Start with the roots

In a recent interview with Alan Light for the New York Times, Jack White explains, “Everything from your haircut to your clothes to the type of instrument you play to the melody of a song to the rhythm — they’re all tricks to get people to pay attention to the story.” So you’re thinking, ‘Oh, alright… So Jack, is that why you look like a bloated junkie?’

But for all his flaws – including his unrelenting patriotism for everything from by-gone blues artists to slave-labouring cola producers – his attitude towards the music industry is admirable.

After exploiting a press pass at one of the Summer’s festivals I enjoyed from backstage the showmanship of Mr. White. His shuffles, props and just his general aptitude at guitar along with the obsessive aesthetic content, provide his previous statement with conviction.

Revering roots blues and his adapting the stagecraft of 70’s stadium rockers – I couldn’t got the notion of early Sabbath out of my head – makes him, a pop star truly conscious of his contribution to the industry.

With this in mind, here is a song and a video to kick-start the blog.

The White Stripes – you don’t know what love is (video)

Although live it is hard to see from the crowd due to the stage monitors, Jack is quite a veteran at the guitar shuffle: as displayed in this video.

Son House – John the Revelator

This was an easy one to pick as it has been covered by Jack and Meg for obvious reasons… it is a brutal, harrowing display of how the most simplistic blues can become totally overwhelming.

All this talk of the White Stripes has got me thinking about a Toe Rag Studios entry, watch this space…