The White Stripes
Orpheum Theater, Minneapolis, MN
August 26, 2005

I first saw The White Stripes at the historic First Avenue club in the heart of downtown Minneapolis on July 13, 2002, and a second time only a year later on July 3, 2003 in the unfortunate Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul.

Since then, the Detroit duo have been noticeably absent from the Twin Cities as they readied their fifth album, played five continuous nights on Conan O’Brien and an exhalted spot performing on the MTV VMAs.

Plus Jack White stayed busy in the paparazzi papers with a high profile girlfriend (Renee Zellweger), movie role (Cold Mountain) and bizarre mystery marriage to Manchester-born model Karen Elson in a canoe on the Amazon river in Brazil in June.

Enter Get Behind Me Satan, the most experimental, musically-varied album filled with a myriad of rhythms, distortion and raw, gut-wrenching emotion lined with a musical genius unparalleled in the Top 40 today.

With a white palm bedecked stage wrought with red accented drums, marimba, tom-toms and more, The White Stripes reclaimed their spot in Minneapolis rock history Friday night during their first of two sold-out nights at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. In his usual style, White ignored the audience for the first few songs, then stripped to a simple red t-shirt and thrashed out more than 30 songs to the roar of the Orpheum crowd.

From new classic “Black Math” to the Dolly Parton cover of “Jolene” that’s become a live-standard, Jack and Meg filled the theater amplifiers like a band of five. Highlights included “I Think I Smell a Rat” with an improvised Spanish-style solo (Santana glances), “Doorbell” on piano and guitar, and “The Nurse” with the most rocking marimba solo that’s hit the Cities since Al Franken left for Air America. Meg’s getting more confident with her two cuts, “Passive Manipulation” and “Cold, Cold Night,” although she’s still tone deaf but makes up for it with determination. Little Ghost on the mandolin was fantastic and even “Seven Nation Army,” while not my favorite track, came off incredibly well, showing that even though the Millennials are starting to notice and follow The White Stripes, inevitably it will be the songwriting and performance that keeps us all coming back. E

Unencumbered by the stodgy theater surroundings and bolted down seats, the audience jumped, screamed and bobbed their heads for the entire 90 minute set and three encore numbers. Contrary to the local newspaper review, Stripes fans knew the stage was overly loaded down with frills for the show, but the strobes only came out towards the end of the set, and White wasn’t too overboard about wardrobe changes. After all, even rock stars forget you don’t wear white socks with black pants. Rock and roll, Jack!

Although he didn’t thrash about on the floor, play solos behind his back or scream quite like he used to, Jack White’s guitar playing has grown steadily these past three years. Even with rumors of White writing the next Coca-Cola jingle, those who value quality music and showmanship won’t be swayed and will continue to follow his career, musical side projects, and yes, probably his love life, too. Believe me, the Guitar Gods are making way for Jack White. He may be grown up, but there’s no taming this candy cane child.

Setlist:
Black Math
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Passive Manipulation (Meg vocals, Jack piano)
Jolene
Blue Orchid
When I Hear My Name (short, didn’t get to the slow part)
Party of Special Things to Do (short, didn’t get to “I’ve got a brand new game…”)
I Wanna be the Boy
Death Letter
Hotel Yorba
Pretty Good Looking (with acapella/lounge version at the end)
Hello Operator
I Think I Smell a Rat (with Spanish jam)
The Nurse
Doorbell
Do
Cannon (short — didn’t get to John the Revelator)
The Denial Twist
In the Cold, Cold Night (Meg vocals)
Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)
Offend in Every Way
Black Jack Davey
Passive Manipulation (reprise, Meg vocals, Jack guitar)
Screwdriver (short)
Little Ghost
Red Rain
Instinct Blues
As Ugly as I Seem
We Are Going to Be Friends
I Just Don’t Know What to Do With Myself
Encore:
Hardest Button to Button
Seven Nation Army
Boll Weevil (standard crowd sing-along)