Photo: WENN
Jack White warmed up The Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury for controversial headliners Metallica, winning over the crowd with hits from his critically acclaimed discography tonight (Saturday 28 June).
Despite releasing Lazaretto earlier this month, his second solo album following 2012’s Blunderbuss, White refused to stick within one area of his musical career, instead opting for a greatest hits set from his multitude of projects.
Opening with ‘Icky Thump’, the intricate and visceral single from the 2007 album of the same name, White seemed content throughout his performance, giving sly smiles to his backing band and feeding off the energy of the crowd to create a special, career defining atmosphere that can only happen at Glastonbury.
“I brought the sun with me myself” joked the comfortable frontman before launching into early White Stripes single ‘Hotel Yorba’, the first of many mass singalongs from a crowd clearly enamoured by the early evening performance.
While White’s latest release is a no doubt varied affair, bringing together raucous influences with alternative country foundations, the set maintained momentum throughout, a celebration of his illustrious career rather than an opportunity to barrage fans with new material.
The likes of ‘We’re Going To Be Friends’ transitioned effortlessly material from the new album (particularly Lazaretto’s title track) and both received an equally positive reaction from the crowd, a rapturous reception that unsurprisingly escalated into the long awaited encore.
One doesn’t even need to argue the merits of ‘Seven Nation Army’, the song that defined the noughties for some and no doubt the most notable track from White’s discography. It is with little surprise then that it received one of the best responses of the festival so far, a crowd in unison chanting one of the world’s most resonant melodies at its creator, who decided to celebrate by jumping into the drum kit before taking a well deserved bow.
Metallica really do have their work cut out for them tonight. Check back at Gigwise for the latest Glastonbury on-site news, reviews, photos, updates and more.
