Jack White looking cool with a Jazz Bass

[Smoove-Groove]

These kind of threads always crack me up. Because there is alway gonna be one or two people who chime in with “who?” Or “jack who?”
What’s the point of posting that question. Because it has nothing to do with curiosity. It has a bit of snark and a, “well, if I have never heard of them, then they can’t be popular” mentality to it. Before you ask who, google and maybe a quick listen on YouTube. Then chime in. To be honest when someone posts “who” about a popular relevant artist, I have a feeling they have actually heard about of them and are just trying by to stir the pot.
“Elton who?”

 

[Paul New]

Who?

 

[cnltb]

See what I am getting at?

Jesus christ why does acknowledging someone is cool mean you are like a fan of his style or "lose sleep" cuz it's like so important... No... I just follow him on social media... I don't follow many artists, the ones I do, it's because they make good music, and he's just a dude who had a Duo with no bass, now he's holding a bass, lookin sharp...

You posted in 'Basses' and talk about 'A dude looking sharp'...

 

[ElectricBass72]

Middle-aged, GenXer here. I didn't like the White Stripes or Jack White solo stuff in the late 90's and early 00's, but it grew on me over the years. If Stripes or White solo stuff is on SiriusXM.... I usually listen to the song and not switch it to another station.

 

[BlueShox]

Like many of today's artists, it's all about image and appearance.

Man, I miss getting excited about music.

Plenty of bands like these for you to go see!

 

[Raoul_Duke]

He looks pale, like he needs to eat something. This picture really just makes me want to fix him a sandwich.

 

[Hot Rats]

I like the Misfits so Jack seems ok to me. Though I haven't heard much at all of his work, I did like when he hooked up that crazy guitar thing at the beginning of It Might Get Loud. Also, that suit needs a tie.

 

[GretschWretch]

Otherwise, we're sitting at the table being served icing and sprinkles... and that's been the case for "popular music" for the better part of the last 10-15 years.

The human condition. Once they reach a certain age about the only genres where aging musicians can thrive without looking too old are roots/Americana -- things like folk/blues/country. Oh, and the Great American Songbook. I see where Tony Bennett has a new album in the works . . . at age ninety-five.

 

[GretschWretch]

I dunno. That big, clumpy mess on the left side of his head (his right side) don't look too skillful to me, but maybe clumpy hair is all the rage these days. I dunno.

Clumpy hair is better than no hair. (Coming from one who should know.)

 

[GretschWretch]

Pretty easy to tell who the boomers are. haha

The boomers at least have lawns to tell people to get off of. I doubt that practitioners of the "gig economy" ever will.

 

[Kelly robinson]

I don't know how it came about but the video "It Might Get Loud " with Jack White , the Edge and Jimmy Page would seem to indicate that Mr White has some guitar skills beyond " mere wankerdom " as some have implied about his playing ability . He also appears to have some music writing ability too as " 7 Nation Army " has been turned into a ubiquitous college football theme song and several other tunes done during the White Stripes era are pretty catchy . Does he look like a pale- ish blue poser in that pic ? Yeah pretty much but so what . Anyone remember what Roy Orbison looked like most of his life ? It didn't matter at all though because he had that enormous talent . Looks only matter if you don't have the talent to begin with and need to fall back on how you look to get ahead . Mind you I'm not saying Jack White is in the same league as Roy Orbison at this point and he may well never be - but looks won't or at least shouldn't be the determining factor as to his eventual standing as a musician .... Kelly

 

[TNCreature]

not sure which I want more, his bass or his jacket...

 

[Gbass75]

I'm surprised. He always seemed to be a big fan of red...

Funny... I thought he already went through his "blue period" when he was touring Blunderbuss...

I know lots of folks who don't like Mr. White, but I've followed him ever since the early days of The White Stripes... he's a very talented and creative fellow... I haven't loved everything he's done, but I have tremendous respect for him as an artist and American Ethnomusicologist.

