Ab-so-lute-ly magnificent. Who would've thought that a duo can put up that kind of show. After the so so opening performance from the greenhornes, i was too ready to be disappointed. Not to mention my previous bad experiences with big venues such as Zenith. But then came the roadies. Not ordinary sweaty fat guy in t shirt and jeans roadies, but roadies in black suits. As if Jack and Meg were satan, and the roadies little devils, who do their master's dirty work. And then i noticed the stage. Meticulously set up. Palms and apples were the theme of the day. Again full of symbolism. The Palms probably goes with the feel of the new album (which has marimba on few of the songs) and apple a symbol of the devil's attempt to seduce us mere humans. And then they appeared. Jack with his devil-mephistoesque persona, and Meg, well she's just Meg.
The few first songs hit me hard. Before i knew it i forgot my doubts and lost myself in the music. They're very creative to say the least. Improvised a lot. Jack went so far as to play a what i presume was a cover of Marlene Dietrich song, as a homage to Germany. And the crowd of course loved it. Sing-a-longs like Jolene kept the enthusiasm and excitement on a maximum level. It's hard not to notice that the strength of The White Stripes is in their minimalist short songs. It was never boring. As the crowd waited for them to come back again for the encore they sang the riff to Seven Nations Army. Which they finally played before launching the closing song De Ballit of De Boll Weevil. And then it was over. Spent and sweaty, holding my obligatory White Stripes t shirt i moved away from the crowd. The next time they come again, i'll be standing in the front row.
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Truer words could not have came out of this man. For just 1 week later after their escapade in Munich, they flew to Amsterdam to plonder the crowd with their haloween tribute. As Jack suggests, he is the devil coming down dressed in red and black and a cute giant apple in the background to hypnotize the stoned Amsterdam crowd to their bones.
In was a shame that the hunt for earthly Euros prevented me from attending the Greenhornes' introoduction to the night. Worse was to follow, The White Stripes have already been playing for at least 3 tracks as Jack and Meg were letting rip through Blue Orchid.
I ignored the fact that Henieken Music Hall was the scene of one of my most forgetable concert venture for Franz Ferdinand just a year earlier. Stepping into Blue Orchad was a perfect enterance to their set. The Stripes continued their interpretation of the blues for a good half hour with teeth grinding solos and lengthy medleys. However, never at one point in the concert was boredom ever an issue.For that, Jack and Meg earn my highest respect as musicians and entertainers.
Led Zeppelin would have been proud.
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