Setlist at The Masonic Temple Detroit, MI on 10/2/2005
Set One
Encore
Stream this show and the entire The White Stripes catalog
Setlist at The Masonic Temple Detroit, MI on 10/2/2005
Set One
Encore
Show Notes
live sound by Matthew Kettle
mixed and mastered by Bill Skibbe at Third Man Mastering
With Jack setting the tone at this final show at the Masonic with the comments “From where I’m standing now, a block away from here I went to high school, and a block in the other direction, Meg and I played our first show”, there’s an almost formal setup to this concert, their final ever performance in their hometown. As if compelled to extract every last drop of inspiration and get out every last note of music before closing out the run, the show features many wonderful embellishments throughout the songs in the set. From the seamless openers, to the inclusion of a quote from George M Cohan’s "Harrigan", to the improvised version of "John the Revelator" in "Cannon", and a unique slow-grind version of "Astro." Even the first attempt at "Ball and Biscuit" somehow gets converted into a mini-jam with the out-of-tune guitar, before "My Doorbell" picks up the baton and keeps things moving fluidly. With the bulk of the show played on the electric guitar, as if returning to their original state as a band, the placement of "As Ugly As I Seem" and "Little Ghost" (which features a quote from "Blue Moon of Kentucky") provide just enough balance in the set. The performance of "Do", with its self-reflection and lines about idols that fade away, never felt more appropriate. This show also features a blistering impromptu jam, which occurs after an epic 5 minute plus version of "Black Jack Davey." An improvised riff on the guitar quickly takes shape, followed by Meg’s drums and then ad-libbed vocals. Two minutes of brilliance that seemingly comes out of nowhere, followed by the final performance of Tegan and Sara’s "Walking With a Ghost" – a song they had recorded just a few weeks earlier while in Cincinnati. The entire show plays like a continuous, almost meditative medley, with all the song placements just right, with the line “I’m Never Gonna Let You Down” in "The Nurse" an almost literal promise to the city, coming just before Jack's announcement during "Boll Weevil" that “I’ve been here for 30 years and 3 days, and it’s time to move on!” – hinting at his imminent departure from Detroit to new surroundings in Nashville. Of all the songs in this show, the emotional high point is the version of "You've Got Her In Your Pocket", easily one of the finest moments in the band’s live history, as the audience of family, friends, and locals help Jack sing the final lines in the song. ‘Cause it’s home, sweet home.
