Concert Review: The White Stripes, July 2, 2007, Winnipeg, MTS Centre
Published July 03, 2007
At the end of the show, Jack was given a flag of Manitoba which he and Meg took turns waving at the front of the stage, as the audience reacted wildly, but also with the realization that with this special of a close, that there wasn't going to be an encore.
Given all the people I knew who were going, I was surprised to see fewer people than I expected, less than 10,000, I'd say.
I brought my earplugs, but it wasn't loud enough to require them. The Derek Trucks was way louder, as I was at the front, and I should have put them in for that show.
How long can they continue with the 2-person thrashy garage rock band before people tire of them? You'd think their angle - the two-person "brother-sister" act (Jack referred to Meg as his older sister at least twice, when they were formerly married and he took her last name) has limited musical potential before they have to repeat themselves. Meg sang one song in her girlie voice and Jack played a couple of keyboards.
Clearly, they appeal more to the twenty-something and under crowd, based on the audience I could see (which was mostly people on the floor.) Usually, the younger fans are, the more fickle they are and the more likely to abandon groups they love so much at the moment. I mean, if Ricky Martin came to town, I doubt he'd attract the same fans who saw him about 8 years ago when he was one of the hottest acts in the world. If the audience was more diverse than what I saw, then maybe the Stripes will be around for a while, especially if they continue to make good albums like the current one.
Almost weekly, Triniman catches new movies, and adds one or two CDs to his collection. Due to time constraints, he blogs about only 5% of the CDs, books and DVDs that he purchases. Holed up in the geographic centre of North America, the cultural mecca of Canada, and the sunniest city north of the 49th, Winnipeg, Triniman blogs a bit when he's not swatting mosquitoes, shovelling snow or golfing.
- Concert Review: The White Stripes, July 2, 2007, Winnipeg, MTS Centre
- Published: July 03, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Indie Rock, Music: Live Concerts, Music: Rock
- Writer: Triniman
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I'm beginning to think the audience was diverse, I just could see mostly younger people from my vantage spot.
No bowling alley appearance, but they played some songs on a local transit bus and then on one of the bridges downtown.
Here the secret Winnipeg transit bus gig documented.
Go to Youtube for White Stripes - Winnipeg Secet Show "Hotel Yorba" and for White Stripes, Secret Show in Transit Bus , Winnipeg to see footage of the bus gig. Wish I was there.
Transit bus? And Winnipeg, too - you woulda thought they would've done a cover of the Guess Who's Bus Rider.
The White Stripes rocked at a kids day camp at the YMCA in Toronto. More (and well deserved) good press for the duo.
The White Stripes have been around for ten years already, now.
I completely fail to understand how the blatantly recycled riffs and trite lyrics of the White Stripes manage to impress rock fans.
CR - "I completely fail to understand how the blatantly recycled riffs and trite lyrics of the White Stripes manage to impress rock fans."
1) Because in this day and age, most riffs are recycled and most lyrics are trite.
2) Because the context is different musically. Withoutu a bass or rhythm guitar behind it, a guitar solo is quite naked in the hands of many guitarists - and Jack White knows this includes himself.
3) Because the two of them play with the glee of two kids in the rec room making a joyful noise having just discovered that E turns to D and back again quite easily.
4) Because even a true rock fan gets tired of hearing virtuoso performances and needs to hear some truly ugly notes sometimes.
That's enough for me, anyways. Others may not be so easily impressed.
I chalk it up to the dearth of rock 'n' roll being publicized, or played on radio. face it, a great guitar riff out of a loud amp in a live setting is a great thing, and it might be old hat to us, but I'll bet that it was new to a lot of the audience. Considering most emo bands don't even play guitar solos anymore, you gotta get the rock any way you can.
Skeeter, whilst I agree that there are a lot of highly generic bands around that lack any distinctive qualities, there is still a lot of great music out there of all types, ugly or beautiful. For me, TWS are in the former camp...
Sure, choice of music is subjective (only because few people recognize that my opinions on music are objectively correct ;) )
In any case, if TWS puts out some decent riffs, it's going to attract a following, because live rock music has that kind of allure for many.
It's not like I play loud music all day, but a great electric guitar riff alone can get my head to banging. In some ways, Jack White is like a riff-o-matic machine, but the stripped down style goes all the way back to the beginnings of rock, and it's a primeval call for many.
Hi,
I came across your posting as I was searching for White Stripes fans. This might be something you'd be interested in:
We're contacting you about an exciting opportunity to talk back to the garage/blues duo Jack and Meg White from the White Stripes.
Get in your video questions for the singers/songwriters by Monday July 23rd and they might answer them on ABC News Now.
We are also asking you to consider posting this message on your blog or website to spread the word and inform your readers of this opportunity.
It's easy! Here's HOW:
HOW TO SUBMIT VIDEOS:
1) Via cell phone
Record a 15-45 second clip and email it to: seenandheard [at] abcnews[dot go [dot]com
2) Via the web:
http://abcnews [dot]go [dot] com/US/BeSeenBeHeard/story?id=3279347
Should you have any questions about this project, contact ABC News producer, Dena at 212-456-3373 or email us back at this address.
Thanks & look forward to hearing from you!
- The ABC News "Talk Back" Team
Seems like this discussion has (finally) run its course, but for those of you keeping track, apparently TWS played a poolhall in Halifax, NS on their Canadian tour, to go along with the daycare, bowling alley, and city bus on someof their other stops.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/66031)
In Saskatoon I was amazed at the diversity of the audience - for sure, a lot of 20 somethings, but there were families with teenage or preteen children, and there were definitely more than a few greybeards. I saw one woman who must've been close to 60 decked out in her jeans, jean jacket, and red Hendrix T shirt, and she didn't look dorky at all - she looked like she belonged there like everyone else.
And we got the Sask flag - the only thing onstage that wasn't red, white or black. Did you get a bowling alley appearance too?