Jack White slams politicians and mocks high ticket prices at last-minute, intimate London show
Jack White played an explosive, last-minute and intimate show at London’s Assembly Hall last night (September 13). Check out photos, footage, the setlist and more below.
Details of the gig at the 890-capacity venue were only shared four days before it took place. White shared news of the ad-hoc tour for his surprise-released sixth album ‘No Name’ last month, telling fans via social media: “We won’t really be announcing dates in advance so much, we will mostly be playing at small clubs, backyard fetes, and a few festivals here and there to help pay for expenses.
“Shows will be announced as close to the show date as possible, some shows we won’t even decide to do until that morning.”
Support Heartworms hailed the musician for the “amazing” opportunity, before the former White Stripe appeared onstage, kicked over a guitar and ordered the audience to scream. He joked that anyone not sufficiently moved by the ensuing performance would be “arrested”.
Leading a four-piece band that included a bass player, drummer and keyboardist, he complemented tracks from the stripped-back ‘No Name’ with classics by The White Stripes and The Raconteurs.
After a ferocious rendition of the new album’s ‘Bombing Out’, he seemed to sum up his current era when he exclaimed its lyric about “anyone who wants less than more!” His simple black t-shirt and jeans were also in-keeping with the no-frills theme.
He demanded the audience wave their hands to ‘It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking)’, stood on a speaker at the front of the stage to command applause and asked, “Are you alive and well, London!”
This led White to reflect on his relationship with the city: “I’m no stranger to London Islington… I used to live in this neighbourhood. But I don’t call anywhere home. I haven’t in a long time. As soon as you call somewhere home, someone tries to take it from you. As soon as you join a group, someone tries to kick you out.”
Jack White at Islington Assembley Hall last night – what an absolute treat.
pic.twitter.com/MeqzilNhbq
— Liz Buckley (@liz_buckley) September 14, 2024
Jack White last night at Islington Assembly Hall. Such a cool bastard.
— John Sparrow’s long throw (@SparrowThrow) September 14, 2024
White didn’t refer explicitly to the White Stripes’ current lawsuit against Donald Trump, who featured ‘Seven Nation Army’ in a campaign video without permission. He did, though, express distrust of the political class in general: “As soon as you join a political party, someone tries to lie to your face… I got news for you: you got a brain, you got a mind. Can I hear an amen, London!”
Less than halfway through the set, after performing the White Stripes’ ‘Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground’, he insisted: “That’s all I got!” White exited the stage, with fans chanting for more amid squalls of feedback.
Upon his return, he tore into ‘No Name’’s ‘Archbishop Harold Holmes’, boasting: “This is the kind of rock’n’roll you’re not gonna get at Wembley Stadium for £400!” Tickets for Islington Assembly Hall show cost £55 before booking fees. Oasis’ ticket prices recently met controversy for going into the hundreds for their upcoming reunion tour, with many coming under dynamic surge pricing.
White headbanged his way through White Stripes’ ‘Ball and Biscuit’ and led a back-and-forth chant, imploring the audience to make a bizarre, high-pitched sound.
After leaving to stage for the second time, he returned for 2014 solo cut ‘Lazaretto’ and White Stripes classic ‘Fell In Love With a Girl’ (which featured a grungy, slow-down section).
The biggest response was reserved for ‘Seven Nation Army’. Standing out at the speakers by the front of the stage, White teased its famous riff before launching into the song, the guitar almost drowned out by the audience.
He gestured for them to shout the song’s lyric, “From the Queen of England to the Hounds of Hell”. When they chanted the guitar riff again, he exclaimed: “Louder, London! I said fucking louder!”
Around 90 minutes into the set, White explained that he wanted to play for longer, but couldn’t due to “some kind of London curfew”. He also decried the “decibel level” he’d been asked not to exceed. “What the fuck is going on, London?” he asked.
Despite promising one more song, he in fact delivered two, insisting: “You’re not gonna fucking stop me!”. After finishing with The Raconteurs’ ‘Steady, As She Goes’, he dismantled the drum kit and took a bow with his bandmates. His closing statement was: “Keep rock’n’roll in this city alive!”
In a four-star review of ‘No Name’, which was released physically in July and reached streaming services last month, NME’s Andrew Trendell wrote: “Fans don’t need to endure a 10-month rollout of endless singles, oversaturated media appearances and TikTok douchery until they receive an album they’re already tired of.
“This is an ode to the mystique of rock’n’roll and to the joy of music at its most physical and playful. Teasing doesn’t always lead to satisfaction. Just cut to the chase – and this one’s a bone-rattling ride. White’s revelling in the real world and has made it a much more thrilling place.”
The unconventional ‘No Name’ tour began at the American Legion Post 82 bar in Nashville, Tennessee last month, before White headed to Atlanta and Athens, Georgia. He will perform at the O2 Academy in Liverpool tonight (September 14) and Chalk in Brighton tomorrow (September 15). Visit here for tickets and more information.
Jack White’s setlist at the Islington Assembly Hall was:
Improvised Jam
‘Old Scratch Blues’
‘That’s How I’m Feeling’
‘Bombing Out’
‘It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking)’
‘Little Bird’
‘Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground’
‘What’s the Trick?’
‘Goin’ Back to Memphis’
‘Archbishop Harold Holmes’
‘Ball and Biscuit’
‘Improvised Jam’
‘Evil Is Goin’ On’
‘Fell in Love With a Girl’
‘Missing Pieces’
‘Top Yourself’
‘Underground’
‘Lazaretto’
‘Seven Nation Army’
‘Morning at Midnight’
‘What’s the Rumpus?’
‘I’m Slowly Turning Into You’
‘Steady, as She Goes’
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Jordan Bassett
NME
