The White Stripes @ Madison Square Garden - 24 July 2007 - Icky Thump Tour - Full Concert

You realize you've become wildly successful when your band plays Madison Square Garden. On July 24 2007, Jack and Meg White proved the two of them could hold their own in the massive arena, leaving twenty thousand fans hungry for more following a nearly two-hour long set. As was said before each White Stripes album or tour, Meg's drumming had improved, and surely that must be true, if for no other reason than there was no other option. In "Icky Thump," the title track from the group's most recent album, she occasionally warped the rhythm by shortening one of the beats, perfectly in unison with Jack. "Cannon," "Death Letter" and "Ball & Biscuit" carried some of the heaviest impact, as Jack shredded away on his guitar and screeched his affected vocals into the mic. Little Bird into Catch Hell Blues were a pleasant surprise, considering they had already played Death Letter and 300MPH Torrential Outpour Blues. Meg went front and center for the haunting "In the Cold Cold Night," latching onto her microphone and singing with her eyes closed as Jack accompanied her from the side of the stage. There was a singalong version of "We're Going to Be Friends," a breakneck run through "Blue Orchid" and, eventually, a thumping rendition of "Seven Nation Army". Surprisingly, one of the band's biggest songs, "Fell in Love With a Girl," appeared only in modified form: a screaming garage-rock hit was reborn, slower and quieter. White's squiggly solo during "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do as You're Told)," from their just released album, sounded downright catastrophic, in the best sense. The White Stripes were in the fortunate position of having too many songs to choose from, though they found time for most of their biggest hits, some of which were packed into the encore. White Stripes pulled it off to an enthusiastic arena filled with people of all ages, and from all walks of life – rowdy “bros” included. The stage show was modest – lots of red, a disco ball, and some strobe lights – the ringmaster Jack White on guitar, and his sister Meg on drums. What else do you need? Their NYC show before this one was at the significantly smaller Irving Plaza. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground When I Hear My Name Jolene (Dolly Parton cover) Hotel Yorba Cannon John the Revelator ([traditional] cover) Icky Thump Do Death Letter (Son House cover) In the Cold, Cold Night A Martyr for My Love for You I'm Slowly Turning Into You I Think I Smell a Rat Wasting My Time 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) Fell in Love With a Girl Ball and Biscuit Encore: Blue Orchid I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself (Burt Bacharach cover) Little Ghost We're Going to Be Friends Little Bird Catch Hell Blues My Doorbell Seven Nation Army Boll Weevil (Lead Belly cover)