Jack White concert review: Set list, new music, covers
Jack White doesn’t care about formalities.
Around 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, the former White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather/Them Crooked Vultures frontman turned solo artist swaggered onstage at the regal Brooklyn Paramount and immediately jumped into a blistering rendition of “Old Scratch Blues.” The crowd whistled and cheered but the 49-year-old axeman couldn’t have cared less about the generous fanfare. All he wanted to do was shred.
For the next hour, White put his pedal to the metal, never took his foot off the gas and delivered a breathless set devoid of breaks and heavy on flawless segues. After starting with a pair of groovy tunes from his down and dirty 2024 album “No Name,” he launched into the fuzzy, reverb-heavy “Fear Of The Dawn,” which straddles the line between rock and metal. The audience thrashed. Not to get all high and mighty, but his distorted sound broke through some kind of soul barrier creating feedback into our collective beating heart. Later in the night, he’d take us on a stroll down memory lane with his lively, ramshackle White Stripes classic “Hotel Yorba.” Now we were jigging to the hop and skip Celtic Americana.
As different as those songs are, they both share unmistakable Jack White DNA. He’s a singular artist where you can identify his sound from a chord.
While he wasn’t playing the hits — “We’re Going To Be Friends,” “Fell In Love With A Girl,” “My Doorbell,” “Blue Orchid,” “Steady As She Goes” and many other fan-favorites unfortunately didn’t make the set list — none of the airtight show felt inessential. White was playing what he wanted to play (an artist of his caliber can be afforded that luxury) and his urgent high-pitched yelp married to his angry guitar licks worked wonders no matter what song he plucked from obscurity.
Truth be told, that’s what made this show special.
White, currently on his nationwide ‘No Name Tour’ in support of his album that shares the same ironic non-name, is doing something radically different from other members of his early-aughts iPod generation with this international trek. While groups like Death Cab For Cutie, Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, The Fray and Bloc Party look backward and revisit classic albums, White is celebrating his deep cuts and newer stuff while mixing in just a few of his most well-known hits to appease the fans. As a result, the show sometimes felt like we were watching the world’s greatest band practice complete with boffo extended solos and seemingly improvisatory riffs.
On this night, it was clear: Rock and roll is not dead.
Well, of course, as long as Jack White is around.
In his stunning encore, the Detroit native paid homage to his fellow statesman Iggy Pop with a vital cover of The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog” before jumping into his prescient “Icky Thump” a few songs later. The line “White Americans, what? Nothing better to do/Why don’t you kick yourself out? You’re an immigrant too” left a particularly potent 2025 sting.
This was a doomsday rock and roll sermon shot straight out of hell and White was just the effortlessly seasoned preacher destined to deliver the message (albeit one that combed his hair onstage in a rare momentary respite).
To close the night, White and his parted mop-top gave the crowd what they had come for and launched into a fresh, emphatic version of “Seven Army Nation” complete with a thrilling drum break similar to the rendition that closed the “SNL50” Radio City concert with on Valentine’s Day.
As we clapped and sang along in the sold-out intimate venue, people held their phones high recording the performance. This was one you’d never want to forget.
Because who knows?
White doesn’t care about formalities. It’s certainly possible he may never play the beloved anthem again.
And there’d be nothing wrong with that- everything he takes to the stage — from metal to garage rock to soul-searching blues to singalong clap along jams to folksy Celtic Americana with sing-songy rhymes — is just as invigorating (and sounds just as good live as he does on his immaculately produced albums).
The only disappointment of the night? That the show ended.
Final verdict: Jack White is a unique megastar that doesn’t care what you think. He’s going to cater to his every whim and perform the songs he likes. While that might not include the hits don’t let that be cause for concern. Everything he plays slays. He’s a true capital A “Artiste” and capital R “Rock star” who delivers a headbangers delight for all while innovating on his axe. Heck, thanks to him, there just may be hope that this woebegone genre we call rock and roll still means something.
For our money, we absolutely think you should see White live if you can. You won’t regret it.
