The White Stripes Across Canada: Yellowknife, NWT

Multiplex Arena

Yellowknife, NT

on Jun 26 2007

Kate Guay (CHARTattack)

06/28/2007 2:30pm

Summer has just kicked into high gear in the Northwest Territories, with the solstice sun refusing to set and the smell and haze of forest fires hanging in the air. But for nearly two months, the hot topic of conversation has been The White Stripes.

Yellowknifers are lucky to get a wide selection of Canadian talent coming up for our annual summer Folk On The Rocks festival, but as yet no artists or bands as internationally renowned as Meg and Jack White have ever played a gig in our humble capital.

Unconfirmed rumors of how the duo spent their day in the city ran rampant. This reporter was on hand as one individual made endless cell phone calls on Monday night trying to put the Stripes' people in touch with his renowned taxidermist stepfather so they could have a viewing of his handiwork. No word if that panned out, but the latest story is that Meg took a tour of the brightly coloured and self-sustaining houseboats in Yellowknife Bay — the best bohemian neighborhood we've got to offer.

There was no impromptu park concert for the 'Knife, unlike lucky Whitehorse, but the fans came out in force to a sold-out show. More than 2,000 people packed the Multiplex arena, some in the bleachers, but most on the cement of the hockey rink situated at the base of a simple stage with a deep red backdrop. Local rockers Diga warmed up the early crowd with a 30-minute set of their hard bluesy rock.

The floor then filled with anticipation for the Stripes, and the crowd lost their shit when the house lights went down. They kept the same simple set-up as previous shows — Meg's kit to the left, facing right towards Jack's multiple mics, guitars and organ. They opened with "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground" and kept the set fairly similar to previous shows they've played in the past week in Canada and New York. The mix of old to new material was about 60/40.

The arena is hardly an ideal place for any band to play. However, it's the only venue in town large enough for 2,000 sweaty people. The sound was also extremely bottom-heavy, which worked mostly to the Stripes' advantage. Despite the sub-par acoustics, the energy was high as they ripped through an hour-long set. Highlights included "Hotel Yorba," "In The Cold, Cold Night," "We're Going To Be Friends" and a beautiful take on their cover of "Jolene."

After the first set, the band came back for an encore that peaked with "Seven Nation Army" and ended with a singalong to "Boweevil." And then, as they have at the two previous shows, they walked off stage to roaring cheers as Jack waved the Northwest Territories flag. Meg, Jack, you're welcome to come back any time.