Just like Joshua and the fabled walls of Jericho I’m here to tear down the institution.
Jack White offers oblations to St Andrews. 2024.
The Seventh Son has yet again confirmed and testified to his legacy not only as an all time great artist but as Detroit’s Chosen One. It’s been no secret that Jack White is one of the greatest performers, musician, entrepreneur, curator of culture, and philanthropic bad asses of this dispensation. Last night, taking the stage at the beloved St Andrews Hall, Jackie brought a crew of behemoths to grant divine and soul scorching sorcery to his hometown.
Sorry Taylor, but this was the hottest ticket of the year, and entry is not something anyone in attendance will ever take for granted as we absorbed the brilliance of his undeniable acumen.
Fresh off the unexpected release of what is in my humble opinion the best solo effort he has given birth too, Jack surprised the city with an opportunity to celebrate this magnificent masterpiece at one of the finest stages Detroit has to offer.
Sure it was a tough ticket to secure, sure the process to get in was slightly annoying, but Jack put in serious effort to ensure that scalpers would be left in the dust for this one. Sunshine with a soothing breeze and the anticipation of what was in store made the wait in line for will call and entry not as bad as it could have been.
Ever since I was a teenager I would say dream about what it would be like to catch a show at the famed Grande Ballroom, the stories of the Stooges and Mc5 being the house bands for the enigmatic Ballroom that played host to the great bands of the 60’s. The stories of the acoustics, and the vibes that made it such a legendary club. Last nights show felt like the closest I’ll ever get to experiencing that time in history. The atmosphere was electric as soon as you made your way in. A sold out crowd aching to get an auditory cream pie from the hometown hero himself.
It was about 9:15 when the band took the stage, and the crowd was juiced up ready to be attacked. Jack wasted no time giving a small clinic showcasing his ability to melt minds with his fretwork. They jumped right into tracks from No Name, kicking it off with Old Scratch Blues, That’s How I’m Feeling, Morning at Midnight and It’s Rough on Rats. The band was a full blown assault machine, thunderous and violent as they dug in and played the shit out of these new cuts that are laden with the rich and beautiful legacy of Detroit. Punk, Blues, Grimy Garage tones that saw Jack reaching into the depths of his soul and pushing it over the edge and into an elevated plane of existence, blasting the crowd into an elevated state of being. Before jumping into Stripes classic Hotel Yorba Jack introduced his beloved 93 year old momma, who was grinning ear to ear from the balcony waving to the crowd like the royalty she is.
Dominic Davis was laying down the low end, while Patrick Keeler was pounding the pulse out of the skins with Bobby Emmett working the keys. This group was so tight and ferocious they brought something special to every track. They dusted off a couple of classic Stripes tunes with Cannon, which led in the an absolutely mesmerizing homage to The Stooges with a killer cut of I Wanna Be Your Dog before launching into Hardest Button to Button and Little Bird.
The intensity did not relent as they trucked onward with new tracks Archbishop Harold Holmes and What’s the Rumpus? Before landing into a madness fueled Ball and Biscuit. After electrifying the crowd for a good hour or so, they retired from the stage to take a quick blow. It was a short 2 or 3 minute break before they promptly re emerged to give us a little more. Adrenaline still racing through the collective veins of the audience and the band. A true whirlwind of medical grade Sonic treachery. Lazaretto kicked off the second part of the show, before leading into a high octane rendition of Keep on Trash by Detroit’s The Go. The Racountuers collection got a little love with fiery versions of Broken Boy Soldiers and Steady as She Goes.
After extensive jamming on Steady, we were treated with Hello Operator and new track Underground before the crowd pleasing monster closer Seven Nation Army.
There wasn’t a single moment that didn’t keep you entranced and captivated by the ongoings of Jack and company. It was a magical evening, filled with everything that makes Detroit the musical powerhouse it is. It was a show that will be recalled fondly for years to come, and has earned its place in the folklore of this rich musical history that Jack has gone above and beyond for years keeping alive and constantly evolving. There’s a reason they call it Detroit Rock City and Jack is a cornerstone of this fine institution. We can only pray that this show was recorded and one day will see a vinyl release so it may live on forever for future generations to relish in the glory of the night Jackie White anointed Detroit with auditory blessings from on high.
Get yer hands on a copy of No Name, it is an absolute gem, and your ear holes will be delighted with the penetrating pandemonium it delivers so effortlessly.