The White Stripes Tear It Up Under The Great White Northern Lights

By Jake Guidry in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 9, 2010 9:20PM

It's been almost three years since The White Stripes embarked on their against-the-grain tour of Canada. Having never toured the country before, Jack and Meg attacked the idea with creativity and vigor, setting out to do things that no other band on their scale had done before. In addition to playing typical large venues, the duo hit every province, towns large and small, locations quirky and unpredictable. Canucks everywhere frantically scrambled to the town square or the local YMCA after receiving tips that The White Stripes would be playing a gig. They played bowling alleys, pool halls, and even boats. Performances were unrehearsed, chaotic, and free of charge, and all from one of the biggest bands in the world. Fortunately, for those who missed out on one of the most unique and meaningful tours in a very long time, director Emmet Malloy captured it all for your viewing pleasure.

Malloy's documentary, The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights, recounts the duo's performances and travels all over Canada, showing the great contrast between their small and large shows. Though at first listen The White Stripes can be misconstrued as static or "premeditated", Malloy's film captures the real diversity of Jack and Meg, not only as musicians, but as people, too. Jack even ventures into this idea, addressing the accusation that "Everything about The White Stripes is a lie," defending very earnestly that the music, above all, is not. Insights like these are peppered throughout this entertaining and sincere documentary, as Jack comes off as down-to-earth as any other former furniture re-upholsterer should.

While segments of the band rocking furiously in front of large crowds are entertaining, the real treasure of UGWNL is seeing The White Stripes play the smaller side shows, which is fittingly capped off by a very moving performance at the end of the film. It's a move that just about every other big-time band would never do, and yet they pull it off effortlessly and without an air of pretentiousness. Never once is there a feeling that what they're doing is self aggrandizing or insincere. If there was, UGWNL would fall flat on its face, and we may have to assume that everything is a lie.

Check here for the times and locations of several Chicago screenings of The White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights