4/5
No Name, No Gimmicks.
Ears still ringing, that may have more to do with the fact that I'm rounding 40 like Shohei Ohtani is bases this week (heading home for the Tokyo World Series), I'm still transfixed. As much as I rocked out, I could listen to a genius like this play all night (shout out to the guy I met just taking it all in after). He could put the phone book through a guitar, and I'd still be in awe. I may have whiffed on tickets for the baseball this weekend, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs were in town to take on the Tokyo Giants and Hanshin Tigers (no champion Yokohama BayStars?), but who else has rent for a thing like that? Well, you know, Jack. Randomly getting a seat next to Bill Murray apparently for a full circle 'Lost In Translation' moment. The White Stripe, Raconteur and Dead Weather member, and sensational solo artist in his own right Jack White, on his 'No Name' tour, could have rocked and knocked the Tokyo Dome out of the park himself. But after touring Japan, from Hiroshima (Blue Live) and Osaka (Gorilla Hall) to Nagoya (Diamond Hall), the Third Man returned to the terrific Toyosu Pit for two nights (three if you count the surprise show at Shibuya shop Hysteric Glamour). For the record, and all you tourists, it's near TeamLab.
After setting up shop in Tokyo's Fender flagship store in Harajuku, gifting his new favourite axe-murderer from first night support act Otoboke Beaver with a guitar, this jack of all rock trades had more surprises. Treating all the fans (hey, Fox. Hope you enjoyed the gig) from his weekend show with a very special guest in the form of Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, who was taking photographs in Osaka of White in uniform, looking like he worked for the city. Monday's concert was still fair of face before the grace of Tuesday, however. As decked out in a cool lime green jacket for St. Patrick's Day, with spiders like the Maman sculpture from the late Louise Bourgeois in Roppongi Hills, and armed with beautiful blue and tuxedo looking guitars, White could have opened his own guitar store like his record one in Nashville, Tennessee. The motor of Detroit and the best thing to happen musically to the city since Motown, charged out of the gates abruptly to lights out fanfare as he beckoned the crowd to get involved with his opening jam, before ripping into those 'Old Scratch Blues' and anthemic 'Icky Thump'. Adding even more punch to the prose, "White Americans, what? Nothing better to do/Why don't you kick yourself out? You're an immigrant too" over growling guitar.
"AY, AY, AY!" The fans chanted in unison like the terraces of football fields on match day. Hoping 'Seven Nation Army' would make the program like it has those same stadiums in song. Doing what the late, great Quincy Jones did with 'The Italian Job'. They were in for an epic encore treat, too, like the Glastonbury gig (YouTube it, folks!). As Jack introduced his brilliant band of brothers, calling them out after the Holy Trinity of convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson and Family Mart) they have lived in this week. White broke out the Stripes ('Fell In Love With A Girl', 'The Hardest Button To Button' making me think of that bit from 'The Simpsons') as well as songs from The Raconteurs ('Broken Boy Soldier', 'Steady As She Goes') and The Dead Weather ('I Cut Like A Buffalo'). Yet, amongst classic covers, like Loretta Lynn's 'Whispering Sea' and 'Baby Blue' by Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps, it was his own work on this solo set that hit harder. Whether it be classics like 'Love Interruption' and the snippet of 'Three Women'. Or new tracks off the same crossed out name album (that came out of nowhere, by the way), he's touring right now, like 'Underground' or 'Archbishop Harold Holmes' in closing. All to the tune of a man dressed like he just left Alaska, bum-rushing the crowd he was set to surf.
Flowers must also be given up for this night's support act, Japan's very own TsushiMaMiRe. Wowing their hometown crowd with the bassist giving off an Este from Haim vibe (can't wait to see my favourite group play with Vampire Weekend and The Hives this summer at Fuji Rock). But once Jack gave us everything from 'Little Bird' to 'High Ball Stepper' it was on. The next time he's in town, I suggest you be, too. Because this is amongst the best of American acts in Tokyo over the last couple of calendars in smaller venues like Beck and Phoebe Bridgers. I can't believe I left this one until a game-time decision (hey, in my defence, I pull down an English teacher's salary). Using the fact that I'd seen him before as an excuse, like the time I wouldn't go to his gig after watching 'Sinister'. Albeit with the incredible Alison Mosshart led Dead Weather, where he only stepped from behind the skins to dedicate 'You Just Can't Win' to a Gallagher brother (they'll be here soon, too). The fact is, you could watch White play for the rest of your life, all the way to the Queen of England and the hounds of hell and still not get enough, like his great Motor City songbook. Again and again, even if 'Over and Over' was a milk carton (and I didn't catch hell, like Glen). Wherever he goes next, I'm there, like Wichita. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Set-List Picks: 'Whispering Sea', 'Archbishop Harold Holmes', 'Seven Nation Army'.
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