When Jack White announced his Supply Chain Issues Tour last year—which will include his first-ever performance in the state of Maine as a solo artist—I wrote about how he never performs with a setlist.

In other words, he and his band get onstage and, well, anything can happen.

Jack White
David James Swanson, davidswanson.com / jackwhiteiii.com
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That means, quite simply, that no two shows are ever the same.

On Friday, April 8, I flew to Detroit to see the opening show of White's tour, and I can tell you this: there will never, ever be a show like that one again.

Jack White Got Married

You read that right. White got married during his show at The Masonic Temple Detroit.

Let me start from the beginning.

The night started with two opening acts: Sugar Tradition, a psych-rock band from Detroit, and Olivia Jean, a garage rocker who has long been a member of the Third Man Records family. They both were great and kept the energy thriving as The Masonic Temple Detroit—the largest Masonic Temple in the world—filled with fans.

Around 9:30 PM, the Temple was packed and the headliner started his set.

White and the Supply Chain Issues quartet—bassist Dominic John Davis, keyboardist Quincy McCrary and drummer Daru Jones—tore into "Taking Me Back" and "Fear of the Dawn", setting the stage for a night that would be filled with rock and roll. There were no gimmicks or overt-the-top production. Armed mainly with his sparkly blue Telecaster, White bounced around the stage, leading his band from song to song and enticing the crowd to sing along every chance he could.

Jack White
David James Swanson, davidswanson.com / jackwhiteiii.com
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He was fired up.

And he had every reason to be.

Earlier that day, he and his band performed the National Anthem at Opening Day for the Detroit Tigers, not to mention that Friday was the release of Fear of the Dawn, his first of two new records that he's unveiling this year.

White was all smiles for 12 songs, but then his excitement reached a new level as he ended his regular set with "Hotel Yorba" from The White Stripes.

Before he started the tune, he invited Olivia Jean to the stage to play with him, making it clear that this was the final song of the night. White's been known to play 20-30 songs and long sets, so getting 13 songs in a little more than an hour was a little disappointing. You could feel a universal surprise amongst the fans that the night was almost over.

But before the final verse of "Hotel Yorba," it became clear that White had other motives with his setlist.

He introduced Olivia Jean to the crowd as his girlfriend, and then wrestled around with something in his pocket...and asked her to marry him.

Clearly in shock, Jean hugged him and kissed him before helping him finish the last verse, which opens with White singing, "Let's get married In a big cathedral by a priest / 'Cause if I'm the man that you love the most / You could say, 'I do' at least."

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be part of White's engagement. But that wasn't all. As the band left the stage, the crowd went nuts, chanting, "One more song! One more song!" White and his band came back out onstage, along with Jean and a couple of other special guests. White's mother accompanied him, as did Third Man Records co-owner Ben Swank. It quickly became obvious that White didn't just want to get engaged during the show, but also to get married.

The Wedding Ceremony

White's best man was his bassist, and Jean's maid of honor was her bassist, too. White's mother stood next to the women as he introduced Ben Swank, a registered minister. A few seconds later, a man walked on stage who was introduced as Jean's father.

Swank opened the ceremony with some familiar words: "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called 'life.'" He asked Jean if she would love and stand by White, and also if she would "tell him what's up when he needs to be told what's up." She responded with a huge smile, "Always."

Swank turned to White and asked, "Do you promise to respect this woman? Cherish this woman? Obey this woman?" After each question, White answered, "I do."

And with that, Swank pronounced the two musicians husband and wife, and White and his band ended the unforgettable night with two explosive songs: "Steady, As She Goes" and "Seven Nation Army."

Where Are the Videos?

Of course, there is no fan footage of any part of White's show, as he prohibits cell phone use. We had to put our phones in a locked pouch and could only use them in designated areas, which meant that whether we were rocking out with White or celebrating his nuptials, the 5,000 fans in attendance were completely, 100% present.

Jack White
David James Swanson, davidswanson.com / jackwhiteiii.com
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Like I said, no two Jack White shows are the same. Even his tour poster—a "time capsule" poster that was printed right before White took the stage—captured this reality.

Who knows what he has up his sleeves for the remainder of the tour, but if his opening night is any indication, fans should be prepared for anything and everything.

White comes to Portland on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Cross Insurance Arena, and as I mentioned, this will be his first time performing anywhere in the state of Maine as a solo artist. That in and of itself is exciting, and by the time he gets here, he'll be celebrating not one but two new albums.

I've had the chance to catch White a few times over the years—including his 2014 performance at The Masonic Temple Detroit that was recently released as a four-LP set as part of the Third Man Records Vault—but I can tell you this: even before the engagement and wedding, the show was one of the best I've ever seen. His energy with his smaller band was off the charts, and I know he's only just getting started.

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Will you be at the show in Portland? You can grab details and tickets here, and if you're going to make it, send me a message in the CYY app and let me know what is the one song you hope he'll play.

In the meantime, here's his setlist from Friday, April 8, in Detroit. I'm including a few photos from my trip below.

Oh, and thanks to White and his photographer, David James Swanson, for sharing their photos with fans since we couldn't take any during the show! You can follow along with all of White's live photos here, and you will be able to stream every show from this tour via nugs.net here.

David James Swanson
David James Swanson, davidswanson.com / jackwhiteiii.com
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Jack White Setlist — Friday, April 8, 2022 — Detroit, Michigan

"Taking Me Back"
"Fear of the Dawn"
"Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground"
"Love Interruption"
"Love Is Selfish"
"I Cut Like a Buffalo"
"Lazaretto"
"Love Is Blindness"
"We're Going to Be Friends"
"You Don't Understand Me"
"I'm Slowly Turning Into You"
"Ball and Biscuit"
"Hotel Yorba"

Encore

"Steady, As She Goes"
"Seven Nation Army"

David James Swanson
David James Swanson, davidswanson.com / jackwhiteiii.com
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Third Man Records in Detroit

Third Man Records in Detroit
Chuck Armstrong
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Third Man Records Pressing Plant

Third Man Records Pressing Plant
Chuck Armstrong
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Third Man Records Pressing Schedule

Third Man Records Pressing Schedule
Chuck Armstrong
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Jack White Performing the National Anthem at Comerica Park

Jack White Performing at Comerica Park
Chuck Armstrong
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Third Man Rolling Record Store at The Masonic Temple

Third Man Rolling Record Store
Chuck Armstrong
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