Skip to content
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Derek
    • Gary
    • Halley/Celeste
    • Paul
    • Ricky
    • Vik
  • Concerts
  • Reviews
    • Albums
    • Venue
    • Movies
    • Year End Reviews
  • Festivals
    • Canadian Music Week
    • Hot Docs
    • North By Northeast
    • Planet in Focus
    • Primavera
    • South By Southwest
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Derek
    • Gary
    • Halley/Celeste
    • Paul
    • Ricky
    • Vik
  • Concerts
  • Reviews
    • Albums
    • Venue
    • Movies
    • Year End Reviews
  • Festivals
    • Canadian Music Week
    • Hot Docs
    • North By Northeast
    • Planet in Focus
    • Primavera
    • South By Southwest
  • Contact Us

Concert Review: Jack White, June 9, Budweiser Stage

Posted on
13 Jun 2018
by
Ricky

34984335_10156651081220921_7235513335196680192_n
Sketch by Damien

Jack White was in town last Saturday to promote his new album (mixed reviews but still hit #1 in Canada) and you would think all the talk would be about his illustrious career, how he would blend his new material with his old, would he play some White Stripes or Raconteurs or Dead Weather songs, or maybe other things like that.

But nope. Everyone just talked about Yondr.

You see, Jack White implemented a no phone policy and Yondr fulfills that requirement by providing everyone with a pouch to put your phone in for the duration of the concert.

There are some pros, I get it, but it also does a good job changing the conversation about the show since it’s at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

Anyways, on to the show. It was surprisingly satisfying. I don’t know why I was surprised, because I have always enjoyed shows with Jack White, but it seems like recent years have painted Jack in a different light – like he’s gone off the rails or can’t control his own worst tendencies as a musician or something. Well, as he proved Saturday night, he still got the songs and the back catalog to reach into.

I didn’t really like his dark blue and black aesthetic he has going on now, but the White Stripes were legendary in how they looked and it’s hard to compare. What I did notice was that Jack White likes to have steps on the stage, for him to walk up and down on whilst he is shredding the guitar. The man is still a great guitar player, and his style of singing hasn’t really changed. They are rapid fire lyrics that go up and down, loud and soft and in that voice that is only Jack White’s.

I was delighted to hear some classic White Stripes songs such as a modified version of “Hotel Yorba,” “Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground,” “Fell in Love With A Girl” and of course, set closer “Seven Nation Army.” Man, “Seven Nation Army” is a freakin’ epic song. It’s probably got one of the most overplayed riffs of all time but that’s because it’s just great. It’s actually one of the few Jack White songs you can actually sing, which is strangely weird.

I also appreciated hearing “Steady As She Goes,” one of the Raconteurs songs that seems to have stood the ravages of time. I think I like that song more now than I did when it came out. In terms of his new material, it’s not awful as many people have claimed, it’s just … different. “Connected By Love” is an attempt in a new direction and I kinda like it. I’m also very glad he decided to not close with it. Among his solo stuff, “Sixteen Saltines” is just a great rocker.

I think one of the differences between his old act and his solo act is that sometimes the cleaner two person sound highlights his songs just a bit better, but who am I to judge?

Anyway, a pleasant night all around.

PrevPreviousConcert Review: Gomez, June 5, Danforth Music Hall
NextConcert Review: US Girls, June 15, Yonge-Dundas SquareNext

SEARCH

FOLLOW US

Facebook Twitter Flickr Foursquare Rss Inbox

THE PAST

Archives

TAGS

Tags
British Music Embassy (10) Canadian Music Fest (11) canadian music week (18) cmf (10) cmw (40) concert (9) el mocambo (9) fringe (26) Great Lake Swimmers (10) guelph (9) horseshoe tavern (23) hot docs (103) jazz (12) Joel Plaskett (10) jukebox the ghost (15) lee's palace (27) marina and the diamonds (10) Massive Attack (10) mod club (12) NXNE (94) of monsters and men (11) Phoenix (15) play reviews (11) Pulp (11) Roskilde Festival (16) rural alberta advantage (10) sharon van etten (10) suede (12) summerworks (34) SXSW (479) SXSW 2022 (11) SXSW 2024 (11) SXSW Online (18) the antlers (11) the cure (9) the national (10) the xx (11) Tokyo Police Club (9) Toronto (25) toronto fringe (14) Toronto Jazz Festival (55) turf (13) tweeview (10) Video (9) zeus (10)
The Panic Manual

We are a collective of individuals bringing you the latest in concert reviews, indie, britpop, Canadian, twee and all sorts of other music, movies, tv and everything else you like. Follow the manual to live a pleasant and fulfilling life.

All rights reserved