One of the world’s most acclaimed musicians, Detroit’s Jack White, is in Sydney this weekend following a run of shows in Victoria as part of the Always Live initiative. Originally expected to be exclusive to the southern state – as was St Vincent in recent weeks – NSW fans were elated to see the iconic American artist add two relatively intimate, sold out shows at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre.
The tour comes off the back of White’s new album No Name, which dropped unexpectedly earlier this year. Since then, he’s been slowly announcing a tour that has seen him play much smaller venues than his last run.
The last time I caught Jack White was in 2022 in Brooklyn in a massive indoor arena – with 17,000 capacity – so the chance to see him in a 2,500 capacity theatre was as a rare treat. And indeed, much of his international tour is filled with venues of a similar size.
It was also felt like a more stripped back performance than you would have seen back in 2022. Though a three piece joined White for both performances, the minimal set-up (just gear and oft-blue lights) while Jack plugged in his instruments, made it feel like you were seeing him play in your living room. This was an intimate evening with Jack White – a treat not to be taken for granted.
And of course he has one of the best bands in the business, who equal their frontman in technical prowess across a 90-minute set. And they make it sound big. He introduced the band during the encore, leading into The Raconteurs/Saboteurs’ “Steady As She Goes”. They were Detroit’s Bobby Emmett and Dominic John Davis, on keys and bass respectively, and Patrick Keeler on drums, who also played in the Raconteurs/Saboteurs.
The set featured a strong mix of old and new tracks, with plenty of hits from his solo catalogue, The Raconteurs/Saboteurs as mentioned and of course The White Stripes. There was even a track from The Dead Weather thrown in for good measure, the classic “Cut Like A Buffalo”.
Now if you want to talk about an intimate Jack White show, who remembers when The Dead Weather played the 500 capacity Oxford Art Factory?
Jack was in great spirits through the show, telling the crowd after the second track of the night, “That’s How I’m Feeling”, “Sydney that’s how I’m feeling, I’m feeling like bringing you a dose of Detroit Rock and Roll”. And a dose of Detroit Rock and Roll he delivered.
Highlights across the 90-minute set – which at times felt more like a tight jam session than your typical live show production – included “Icky Thump”, which opened the encore after the band jammed, “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground”, which had the first big singalong of the night and fan favourite “Hotel Yorba”. And of course “Seven Nation Army” had the crowd at their loudest, as it closed the show.
However that’s not to say The White Stripes material was the only music that was well received. The whole set had the crowd entranced – and they were clapping along from the set opener, “Old Scratch Blues”, off the new LP, right through to the closing notes of “Seven Nation Army”’s iconic riff.
This intimate, no-frills set, from one of the world’s most accomplished musicians, was nothing short of a treat. It was hard not to leave wanting more – but that is only a compliment to a man who is a master of his craft.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The reviewer attended the show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre on Friday, 13th December.
A second sold out show will be held tonight, Saturday, 14th December, which wraps up his Australian tour. He next heads to New Zealand before a North American tour continues in February in Toronto.
For details on additional Jack White tour dates, head to jackwhiteiii.com.
