Jack White has responded to the complaints about his live shows.
The White Stripes singer took to Instagram to share his frustration. “Been hearing a lot of chatter throughout the year of this glorious electric touring about how long our sets are ‘supposed to be’ on stage. As if the length of a show determines how ‘good’ it is. I know that we’re living in a current era where people like to say ‘so and so played for 3 hours last night!’ and brag about it the next day hahaha, I’ll let our fans know now that my mind has no intention of ‘impressing’ y’all in that context.”
He then named some examples of famous bands that played very short concerts. “The Beatles and Ramones played 30 minute (ish) sets, and If I could, I would do the same at this moment in my performing life,” he continued. “That’s actually the kind of show I’d like to put on right now. But there becomes this chatter that the cost of a ticket ‘entitles’ people to some kind of extra long show…uh…ok (hahaha) so I’m bridging the gap.”
The rocker criticized modern concerts for being too focused on spectacle, saying the production goes too far without adding much. “I’m not sure y’all are knowing (or maybe remembering?) what a real rock or punk show is like though if you’re thinking that way, I think you’re talking about an arena laser light show with pyro, huge screens with premade videos, singers flying over the crowd, t shirt cannons, etc, that’s not the kind of shows we’re performing.”
“I’ve seen a plethora of rock and roll gigs that lasted 45 minutes and blew my mind and inspired me beyond belief. Read the room, leave everyone exhausted and inspired (hopefully) and most of all wanting more, without needing 3 hours to do it. That’s like saying a film is supposed to be better cause they spent 300 trillion making it, well I’ve never seen that movie,” he continued.
“Love to all of our fans, I see your faces every night and you can be assured I’ve never phoned it in in my life, whether its 20 minutes or 2 hours, I’m giving the room what the room is prompting me to do and share and that doesn’t mean if people cheer louder its going to be longer either! haha. There’s no setlist, and it’s not a Marvel movie, or a Vegas residency, it’s rock and roll and it’s a living breathing organism,” the singer added.
He ended his statement by thanking his friends, fans, and crew.
White seems to enjoy short sets, as he and Meg White once played a very brief show, performing only one note before leaving the stage. They aimed for a spot in the Guinness World Records and succeeded. However, White was disappointed when the record was removed in 2009, as the category was ‘unworthy’ of inclusion in the book.
White is set to perform tonight at Massey Hall in Toronto, before heading back to the U.S. to continue his No Name world tour.
