy. And they love music they’re playing.
Before too long into the set, I began to think that they were playing Get Behind Me Satan in its entirety.
Well, THEY DID.
Blue Orchid
The Nurse
My Doorbell
Forever For Her
Little Ghost
The Denial Twist
White Moon
Instinct Blues
Passive Manipulation
Take Take Take (abridged)
As Ugly As I Seem (new verses)
Red Rain
I’m Lonely
Encore/second half:
When I Hear My Name
Dead Leaves
Black Math
I Think i Smell a Rat (riff) > Take a Whiff on Me > Cannon riff
John the Revelator
Hotel Yorba
Death Letter
Lafayette Blues
Same Boy You’ve Always Known
St. James Infirmary Blues
Hardest Button to Button
Seven Nation Army
Boll Weevil
(Yes, I had some help with the second part of the setlist from a ’stripes message board.)
I was a fan, now I’m a big fan. I can understand why the audience had plenty of kids, 20somethings, 30somethings, 40somethings, 50somethings and maybe 60somethings - they’re just damn good, clean fun. Jack and Meg White are sexy, crafty musicians and outstanding performers.
Dev and I will never forget the 50-60somethings rockin out to Blue Orchid driving away from the show…thinking about it will always make me smile.
I was just listening to The White Stripes - The Denial Twist