Jack White Saturday Headliner?

[JustSteve]

well I was just picturing in my head going in that I was going to witness some guitar master just blow me away. The experience was just completely the opposite. He seems more content doing Americana than rock. I just went in with the wrong mindset

Well, he is touring on his first solo album which is pretty bare bones. Probably have to wait until more Dead Weather or Raconteurs to get the rock.

[Mr. Dylanja]

I enjoyed his OSL set, however, I don't think that set would translate well at all to the Coachella crowd.

[Gribbz]

I enjoyed his OSL set, however, I don't think that set would translate well at all to the Coachella crowd.

Yup. OSL and Sasquatch are different beasts.

EDIT* And to an extent, Lolla. Didn't Deadmau5 technically "headline" a few years back?

[PlayaDelWes]

it seems like most people here think the white stripes could headline, but i promise you, meg is not what made them great. jack is fantastic on his own and he plays mostly from his other bands. also, the white stripes songs with a full band sound a lot better live than they did when there was just two of them on stage.

I agree that the current form of Jack White’s production is greater than he and Meg ever could be. At this point, it’s the rarity of Meg that would be the draw and maybe the rawness of the unique garage sound we were used to growing up with them. But for such a limited sample of his discography, that’s it. I see Meg at this point as no more of a contribution than Jack Lawrence or Alison Mosshart.

Thinking of which, I was watching some old clips of the Racountours last night and while Los Buzzardos and the Peacocks are great support for their songs in Jack's current rotation, it made me really miss how great the Racountours really were and it’s just as unlikely that we don’t see them again.

Seems as though getting up there and playing your music isn't enough. See: Radiohead/Gorillaz. The Coachella audience demands something more. If I saw the same set again, I'd be pretty disappointed (especially at a festival like Coachella).

You are right about Coachella expecting something special. Simply putting on two hours with one of his bands would be redundant. A set similar to Lolla where he performed with both Los Buzzardos and the Peacocks would need to be the foundation for something much larger, just like Arcade Fire did nine months after their Lolla set of 2010. Since Jack White isn’t exactly defined by fireworks, ball-dropping, hologram spectaculars, his best option would be to bring recognizable talent from his prior incarnations with him (Meg, Allison, Jack L., Patrick, Brendon, Buzzardos, and Peacocks) to put on a Snoop & Dre, Gorillaz, or Prince (to an extent) type show.

[Mr. Fuzz]

Oh, I think that he'd be just as magical as Paul McCartney was.

[amyzzz]

If he had a 2 hour set to work with, I'd bet he'd bring something more.

[Gribbz]

Oh, I think that he'd be just as magical as Paul McCartney was.

Well, of course you would. No offense.

[Mr. Fuzz]

McCartney was magical, dude. Jack is on that level, you need to recognize.

[Mr. Dylanja]

First it was Elvis, now it's McCartney.

[concertgoer]

Yup. OSL and Sasquatch are different beasts.

EDIT* And to an extent, Lolla. Didn't Deadmau5 technically "headline" a few years back?

Deadmau5 headlined the North field which is the smaller of the two main stages. Jack headlined the South stage and he drew a big crowd.

[JustSteve]

There is a great interview on the Sound Opinions podcast with Jack talking about Meg's drumming. How he could bring in every great technical drummer and not one could replicate what Meg did. She also had a lot of issues with the way people talked about/criticized her skills. It was something special to him, something that fit what they were doing perfectly. He was really defending her.

[mikey1313666]

There is a great interview on the Sound Opinions podcast with Jack talking about Meg's drumming. How he could bring in every great technical drummer and not one could replicate what Meg did. She also had a lot of issues with the way people talked about/criticized her skills. It was something special to him, something that fit what they were doing perfectly. He was really defending her.

Love this

[PJandBompton]

Jack White was one of my most anticipated sets at OSL, and I strongly believe that if he headlines Coachella there will be a mass exodus halfway through the set...

[Gribbz]

First it was Elvis, now it's McCartney.

The Cult of White.

Jack White was one of my most anticipated sets at OSL, and I strongly believe that if he headlines Coachella there will be a mass exodus halfway through the set...

Yup. And like I said, the set I watched was good. Just not that good.

[Darth_Bater]

Jack White was one of my most anticipated sets at OSL, and I strongly believe that if he headlines Coachella there will be a mass exodus halfway through the set...

This happened during Radiohead weekend 1. What is your point?

[MostlyMellow]

oh don't even start with Radiohead vs Jack White.

JW vs Black Keys is better and Id say the keys can put on the better show.

[Mr. Fuzz]

GTFO

[PJandBompton]

This happened during Radiohead weekend 1. What is your point?

Radiohead was left with more of a crowd than Jack White would start with. what is YOUR point?

[Coachella Bound]

Jack White was one of my most anticipated sets at OSL, and I strongly believe that if he headlines Coachella there will be a mass exodus halfway through the set...

Dont agree at all.... w/ a headlining spot expect much more than just a one hour jam session. And for those that werent there the whole crowd chanted the chorus to Seven Nation Army for a good 2 or 3 minutes after the set was over as Jack & Co were taking a bow. I truely feel the sound and energy of the set depended entirely on where you were positioned in the crowd. An issue you wont deal w/ at Coachella.

[Mr. Fuzz]

Jack White was one of my most anticipated sets at OSL, and I strongly believe that if he headlines Coachella there will be a mass exodus halfway through the set...

Yeah, to watch Daft Punk close out the Sahara.

[amyzzz]

Yeah, to watch Daft Punk close out the Sahara.

Yikes that would be an awful conflict.

[Coachella Bound]

except for the fact that theres no way Daft Punk plays the Sahara....

so instead it would be Jack White < Daft Punk on the main

everybody wins!

[Mr. Fuzz]

Well, I was taking a jab at Daft Punk.

[Bumblebee]

I'm not sure how much Jack is currently on speaking terms with Meg.

AFAIK, she hasn't touched a drumstick in 5 years. Except for the final New York Conan show she hasn't made a public appearance and Ive never seen photo.

I think she became a mother but never made a statement.

[narek23]

it seems like most people here think the white stripes could headline, but i promise you, meg is not what made them great. jack is fantastic on his own and he plays mostly from his other bands. also, the white stripes songs with a full band sound a lot better live than they did when there was just two of them on stage.

so true! i loved hearing those songs played the way they deserve to be played with a full band. im so happy he's not limiting himself with the 2 person "gimmick" anymore. Hotel Yorba is a song I really enjoy and I thought the violin solo added to and complemented that song very well. Not sure if they had pedal steel guitar on that one too, but it was all good. Who cares if he headlines, as long as he's there

[JustSteve]

The 2 person thing was never a gimmick, it worked for what they were doing incredibly well.

[grichsgang]

Thats roughly the same set time that The Black Keys played before Muse on the main in 2011, and they ended up being the friday headliner last year so I definitely think he's got a good chance. He also rocked it on Sunday at Lolla

The Keys played in front of KofL on Friday in '11. Muse headlined in '10.

[Bumblebee]

If he had a 2 hour set to work with, I'd bet he'd bring something more.

Hell, bring out Tom Jones, Stephen Colbert, Conan, Loretta......etc

Talking with a friend that's a Jack superfan he suggested letting Jack curate one of the tents for a day.

[amyzzz]

YES to curating a tent. That's a fabulous idea.

[mikey1313666]

Signed on the curation