I Want to Be a Rock Star Like You, Jack White

I had the honor today of attending a recording session at Capitol Records (and trying not to stroke out on pure euphoria, if that's possible) with Jack White and The Raconteurs.

It came close to being an out-of-body experience.

In between performances at The Greek Theatre last night and tonight, the band took a couple hours to film and record a performance of four songs from their latest album for a show on Sky Arts -- the UK's MTV/PBS/uber-arts TV station.

(The outfit's ability to book The Raconteurs, the morning after one show and hours before a second show, gives you some idea of how big a deal they are in the UK part of the world.)

I sat behind glass in the fabled Studio A, where magic has been made before, and tried to make myself invisible, in my happy place. The band was about 30 feet away, partially obstructed by cameras and the film crew.

This screen shows the feed from each camera as they shot. There's a close-up of Jack White in the middle on the top.

This was all thanks (thank you, thank you, thank you!!) to my friend Jia-Rui Chong. Her husband, independent recording/mixing engineer Bryan Cook, was kind enough to let us in for a peek.

I didn't even realize until later that I was sitting in the room with producer Nigel Godrich, often called the unofficial sixth member of Radiohead as a nod to his collaboration with that band. Godrich is the one pulling together this show, called "From the Basement," for Sky Arts.

Some of it is available for download.

I've been struggling with how to describe Jack White up close. He is... a force. He's like a tight coil of energy that is exploding, on its own, out of his guitar.

When it escapes, he has to jump around. It's joyous.

Unfettered, surrounded by it in the studio, I realized how visceral his voice sounds -- especially on the folk tale "Carolina Drama."

This band has its act together; I've seen them before, after they released "Broken Boy Soldiers," and they have a full, tight sound.

But next to Jack White, his mates look like cardboard cutouts.

It's like he's shot through with electricity.

It even made me wonder if Meg White is really the blank slate she seems to be when the White Stripes are on stage -- or if he just washes her out.

Besides "Carolina Drama," they did "Consolers of the Lonely" twice, "Rich Kid Blues" and "Shades of Black" today.

Witnessing it all, sitting in the pot of delicious, uncooked sound that comes -- if you think about it -- out of nowhere, made me think about performance and the creative process and how special the people are who can do it on command.

I can't fathom that talent. And, especially, unleashing it in a glass bowl.

And Jack White definitely has a look -- the black, black hair and paleness that must be made up -- and he had all this going on today, dressed all in black.

But after seeing him and hearing him up close, I'd have to think he could stand on a street corner in a member's only jacket and draw a crowd.

I'd be the first one in line.

Because I still do corrections: We were actually sitting in Studio B and looking into Studio A... 

Comments

[Katrina]

In a word: Amazing. Great job of writing about the experience. I. Am. There. :-)

[Jojo]

Lucky girl. :) Sooo much talent in one artist. Jack is quite simply heaven sent.

[reagan]

OHMAGA! Never when you talk about tv/movie celebrities am I anything but interested, much like I am at the zoo.

But JACK WHITE. You know I love him. Have always loved him. The love... the love goes deep. And far. I have almost everything he's ever done w/ White Stripes and Raconteurs, and I love him. But have I made clear, that I love him?

I'm freaking out second hand. LIke I said, you could have dinner w/ DiNero and I am amused, but never jealous.

Jack White gives me palpitations. I'm the girl who probably would have put out for Iggy Pop, repulsive but somehow sexy w/ talent. Jack White is a GENIUS.. Genius I tell you....

If you get the chance, can you email me EVERY detail???

Not to come across as a giggly starstruck teenager or anything.

[Kathy Cahill]

Great article!

But, having seen the Mighty Jack up close, I know his skin is actually that pale without makeup. Quite beautiful. Sigh....

[Kathy Cahill]

Great article!

But, having seen the Mighty Jack up close, I know his skin is actually that pale without makeup. Quite beautiful. Sigh....