The White Stripes - London Alexandra Palace - 21/1/04
4/5
By: Andy Willson
Set-List: 'When I Hear My Name', 'Black Math', 'Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground', 'Jolene', 'St James Infirmary Blues', 'Cannon/Grinning In Your Face/Cannon', 'In The Cold, Cold Night', 'Death Letter/Shine On Harvest Moon', 'Hotel Yorba', 'Seven Nation Army', 'Truth Doesn't Make A Noise', 'Wayfaring Stranger', 'Let's Shake Hands', 'Look Me Over Closely', 'Ball And Biscuit', 'I Think I Smell A Rat', 'We're Going To Be Friends', 'Screwdriver', 'The Hardest Button To Button', 'Let's Build A Home/Goin' Back To Memphis', 'I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself', 'Boll Weevil'.
Again, we stand in the dripping, grandiose splendour of North London's Alexandra Palace, awaiting the arrival of one of the most impossibly coolest, fashion-centric acts on the planet right now, and as sure as night follows day, we all know that they will be clad in traditional red and white and... ugh... bla..? Is that... black... we see?
Yep - Jack dressed all in black, and Meg only just keeping up appearances with red trousers. The gauntlet has been established, the gateway opened; let's see just what Jack Black can offer.
Predictably, our question is answered the second he plugs in his guitar. A lot. Clearly, this is gonna be a frantic one. As the assembled thousands finally tire of throwing an inflatable surfboard (do not ask) back and fore, proceedings at last kick off. And any remnants of The Strokes' recent legendary performances here are blown away as the 'Stripes entertain their largest, UK indoor audience to date.
Tonight, fittingly, Jack acts like a man on a mission. Whether or not it's his recent troubles rising to the surface, he simply vents and screams like an ecstatic, coked-up banshee, snarling his way through bloody track after brutal solo. Even his guitar winces in pain as his rebuilt finger puts it through its paces. Things only lighten up when Meg vacates her drumkit and softly sings 'In the Cold Cold Night', which receives the loudest applause so far (that even following unleashings such as 'Jolene' and an ensconcing 'Dead Leaves...').
Come a back-to-back 'Hotel Yorba' and 'Seven Nation Army', and we're smitten. (And, for the millionth time, no it's not a f**king bass-guitar). Yet, even in spite of such continual triumphs, the deliverance as such is that The White Stripes are here to do a job. Straight on, play, straight off. But what a job.
And also obvious to everyone present is the existent, intense chemistry between Jack and Meg; at one point, you could swear they almost share a kiss... but is it just an innocent sharing of the microphone? The plot, as ever, thickens. Just seconds later, however, and the intimate contact is broken, as Jack whizzes between the several mics placed on the stage, resembling a demented, heat-stricken relay-runner. It's not a good look.
On a last trip to London at Brixton Academy, the duo returned for three encores but not so tonight. Only a few more airings are left to entertain us, and that's your lot. No 'Fell In Love With A Girl' or 'You're Pretty Good Looking', but as identified already, this evening was always destined to be an aggressive affair. As the set closes with regular finale, 'Boll Weevil', we begin to realise just how pain-stakingly noisy and sensational it all was; had this proportionally been held at the Camden Barfly, then we'd all be checking into the local hospital for hearing-damage.
We know that Jack's impending court case is creeping nearer, but he can squeeze in one more London gig (at Brixton 30/1) before having to return home and face the consequences of his recent fracas with Mr Von Bondie. Tonight, effortlessly, has proven that regardless of the size of crowd before them, The White Stripes can mix it with the best of them, and it's little wonder that Jack would whoop anyone's arse when he's in this kind of mood. Good luck fella, from all of us who kneel (deafly) before you.
Artists in this article: The White Stripes
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