Jack White has pushed back against expectations that fans are entitled to an “extra long show” on the recently launched leg of his “No Name” tour. Instead, White is intent on “bridging the gap” between three-hour marathon shows and the “30 minute (ish) sets” akin to The Beatles and Ramones that he would rather play.
“Been hearing a lot of chatter throughout the year of this glorious electric touring about how long our sets are ‘supposed to be’ on stage. As if the length of a show determines how ‘good’ it is,” our 2024 Artist of the Year wrote on Instagram. “I know that we’re living in a current era where people like to say ‘so and so played for 3 hours last night!’, and brag about it the next day hahaha, I’ll let our fans know now that my mind has no intention of ‘impressing’ y’all in that context. The Beatles and Ramones played 30 minute (ish) sets, and if I could, I would do the same at this moment in my performing life.”
White continued by acknowledging “chatter” about how ticket prices “entitle” fans to longer shows and explained why he thinks bigger isn’t necessarily better regarding concert length.
“I’m not sure y’all are knowing (or maybe remembering?) what a real rock or punk show is like though if you’re thinking that way, I think you’re talking about an arena laser light show with pyro, huge screens with premade videos, singers flying over the crowd, t shirt cannons, etc, that’s not the kind of shows we’re performing,” White said. “I’ve seen a plethora of rock and roll gigs that lasted 45 minutes and blew my mind and inspired me beyond belief. Read the room, leave everyone exhausted and inspired (hopefully) and most of all wanting more, without needing 3 hours to do it. That’s like saying a film is supposed to be better cause they spent 300 trillion making it, well I’ve never seen that movie.”
To close the note, White assured concertgoers that he has “never phoned it in” during his career. He added, “Whether its 20 minutes or 2 hours, I’m giving the room what the room is prompting me to do and share and that doesn’t mean if people cheer louder its going to be longer either! haha. There’s no setlist, and it’s not a marvel movie, or a Vegas residency, it’s rock and roll and it’s a living breathing organism.”
Indeed, the initial shows on White’s current tour have come in around one hour and 30 minutes, giving him enough time to play songs from his latest solo album, No Name, alongside White Stripes, The Raconteurs, and The Dead Weather favorites.
See all of White’s upcoming “No Name” tour dates here, and grab your seats here. For an idea of what to expect from the shows, read our review of his August 2024 “No Name” show at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.