Right on the edge of the wild North Sea, with freezing winds and lashing rains, Jack White brought rock to the town of Bridlington. This oblique corner of Northern England couldn’t be further from the tepid and dusty climate of the American deep south and White’s homeland, but the winding queue of hardy northerners, braced against the winter night waiting for the doors to open, were a testimony to this this iconic musician’s far-reaching popularity.
Playing tonight with his all male band (he alternates every gig with either all female or all male support), we entered the world of Jack White, where guitars and sheer musical talent rules, and the days of unbearably bland indie are instantly forgotten. First impressions are of Sweeny Todd meets Jimi Hendrix, bound together with that achingly original vocal which brought The White Stripes mainstream success. Watching his band as they centralise around him, it was fascinating to see how their gaze never left his face, waiting for the tiniest signal for a tempo change, a pause, a solo, a new song. It was never a concert of multiple performers; there is only one person everyone was watching and his talent and intensity was as obvious as it was hypnotic.
Not being too familiar with White’s latest release – solo record Blunderbuss – I had wondered how well I would connect with the new songs. Although his stage presence would account for at least part of the success of the show, it was White’s song-writing which stuck with me long after the night was over. It is an act which has matured over time, from the raw stripped-back sound of White Stripes duo, to more mainstream Raconteurs, to this solo work which encompasses jazz piano, bass and drum solos and harmonicas surrounding the guitar talent which earned White a top 20 slot on The Rolling Stones’ top 100 guitarists of all time. It was a true privilege to witness.
Finishing with an understated but heavy rock version of ‘Seven Nation Army’, White proved beyond all doubt that he has carved out a niche for himself in today’s music market of electronica and pop, where guitars still work, and they work bloody well.