If you’d just spent two days watching bands, not sleeping and drinking too much, then you drove for the past seven hours, what would you do as soon as you got home? Right! Go see the White Stripes! The Detroit duo, fresh off their stupendous showing at Coachella (read all about it tomorrow!), were rocking the first of two nights at The Warfield in San Francisco and sleep deprived or not, I was going to check them out.

As anyone who has seen them live can attest, The Stripes are just a whole new breed alive. Recorded, they are really good, but their live show just kicks it up several notches, Jack White channeling great blues guitarists of times past, while Meg flops around at the kit, hair everywhere, singing along to each and every song. With so much material, now that Elephant has been released, their shows are chock full of songs. Of course, the album standouts are still great live, with “The Hardest Button To Button,” “Seven Nation Army,” and “You’re Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl)” being extra memorable. With an ever changing red, white and black box motif background melding into an all-blue backdrop, the songs kept coming and Jack was all over the place in his red shirt and tight ass-pants (not tight-ass pants, but tight ass-pants, keep up) with one red leg and one black leg. Wait ’til you see all the kids rocking that look in the fall. The very best tune of the night came in the final 15 minutes, however, as halfway through “We’re Gonna Be Friends,” Jack stopped playing guitar, unwound his mic cord from the stand, sat down on the floor and invited Meg over for a seemingly impromptu duet for the rest of the song. The building was quiet as a library as we strained on tip toes to hear this song in its, all the while trying to see the now three-foot tall figures sitting on the stage. It was a magical moment and by far and away the one I will take with me form this stellar live event. “I thank you and my sister thanks you. Good night San Francisco.” Uh huh. Good one, Jack.

1. Live – White Stripes Paint San Francisco Red (and White)
2. Live – The White Stripes: “Youíre Pretty Good LookingÖFor A Drummer !”
3. The White Stripes Get Ready To Paint Your Town White And Red
4. Live – The White Stripes Give Chicago A Colorful Swirlie
5. Live – The White Stripes @ The Fillmore At Irving Plaza | NYC