Manchester Apollo, 8/4/003

Two Summers ago at the Witnness Festival in Dublin, I caught an impressive performance by two young Americans in the Rising Tent. It was to be the first UK review of The White Stripes live. Since then a veritable torrent of water has rushed under the bridge as this duo have gradually worked their musical magic into the pysche of the UK buying public. Their third or fourth album WHITE BLOOD CELLS sold well on the back of an admiring music press, radio airplay, TV appearances, and regular live gigs. As I write, the band’s new album, ELEPHANT, has entered the album chart at number one position as a result of one of the finest and most subtle PR campaigns ever seen, and incredibly good album reviews.

It’s been steady rather than spectacular progress for The White Stripes which I suspect satisfies Jack and Meg White. The big question remains: What is it about this two piece band that has shot them to the top of the album charts and generated the largest audience I have ever seen at Manchester’s Apollo venue? Tonight provided the answer to this question in addition to an opportunity to hear their new songs for the first time.

Frustrations abound in music journalism, and especially if one tries to be professional and cover the support acts. The Gestapo security at the Apollo saw to it that I could not properly cover the two support acts on the night, and frankly didn’t even know who they were. From the upper circle, I gathered they were American; could perform spinal contortions and jagged punk music, without impressing. The audience was underwhelmed, although in fairness to the bands, the crowd had gone to see The White Stripes and really couldn’t give a snort for anything else.

When I was eventually allowed by the Gestapo to enter the pit I was amused to see two suited, yes, suited and top-hatted roadies doing final checks on the White’s equipment. When the lights finally dimmed and the regulation crowd roars commenced, Meg took her place at the drums while Jack slowly encircled her as if tracking down prey. He eventually sat down next to her, took a few more cigarette puffs before lunging for one of the three guitars which stood like soldiers at the rear of the set. Over to the right of the stage there’s a keyboard without a player. The lighting is simple but extremely effective. Jack looked handsome in his red jump suit with one black leg while Meg looked edible with her tousled, flowing locks and red top with white cotton jeans. They both looked great in their now familiar brand identity uniforms, made more noticeable by the large square of red matting that lay beneath the band and their tools.

The Apollo is a large auditorium and prompted concern at to whether the band’s sound could fill the space. No problem, in fact it amazes me how a drum set and guitar can sound like a four piece band. But it did as Jack started off the show with a new song which I believe is called Black Math. There was more melody, more structure, more clarity than I can remember on previous work, and I thought that if this was an example of the new album it’s more than interesting. I looked over at Meg just around eight feet away and she was away in her dreamtime demeanour with her typically loping drum strokes. A great start. Throughout this excellent concert, I was aware of the band’s professional stage presence - everything seemed so natural and assured for two relatively young people. But music is in their blood and they have that level of experience garnered over several years of recording and performing that today’s young upstarts cannot match.

There were a few pleasant surprises such as when Jack demanded Meg’s attendence at the very front of the stage to sing with him Your Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl). And when Meg, solo and stage-front, sang the new and moving In The Cold, Cold Night. And it was the new material that I found so compelling. Songs like Ball And Biscuit, the single Seven Nation Army plus others which combined blues, rock, pop, and country in a very cohesive and exciting way. Jack exhibited his love for the blues and his extraordinary skill in singing and playing the genre. His guitar work was nothing short of mind-blowing with riff after riff displaying Hendrix-esque quality and style. One guitar used sounded like a bass one minute and then a full-blown rhythm guitar the next. Old favourites were cleverly introduced into a wonderfully formulated set and included Hotel Yorba, The Union Forever and the jagged, beat-laden I Think I Smell A Rat. Three of the songs brought Jack and Meg to the keyboards to further demonstrate their musical skills.

Throughout, the audience responded enthusiastically and I was struck by the broad range of age groups present. But in particular, the band have managed to pull in a very young following, perhaps because of lyrical content that mirrors the experiences of that generation. So what is that makes this band so special? Meg is no drumming maestro but provides the solid beat and timing needed to guide Jack’s wonderlust guitar. Jack is a good but not great singer, however, range, expression and passion are there in truckloads. Add incredible stage presence, integrity, brilliant songwriting (especially the ELEPHANT album songs) and arranging, outstanding guitar playing and a soundman that really does know his ones - and the result was magical.

By the end of the performance, which was met with some of the most rowdy encore demands I have ever experienced, all my questions had been answered except perhaps why they aren’t huge in the States. The White Stripes are one of the few bands around at the moment that deserve the accolades being piled upon them, and I can’t wait to hear the new album after hearing some of the songs at this amazing show. But what’s more interesting is that this is a band with a very long long and prosperous future. And because their musical palet is multi-hued and based on a classic blues foundation (the basis of all great and durable music). The band is not constrained by the demands of big record labels or generic enslavement. Rather, Meg and Jack White communicate their messages via huge doses of integrity, heart and soul. And that’s the difference.

A brilliant show.