Jack White Reconnects with “Oltinated” Fans Promising a “Very Long Show”: “This Isn’t a Marvel Movie or a Vegas Residency”

Jack White’s Performance Philosophy

Jack White directed his attention to the so-called fans who expect “extra long” shows, asserting that his performances are rock concerts and not “Marvel’s film or a Vegas residency.”

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The former frontman of the White Stripes released his sixth solo album “No Nement” in August of last year and is currently amidst his North American tour to promote the record. The guitarist is set to perform the first of two shows in Brooklyn on February 11.

Length of Shows and Fan Expectations

On Saturday, February 8, he took to Instagram to express his thoughts on the current expectations from fans regarding the length of setlists and production values. “I heard a lot of chatter throughout this glorious electric tour about how long our sets ‘should be’ on stage,” he wrote. “As if the length of the show determines how ‘good’ it is.”

“I realize we live in an era where people love to say, ‘So we played for 3 hours last night!’ and brag about it the next day. Haha, I want to let our fans know that my intention is not to ‘impress’ you all in this context. The Beatles and the Ramones played for about 30 minutes, and if I could, I would have done the same at this point in my career. This is actually the kind of show I would like to do right now.”

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Following that, he addressed fans who feel entitled to long performances given the high ticket prices. “I believe you’re talking about a laser-focused arena show with pies, massive screens featuring pre-recorded videos, singers flying above the crowd, t-shirt cannons, etc. These are not the shows we perform.”

“There’s no setlist, and this isn’t a Marvel film or a Vegas residency; this is rock ‘n’ roll, and it’s a living, breathing entity,” he concluded. “See you in the lobby tonight, friends. Love you all, and thank you for coming to these shows, standing in line, and spending your hard-earned money to keep this train rolling. Both the band and the crew love you just as much as I do, and we’re grateful. Thank you.”

White’s recent performances typically spanned between 20 to 25 songs, featuring hits from his entire career, including tracks from the White Stripes and Raconteurs.

NME captured his show at the London Assembly Hall last September, where he touched on these topics. “This is the type of rock ‘n’ roll you won’t get at Wembley Stadium for £400!” he exclaimed at one point.

In other news, the White Stripes recently announced a reissue for the 20th anniversary of their fifth album “Get Behind Me Satan.” It will include demos, alternate versions of songs, and live studio takes – you can purchase it here.