Last night, Jack White played the first of a two-night stand at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and, if you're headed to tonight's show, be sure to bring earplugs. It might have been the loudest show I've ever seen at the venue, which includes ear-splitting sets from My Bloody Valentine and The Flaming Lips.
The "up to eleven" approach highlighted White's signature guitar riffs, which felt a little cock-rock at times, but luckily there were bluesier moments too, especially when he played piano in a style that would have made Jerry Lee Lewis proud. He even looked like a 50s-era rocker with his new hair cut, a slicked back pompadour and long sideburns.
White's a massive star, an immense talent, and has matured since his White Stripes days, when performances could include an angry rant about the audience tossing around a beach ball (2005 at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley) or him kicking Meg off the stage cause she was too drunk to play (2005's "Not So Silent Night" bash at Bill Graham).
That said, he hasn't left his old band far behind, and played White Stripes songs with as much zeal as he did his solo work. He opened with "Fell in Love with a Girl," played "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "We're Going to Be Friends," "Ball and Biscuit," "Hotel Yorba" and more, and closed with "Seven Nation Army." Check out the entire set list from the two-hour show here.
Tonight's show is sold out, but check Craigslist for tickets and whatever you do, protect your hearing!