I don’t care what it’s called now this will always be the Hammersmith Odeon to me. The scene of my first ever gig forty one years ago for another rock show in the form of Whitesnake. Tonight it’s Jack White, fresh from his surprise set on the Park stage at Glastonbury over the weekend.
As usual the setlist is made up on the night with the exception of the new cuts from both of his albums this year but it’s the back catalogue songs that are taken in from all of his various guises such as The White Stripes, Dead Weather and The Raconteurs.
Blue is definitely the colour from the drapes which slowly rise to introduce the band, the guitars and even Mr White’s hair. It’s a camera free zone tonight and my first experience of the yondr pouch. Actually worked quite well and it was good being able to enjoy a gig without looking out across a sea of phones. (Ed’s note. I know I am guilty too with taking few snaps during a show but I don’t record videos of songs and it’s a quick snap and camera down).
What can I say about this show? Easy really, it’s a rock masterclass from start to finish. Beginning in top gear it moves to overdrive and stays there for ninety minutes. White struts around the stage and is his own biggest cheerleader encouraging the crowd at every opportunity to clap, whoop, holler and sing which we duly oblige.
The band are as usual with White’s musicians superb and he has certainly retained the drummer from the last time we saw him along with his unusual setup with tilted drums at jaunty angles. He provides the perfect rhythm that all of the others feed from. White himself is on fire swapping guitars after most songs and even has a couple of spells on the piano to bring a little, brief lightness to proceedings to give us and him a minutes break to draw breath and go again.
It would be churlish to complain about the set as he cannot please everyone with his back catalogue choices but was glad we were on the night where he played ‘Steady as She Goes’ and a great version of Howlin Wolf’s ‘I asked for Water’. But of course he always finishes with the anthemic ‘Seven Nation Army’ which draws the perfect conclusion on a fantastic night of good clean unadulterated rock and roll. Till the next time Mr White.
Keep on heavy rockin’ y’all.