Jack White tour schedule 2025
A complete calendar including all tour dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below.
Bourbon and Beyond 2025
2025’s fest of the year is going down in Louisville.
Set to take place at the Highland Festival Grounds from Sept. 11-14, many of the biggest names in music are dropping in for the four-day festival.
Personally, we’re most excited to see Phish, Noah Kahan, Sturgill Simpson, The Lumineers and Khruangbin among others.
If you want to be there, single and multi-day Bourbon and Beyond passes can be scooped up here.
Brooklyn Paramount Theater
The Brooklyn Paramount, located at the intersection of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenue, has quite a storied history.
Originally opened in 1928, the venue served as a movie palace and put on jazz, blues and rock concerts until 1962. For the next 50+ years, the space served as Long Island University’s basketball gym.
In 2024, nearly 100 years after its inception, the venue returned to its artsy roots. These days, it’s a charming, spacious general admission bowl complete with gorgeous ancient art lining the ceilings and stately fountains perched on the balcony.
They also happen to have quite a lineup programmed for the next few months.
Notable acts headed to downtown Brooklyn include Kim Deal (March 13), Bright Eyes (April 17), DEVO (May 6), Perfume Genius (June 10) and Pixies (July 15-16).
Curious who else is headed there? You can find the Brooklyn Paramount’s complete 2025 calendar here.
Jack White set list
For a closer look at what White performed on Feb. 12 at the Paramount Theatre, here’s the official record courtesy of Set List FM.
01.) “Old Scratch Blues”
02.) “That’s How I’m Feeling”
03.) “Fear of the Dawn”
04.) “It’s Rough on Rats (If You’re Asking)” (Preceded by a jam)
05.) “Apple Blossom” (The White Stripes song) (Jack White on the piano)
06.) “Hotel Yorba” (The White Stripes song)
07.) “Love Interruption”
08.) “Broken Boy Soldier” (The Raconteurs song)
09.) “Tonight (Was a Long Time Ago)” (Followed by a snippet of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by Iggy Pop and the Stooges)
10.) “Cannon” (The White Stripes song)
11.) “Born Under a Bad Sign” (Booker T. & the MG’s cover)
12.) “That Black Bat Licorice” (Preceded by a jam)
13.) “You’re Pretty Good Looking (For a Girl)” (The White Stripes song)
14.) “Hello Operator” (The White Stripes song)
15.) “I Cut Like a Buffalo” (The Dead Weather song)
Encore
16.) “Archbishop Harold Holmes”
17.) “Icky Thump” (The White Stripes song) (Fan request)
18.) “Lazaretto”
19.) “Ball and Biscuit” (The White Stripes song)
20.) “Underground”
21.) “Seven Nation Army” (The White Stripes song)
Jack White new music
“No Name” just might have the most unconventional record release story for any album…ever.
In late July, unmarked vinyl discs were discreetly dropped in shopping bags at White’s Third Man Records shops. There was no notice or promotion. Just a sweet surprise.
As for the record, “No Name” is a throwback to White’s signature bluesy garage rock. Tight harmonies, hooky bass lines, freewheeling yet controlled guitar solos and unhinged vocals meld together to create something radio-friendly, personal and endlessly listenable all at once.
Personally, we can’t get enough of the bleating barroom anthem “That’s How I’m Feeling,” strummy, thrumming “What’s The Rumpus?” and “Underground” which sprinkles in sumptuous hints of tropicalia.
Make sure to check out the tension-building, talk-y, intentionally over-enunciated “Archbishop Harold Holmes,” too. It’s a toe-tappin’ headbanger that will leave a smile on your face. In short, the tune makes every part of your body react. That’s the power of Jack White.
To hear for yourself, you can listen to “No Name” in its glorious entirety here.
Huge 2025 tours
Can’t wait to rock out at a show with bluesmen and metalheads live this year?
Honestly, same.
Here are just six (!) acts we can’t wait to see IRL these next few months.
Who else is on the road? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you.
