THE WHITE STRIPES – UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS (From Daily Echo)

THE WHITE STRIPES – UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS

5:18pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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This writer must admit they were ready to create a vitriolic dig at one of the strangest musical entities in the history of music. Having never been a fan of the two siblings/husband and wife (depending on which interviews with Jack you believe) much wasn’t expected.

But then the album played, and the dirty grimy guitar burst out of the speakers ricocheting off walls, ceilings, floors, chairs and the family dog.

This live album which captures the true essence of The White Stripes.

Jack’s heavy use of distortion, feedback and overdrive pushed along by the minimalistic (some would say talentless) drumming of Meg. It’s loud if nothing else.

Although Jack’s vocal style can be a tad tedious and annoying at times his talent with his fingers is unquestionable.

Having played with some of the most popular underground and punk bands of Detroit in the 1990s he has encountered many styles and patterns which he has crushed and reshaped in to his own unique style of blues-rock.

The hits from all five of their albums are present and flow from one to another with ease. The brash and violent version of most popular number ‘Severn Nation Army’ closes proceedings and gives the crowd a good sing-a-long to boot.

Perhaps the pick of the lot is the very Celticsounding rendition of folksy number ‘Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn.’ With the crowd screaming along it proves a moment as sweet as the title.

Not to be written off as a live act then, these Stripes. A nice surprise on a Monday morning.

LEIGH SANDERS Rating: 2/5