Photo: WENN.com
Jack White has gained a reputation as perhaps the most admired and versatile musician of the 21st century.
In 2012 he followed his endeavours with The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather with his first solo LP, Blunderbuss.
This weekend he brought his brand of all-encompassing rock 'n' roll to the live stage with two sold out shows at London's Alexandra Palace.
Support is provided by Mr White's long term friends, The Kills. Jamie Hince and Dead Weather front-woman, Alison Mosshart, suitably wet the crowd's appetite for tonight's headliner. The Kills are joined by a quartet of percussionists who line the stage behind them. The addition of the drum section makes their minimalist indie sound huge on the live stage.
'Future Starts Slow' and 'Cheap and Cheerful' are the catalysts for a buzz of anticipation that fills the room during the interval.
Jack White arrives on stage, tonight accompanied by his all-female backing band.
Despite the increase in personnel, compared to the days when it was just Jack and Meg, it is a White Stripes classic that kicks things off.
It's eleven years since seminal White Stripes album, 'White Blood Cells' was released, but the album's opener 'Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground' sounds as fresh as ever.
Next comes the 60s style soul of Blunderbuss' first single 'Love Interruption'. This is where the touch of femininity of White's backing band really comes to fruition. Pretty as they are, it's clear they were employed on merit as they cannot only play, but sing as well.
The 37-year-old again takes the audience on a trip back to the early 00s with a mass sing-along of White Stripes hit 'Hotel Yorba'. Some of the cynical among us may expect the more established White Stripes songs that are sprinkled throughout the set to get a slightly louder cheer than the newer offerings from Blunderbuss.
But that proves not to be the case as 'Freedom at 21' and 'Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy' are two of the biggest crowd-pleasers of the whole evening.
White then formally introduces the audience to each of the ladies who have so capably assisted him. But the appreciation of the hired help does not stop White effortlessly swapping between instruments. Whether it be guitar, keys, or bass, he is not just a Jack of all trades, but a master too.
A charming rendition of 'We're Going to Be Friends' provides a perfect change-up from the more guitar-driven rock that characterises the set. The tempo is then raised just as quickly as it was raised with a rip-roaring performance White Stripes freak-out 'Ball and Biscuit', which signals the end of the main set.
Let's face it the notion that a showman like White not returning for an encore is simply beyond the realms of possibility. His return to the stage yields a trio of tracks that prove just how prolific White has been in his various guises over the last decade. 'Sixteen Saltines' is the most visceral piece of rock 'n' roll that Blunderbuss offers and the pints begin to fly and next the North Lonadon venue belt out the chorus of 2006 Raconteurs hit 'Steady as She Goes'.
That could easily have been it and every audience member would have gone home swept off their feet- but that isn't Jack's style.
There's still time for one last crazed mosh-along courtesy of White Stripes trademark 'Seven Nation Army'.
White leaves the stage for a final time but the anthemic bass-line of 'Seven Nation Army' continues to be belted out by the audience as they filter out of Alexandra Palace.
Tonight we have been treated to a greatest hits show from a man who can only be described as a modern day genius.
