Jack White “Live: The Supply Chain Issues Tour” 2022. Third Man Records, Third Man Vault # 54. Last night Jack White performed a surprise show at the Empty Bottle in Chicago. We were not there, though we had the opportunity to go with our Vault membership. I probably would have scored tickets, too: even though they sold in out in a couple of minutes, one of my talents is securing exclusive, limited-access tickets, records etc. But our kid had a high school orchestra concert last night and we’ve missed far too many already (because of travel, a global pandemic, a couldn’t-miss 7 Seconds show, etc.). So being good parents, we skipped seeing Jack White in an intimate venue just 90 minutes or so from our house.

We did see Jack White on The Supply Chain Issues Tour here in Milwaukee in August and heard a lot of what’s on this 3-LP release, one in blue, one in white and one in black vinyl. As always, it is gorgeous with high production value and quality vinyl, printing and packaging. Also included is a 7″ of “Tip From You To Me” which I’ll write about separately. The live tracks are pulled from a variety of shows throughout the tour and the world: Germany, France, London, Vegas, Chicago, Austin, Detroit and more. None from the Milwaukee show, unfortunately.

Disk One is a collection of live tracks all from White’s 2022 release Fear of the Dawn. Some of the best are the hit “Hi-De-Ho,” “Taking Me Back” and particularly raucous and ass-shaking renditions of “What’s the Trick” performed in Frankfurt, Germany and “That Was Then (This is Now)” from Zurich Switzerland. Disk Two is a track-for-track performance of Entering Heaven Alive, performed on July 22nd, 2022, the day of the record’s release, in London at Union Chapel. Like the record, the acoustic(ish), folky show contrasts with the harder blues garage of Fear of the Dawn. Disk Three is super-interesting: it’s a mix of covers and spontaneous compositions.  Some of the best covers include The Stooges “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” The Monks “I Hate You” and Willie Dixon/Bo Diddley’s “Diddy Wah Diddy.” The most surprising is White’s rendition of Black Flag’s “Nervous Breakdown.” It’s really hard to believe some of the off-the-top-of-his-blue-head songs were actually made up on the spot. “Gordie Howe Bridge” (performed in Detroit) is simply kicking and “I’m Running in Brooklyn Because I’ve Got Nowhere Else to Go” (obviously played in Brooklyn) is a killer punk blues.

I haven’t clicked through to see it (you have to create an account and I’m not willing to do that) but the show is available to view here:

https://all.worldconcert.site/Jack-White-at-Empty-Bottle-Chicago-IL-USA

Here’s a link to his concert in Paris that includes the “Hi-De-Ho” performance on The Supply Chain Issues Tour.