Jack White is many different things to the public eye—he's a singer, guitarist, drummer, philanthropist, and sometimes even a diva to some. Whatever you think of Jack White, one thing is for sure: he is an exceptional performer. Despite playing in a relatively small but spacious venue in Taguig, Philippines, Jack White made his music come to life in front of a Filipino audience for the first time in national history.
Jack White, big or small
As part of Jack White's Supply Chain Issues tour, the rock music veteran finally visited the country to promote his two latest solo albums, Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive.
Fans of different age groups attended the gig to celebrate the award-winning musician's arrival. As soon as Jack White and his touring bandmates presented themselves at the venue, they ignited their presence with a bombastic performance of White's latest hit "Taking Me Back", followed by "Fear of the Dawn" (from his album of the same name) and "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" (a certified White Stripes classic).
While taking an intermission on stage, Jack White expressed his past interest in visiting the Philippines more than a decade ago when the White Stripes were still climbing the heights of their well-deserved peak in popularity.
"Back in 2001, I asked if we could come here [Manila], and they said, 'No, we can't do that, not yet.' I asked again in 2003, and they said, 'No,'" Jack White said before playing "Temporary Ground", a track from his second studio album Lazaretto. "I kept asking and asking and asking. Now, finally, this year, I married a Filipino girl named Olivia Jean. I said, 'Now can I go?' They said, 'Alright, now you can go.'"
The man lives and breathes music
Jack White rarely took breaks in between songs. He would catch his breath, but only for a minute or two, before transitioning into the next track. The rest of his band, which consists of Dominic Davis (bass), Quincy McCrary (keyboard), and Daru Jones (percussion), were in complete sync with Jack White's high-fuelled energy.
Equally impressive as Jack White's seemingly unlimited stamina is his playful and enthusiastic passion while performing on stage. You might expect any musician with decades-old experience to have lost their luster over time, but that isn't the case with Jack White. His love for blues rock is eternal, as evident in his gleeful guitar-playing and body language.
That night, the crowd would sway to the rhythm of White's guitar or bob their heads to the beat of Jones' excellent drumming. It also helped that the venue was small enough to keep a close distance between the performer and the audience, maintaining intimacy throughout the event.
Overall, Jack White's live musical presence is an event all music fans should witness at least once. Whether you are a fan of his music or not, his band's live performances (Manila 2022 included) have an unrivaled spirit and energy that will leave you in awe.
As he would often say before leaving the stage, "You've been incredible, and I've been Jack White." The respect and love between Jack White's band and the crowd are undeniably present, and that is something both musicians and concertgoers aspire to have with one another.
Jack White boasts plenty of lifetime accomplishments: started numerous bands, such as the White stripes with Meg White, the Raconteurs with Brendan Benson, and the Dead Weather with Alison Mosshart; founded a record label called Third Man Records; and even acted in minor roles, including a brief cameo as Elvis Presley in the 2007 movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. Among his myriad of milestones is Jack White's solo project, which might be his boldest and most creative one yet.
━━ Cover Phoro By
