The day after Boston and its neighboring cities and towns were hit with a frustrating storm fueled by wet snow, rain, and sleet, the sun rose again and delivered a clear, dry day that welcomed people back out of their homes. And, on this frigid Monday night of February 17th, fans of Jack White’s music gladly congregated for a blistering and unapologetic rock and roll show at Roadrunner – the largest general admission venue in New England, with a capacity of 3,500. Jack White’s “No Name” tour is in full swing and the shows are far from a garden variety concert, they’re a visceral experience, a full-body immersion into the raw, untamed heart of rock and roll.
From the moment White exploded onto the stage, with his whirlwind of frenetic energy, he and his band made it clear this wouldn’t be your typical rock and roll show. With that, ‘No Name’, the album serves as both a foundation and a springboard for the setlist, with its gritty spirit permeating the entire performance. The shows’ strength lies in the new material and the seamless weaving of classics, deep cuts, and improvisational jams. This was no exception for the first of two sold-out shows at Roadrunner.
One unique aspect of White’s current shows is that not only can he pluck choice nuggets from his solo records, but he can also cherry-pick his favorites from his other bands like The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and The White Stripes. Creating the night’s setlist, whether written on paper or just in his head, must be fun and overwhelming. Regardless, no stone is left unturned, and no fan is left disappointed – for tonight, there was something for everyone.
Dressed in all black, besides his white derby shoes, White was the house’s master as he conducted his band through twenty-plus tunes. The four-piece pelted the audience with a sonic assault that never let up. Honestly, the set was chock full of barnburners that made it impossible to say which songs were the highlights. It’s rare to have an artist orchestrate such a cacophony of sounds that walk the line between being both abrasive and orgasmic.
The band took no prisoners early in the set, kicking it all off with three songs from White’s latest effort. “Old Scratch Blues,” “That’s How I’m Feeling,” and “Rats” effectively set the tone for the night’s festivities. It was evident from the start that the new songs would be given a live intensity that surpasses even the studio recordings. Then White dug deep with the Raconteurs’ “Top Yourself” and “Broken Boy Soldier”, sandwiching the White Stripes’ folk-flavored sing-along “Hotel Yorba”, which was noticeably saturated with rollicking explorations from the keyboards – elevating the tune to new heights. As exciting and intense as “Top Yourself” and “Soldier” were, it’d be a shame not to mention that Brendan Benson’s vocals were sorely missed. Benson’s and White’s co-lead vocal chemistry is uncanny, which was lost for those two tunes.
After another dose of Stripes deep cuts, “I Think I Smell a Rat,” and a mammoth take on “Hello Operator” that would make Black Sabbath proud, White asked the audience, “Are you awake now?” and playfully introduced his band – bassist Dominic Davis, keyboardist Bobby Emmett, and his Raconteurs bandmate Patrick Keeler on drums. As always, White’s band is a force of nature. They’re not just backing musicians but integral to the performance, reacting to White’s every whim and adding their unique flair to the music. The rhythm section is a powerhouse, laying down a foundation of thunderous drums and driving bass lines that propel the songs forward. The interplay between White and his bandmates is palpable, a constant real-time conversation resulting in moments of pure musical magic.
And without skipping a beat or seemingly even taking a breath, White said he would play a song from one of his other bands, the Dead Weather. The crowd cheered as he and the band launched into “I Cut Like a Buffalo.” The audience was elated, and with such a bag of tricks at his disposal, they had no idea what to expect next. They were then treated to “What’s the Rumpus” before an extended trudge through the Stripes’ “Turning Into You,” which was glorious.
The band then ditched their gear, waved to the audience, and disappeared. White’s telecaster and amplifiers worked in league to bludgeon all ears in the house with feedback while everyone waited for the band to return after what seemed like a relatively early curtain call. After a very short respite, the band (without White) returned to a rowdy welcome of applause. They then slid back into a groovy jam as everyone waited for White to join them. As they reached the climax, White signaled the end and tore into the malevolent “Archbishop Harold Holmes”. Its driving rhythm and White’s soaring vocals were most impressive, and with that, White and the band raised the bar for what was coming next for their massive encore.
“Black Math,” “Freedom at 21,” and the raw power of “Fell In Love With a Girl” was unleashed with full force, a reminder of White’s rock and roll roots and his unorthodox guitar virtuosity. “Fell In Love” brought the collective energy to a boil. Then, with an exaggerated pointing of his finger from White, Davis lit into the opening riff to “Lazaretto” – which was stellar. Oddly enough, as the set continued, “Underground” was as influential as any other tune. Clearly, White’s fan base has been listening to the new material very closely – and enjoying it as well.
Switching between his guitars and adding a different texture and color to the sonic landscape of the performance, White wrestled with and coaxed seemingly unattainable yet searing tones of his battered acoustic as he teased the audience with his glass slide and menacing palm-muted rakes, all while engaging with the audience to get a call and response going with them clapping in between riffs. White then climbed onto the drum riser and signaled the start of the now stadium rock anthem, “Seven Nation Army,” which naturally has evolved into a monster of itself – in a good way. This staple in White’s set brought the evening to a close and effectively slayed the Boston-based crowd.
The “No Name” tour is proving to be more than just a showcase for the new album. White delves deep into his extensive back catalog, pulling out gems that haven’t been played live in years. Now, his loyal following has under 24 hours to prepare for night number two with Jack White III.
