Concert Tour 2005: The White Stripes

Date: September 9, 2005

Time: 8:00 pm

Location: Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana

Seats: Balcony Center, Row K, Seats 16 and 17

"Every breath that is in your lungs is a tiny little gift to me." White Stripes - Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground


I can't, at this point, say The White Stripes fall in the catergory of "Living Legends," so including them in the LL Concert Series would be inaccurate. I WILL, however, go on record right now as saying this band deserves all the respect and accolades of any current band, and several bands of the past.

If there was ever a band that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 20 years, it is The White Stripes.

Now, on to the concert. Before we arrived, I knew this was going to be like no other concert I had ever been to. I was expecting weird looking people, loud music, and in general, an atmosphere unlike the shows we were accustomed to attending. After all, this was one of the first concerts I have ever been to featuring a band from my generation. (except Counting Crows, and John Mayer...but they are a lot lighter than The White Stripes).

We weren't disappointed. Becky and I immediately began noticing things. We were shocked by the number of:

1. Odd looking couples...i.e. two people you wouldn't expect to be together.
2. Red pants (Jack White wears red pants frequently, hence the trend.)
3. High fives (must have been drunken frat night)
4. Gay people (The White Stripes must have a BIG gay following...not that there's anything wrong with that!!)
5. People younger than us (which is weird since we are use to the McCartney, Springsteen, Petty, James Taylor type crowds.)

The opening act, The Greenhornes, were decent, but oh so loud. I couldn't understand them at all.

After they left, the stage was transformed into a visual delight. Everything from the lights, the amps, the guitars and the drumset were red and white, except for the piano, which was a stark black. It was by far the most visually stimulating set i've seen.

Then Jack and Meg hit the stage. They immediately ripped into the Hardest Button to Button, and didn't come up for air until at least 6 more songs were played in a medley format...one after the other. The sound was loud...so very loud. But I knew the songs, so I could understand them all.

Meg's drum kit sounded like a sonic boom with each bass kick, while Jack's guitar brilliantly outlined the familiar sounds of songs I knew and loved. I was constantly amazed that it was only 2 people making these songs come alive.

Jack White is a genius.

They continued to tear through songs. Jack would stop only to switch guitars, or when he would swing his guitar to his back, and sit at the piano to play the melodies of Apple Blossom, and the other piano driven songs. At one point, Jack went to the front of the stage, and defiantly tuned the guitar, while the static from the amp hissed at the audience.

The balcony was rocking. No, literally, it was rocking. People were jumping and the balcony was bouncing up and down enough to make me grab ahold of Becky's arm, and give her a sideways look. If the balcony collapsed, I thought, the people below us are screwed.

The show, overall, was nothing short of amazing. Pure and simple. If you don't have a White Stripes CD, buy one, and if they come to Indy again, go see them...I guarantee you will enjoy the show!!