Jack White slams politicians and mocks high ticket prices at last-minute, intimate London show

nme.com:

Jack White played an explosive, last-minute and intimate show at London’s Assembly Hall last night (September 13). Check out photos, footage, the setlist and more below.Details of the gig at the 890-capacity venue were only shared four days before it took place.

White shared news of the ad-hoc tour for his surprise-released sixth album ‘No Name’ last month, telling fans via social media: “We won’t really be announcing dates in advance so much, we will mostly be playing at small clubs, backyard fetes, and a few festivals here and there to help pay for expenses.“Shows will be announced as close to the show date as possible, some shows we won’t even decide to do until that morning.”Support Heartworms hailed the musician for the “amazing” opportunity, before the former White Stripe appeared onstage, kicked over a guitar and ordered the audience to scream.

He joked that anyone not sufficiently moved by the ensuing performance would be “arrested”.Leading a four-piece band that included a bass player, drummer and keyboardist, he complemented tracks from the stripped-back ‘No Name’ with classics by The White Stripes and The Raconteurs.After a ferocious rendition of the new album’s ‘Bombing Out’, he seemed to sum up his current era when he exclaimed its lyric about “anyone who wants less than more!” His simple black t-shirt and jeans were also in-keeping with the no-frills theme.He demanded the audience wave their hands to ‘It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking)’, stood on a speaker at the front of the stage to command applause and asked, “Are you alive and well, London!”This led White to reflect on his relationship with the city: “I’m no stranger to London Islington… I used to live in this neighbourhood.