The White Stripes @ Snowden Grove Amphitheatre 7/31/07

While Mississippi is not always the best state to party in, it rose up a few notches for at least one night while hosting the White Stripes at Snowden Grove Amphitheater Tuesday. Walking in to the concert area was like passing a Saturday football tailgate into a state fair, but sitting on the lawn elevated above the stage was all style. When the White Stripes pushed on stage, dressed in red jumpsuits and backed by a two-tier red background, complete with three staircases and a giant disco ball glittering overhead, it kept getting better.

The giant spotlights in the crowd beamed white light to the canvas behind, lifting giant shadows of Meg at drums and Jack running around the stage. The mounted lights and red and white strobes pulsating around the stage to the heavy beat and blues-infused guitar riffs was incredible. The visual spectacle of the pair shadowed overhead. Although claiming sibling status, Jack and Meg White apparently married at one point, divorced, and kept the band together. But whatever you hear or believe, the Whites Stripes are a prolific duo, with so many songs to choose from its hard to keep track. They played a lot of songs from their new album, Icky Thump, sounding much better live than on the new album.

The encore of the show completely blew me away. As Jack White finished a slow solo guitar piece, three sets of lights, of course red and white, smashed the disco ball hanging over the keys, and the entire stage turned into a 70s red-white disco aquarium. My one mark against them was they forgot to play "Fell in Love With A Girl." But I liked most of what I heard. Highlights included "Hotel Yorba," "I'm Slowly Turning Into You," and an offstage guitar performance by Jack with Meg on vocals.

The White Stripes - I'm Slowly Turning Into You
The White Stripes - You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told)
The White Stripes - Hotel Yorba