The White Stripes
O'Cayz Corral
Madison, WI
March 16, 2000
The White Stripes first-ever performance in Madison was a windy Thursday night in a college town where it appeared most of the students had already left for spring break. The gig at O'Cayz was the band's first after the completion of their sophomore album, the "De Stijl" cover photos taken a mere two days earlier. While still three months before its release, March 16th is, essentially, the first show of the "De Stijl" tour cycle. The band does four songs off the album (some with the intro of "from our new album that's coming out"), all of which they'd been playing live for months already.
While included in a still-unshared amateur video of the 3/3/00 Magic Stick gig, the version of "Death Letter" included here is the earliest available recorded live performance of what would become one of the band's mainstay songs, performed at almost every show for the rest of their career. A little more simple than the behemoth it would later evolve into, I'm quite fond of the inauspicious take on Son House's classic here. Like just about everything with the White Stripes...simple beginnings.
From my perch, the show was solid if not wildly divergent or raucous. The band went on second of three bands...before the headlining Mistreaters yet after Rob McCuen and the Ruins. I always felt the snare on this board mix was just too low for my liking, but was eternally grateful that Kevin Meyer (of the Mistreaters) had the foresight to record the show. Bright moments like the seldom performed "Grinnin' In Your Face" or "Astro" interluding with a nod to "Peter Gunn" but without the "I Walk Like Jayne Mansfield" lyrics or Jack saying he invited the mayor of Madison to the show that evening...all stick out to me as welcome, unique turns in the evening.
Most of all, I'm still scratching my head at Jack introducing "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" as having been written by Buster Keaton...a spurious claim I still have no insight as to where in the hell it came from but had blindly repeated for years before realizing that Burt Bachrach and Hal David were the true authors.
Personally, I had a bitch of a ureteral stent removed earlier in the day and found out I'd gotten a full scholarship to college prior to shoving off for Madison....so all around, it was a pretty memorable day.
Ocayz was such a unique place. So many big names went thru that place,before they were well known. It’s been gone now for quite some time but I still tell people about it. I remember seeing so many good acts in the late 90s and early 00. Although it’s gone, Madison still thrives with some great venues that host a number of great artists that are cutting their teeth. It’s almost like a proving grounds. Say what you want, cheeseheads know good music when they aren’t filling beer bottles with piss.
I have no idea if there is a decent audio recording of this (I’ve seen there is low quality camcorder footage on YouTube) but The White Stripes played in Houston, TX at Rudyard’s mere days after 9/11/2001 (which also happens to be my mom’s birthday) and my mom missed the opportunity to go see them.
Her friend invited her out but she was unsure as everything was so heavy and she’d never really heard of them before. He tried his best to convince her that she wouldn’t be disappointed but she didn’t end up going. She always regretted it.
As far as I know, that was the only time The White Stripes ever performed in Houston and it would be several years before Jack White would ever return. I believe his first time back to Houston was in 2014 during the Lazaretto tour headlining Free Press Summer Fest. He then returned for two nights at the Revention Music Center in support of Boarding House Reach in 2018.
I finally had my chance to see him live for the first time with The Raconteurs on October 5th, 2019 at the Revention Music Center. The last truly great experience I had before the pandemic.
This also kicked off my falling hard down the Brendan Benson rabbit hole who I have also become a giant fan of his body of work after having loved the Racs forever.
Such a memorable night as the band was in top form and the crowd was so lively.
As a side note that I love, the long awaited return of The Raconteurs with Sunday Driver and Now That You’re Gone arrived on MY birthday on December 19th, 2018. Couldn’t have asked for a better gift than an album rollout from one of my absolute favorite bands.
Shows from my hometown don’t really seem noteworthy enough to make into Vault packages or a Nugs release but I love hearing any new recordings I haven’t heard before.
Anyway, I just felt randomly compelled to share as this post got me thinking about the story my mother told me and reminiscing on the special, unmatched experience of live music pre-pandemic.
Peace to all! -Quincy
I live in Madison. you and I had a conversation years ago about that place and how it’s now gone. too bad but at least we have these things!
And gee whiz, the last sentence didn’t sink in until a second read through. What a day for you, Ben.
That opening quintet of songs would’ve left me hyperventilating on the floor. Looking forward to enjoying this one.