White Stripes resurrect Tower Records for one-off L.A. gig

Lyndsey Parker Wed Jun 20, 10:00 PM ET

When iconic record store chain Tower Records shuttered its doors for good earlier this year, it truly marked the end of an era. But last night (Wednesday, June 20), Tower's former Hollywood flagship location on the Sunset Strip got a new lease on life, as the White Stripes temporarily reopened it as "Icky Thump Records" to celebrate the release of their sixth album, Icky Thump.

The Icky Thump Records store (complete with a new sign in Tower's old block-letter font) opened Monday night at midnight to sell copies of the Stripes' new album, with the first 500 customers receiving tickets for a special Wednesday White Stripes concert, taking place inside the store itself.

Wednesday night, after being introduced by comic actor Jack Black (aka "the other Jack," who shouted, "Are you read for a rip-snortin' humdinger?"), Jack and Meg White appeared on the store's makeshift stage in very old-school Stripes mode: Gone were the mariachi costumes, gothic undertaker suits, and bandito mustaches of recent Stripes image makeovers, now replaced by their basic late-'90s red-and-white motif (Jack sported plain red slacks, a fitted black tee, a clean-shaven face, and center-parted bowlcut bob; Meg, seated behind her peppermint-swirl-patterned drumkit, was indie-girl fetching in a striped sailor shirt).

The primitive sound of the new Icky Thump songs played this evening--like the "House Of The Rising Sun"-esque, slow-burner ballad "I'm A Martyr For My Love For You" and the loopy, squalling first single, "Icky Thump"--harkened back to the stripped-down roadhouse blues of earlier Stripes material, as well.

"Welcome to the grand opening of our new record store, specializing in tangible records," Jack White wailed in full fire-and-brimstone preacherman mode, as he greeted the delighted if sweaty crowd. (Unfortunately, Icky Thump Records' new location was not air-conditioned). "Can I get an amen for records you can hold in your hand? Can I get an amen for non-disposable music?"

After an enthusiastic round of audience amens, the Whites continued with their nearly hour-long set, which included mostly Icky Thump tracks along with a handful of well-loved classics like "Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground," "Hotel Yorba," and "Seven Nation Army," as well as the duo's signature cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" featuring Jack's absolutely unhinged, scenery-chewing delivery.

After Jack thanked the fans who'd camped out in front of the store earlier in the week to make sure they were among the first 500 in line ("Did you get the pizzas we sent over?" he asked kindly), he concluded the concert by saying, "This [Tower Records location] is a big institution in this town, and we don't take it for granted. Thank you for letting us do this."

And thank you, Jack, for letting Tower Records have one last hurrah.