Love 'em or hate 'em... he's legit.

P.S. -- I'm not gonna lie, though... I bristle a little whenever guitar players pick up a bass and start wankin'!

 

[BadSanta1281]

Pretty easy to tell who the boomers are. haha

Easy now... I'm a boomer who likes Jack White.

Perhaps the hate floating around is just a sign of jealousy at his success.

One thing that's always surprised me about TalkBass is all the musicians hating on other musicians.

 

[Gbass75]

Stevie Wonder, watch out!

Oh... wait...

OOF!!! ...though, it's not like it's too soon for that joke, am I right?!?

OK. Still have never heard of him. Googled him and still nothing. Oh well, glad you all know who he is.

Well... umm... wait. Are you joking? I mean... you mentioned Google, so you have the internet... but, you couldn't find "Jack White?" Something is amiss here!

gotta say I don't mind people having these opinions... the musical style, image vs. pure art conversation is an interesting one...

The reason I made this thread was basically just to find out if the bass he's holding is a fretless or not..
And I guess it interested me because it also does have something to do with these categorizations and walls in our heads that are evident from the image discussion... because a fretless JB has such a Jaco vibe... But then again Jack loves slide guitar, and also I'd assume he's a JPJ fan.. So it does make sense.. I mean I always liked fretless basses but it felt like something that didn't belong to my world so I kinda didn't let myself like them or consider getting one... Not that I am now, I'm broke.. Just found it cool to see a hard-rocker/blues guy holding a fretless JB, not giving a F.... So I guess that's what inspired me about the photo... This "breaking norms" attitude he has, don't think in a box vibe... So what if it's a Jaco bass and he's the furthest thing from a Jazz-Fusion dude... it's all just boxes... and we all better think more outside of them

And maybe that's kinda why the thread also went in this stylistic/hater/lover direction...

I appreciated your post very much. Sorry if it went off the rails a touch.

I like Jack's evolving style... Back when I played "professionally" I encouraged my band to put a bit more thought into the presentation and style of the group... it went a long way... Mr. White does the same thing.

The aesthetics of the instrument, combined with the look of the performer, presents the total package. I've seen lots of players who take the stage dressed like they're going to the corner for a carton of milk, playing basses that look like someone threw-up on their pants... but then, some of those same players may have looked at me take the stage and thought the presentation was "overdone." My background is in both music and theatre, so "costume" is part of my broader vision as a performer; but, it would be foolish to assume that everyone is going to see things the way I do, no?

I just hope everyone here can play nice, and be cordial toward one another... after all, we're all brothers and sisters of the BASS!!!

 

[viking power]

One thing that's always surprised me about TalkBass is all the musicians hating on other musicians.

I’m coming back to bass after a hiatus playing guitar almost exclusively. Thought the elitism and musicians hating on other musicians was reserved for guitar players. Guess I was wrong.

 

[Grinderman]

I honestly didn’t know, probably because I never latched on to 90s music...

I was amused regardless.

//There seems to be concern about Mr. White's apparent pallid state. I'm pretty sure the creative intent of blue hair and the blue his jacket was to serve as a color compliment to warm color tones of the Jazz Bass, reinforced by bluesy skin, accomplished with a photographic filter.

 

[lermgalieu]

I listen to a pretty wide variety of music. I don't disagree that some jazz music is very wanky, high on sophistication and low on emotion. But Jack White is a major guitar wanker, and not a talented one either. When there's no space in your music because it's wall to wall guitar noise, and in that guitar noise there's no harmony or melody, you're a wanker. It might be something if his songs had a meaningful artistic or social messages but they're devoid of that as well.

In terms of "guitar" music I enjoy it's all over the board. Old popular stuff like Beatles, Bowie, Zep, Pink Floyd, Police, Petty, "alternative" stuff like radiohead, ratm, NIN, slightly niche stuff like the cure, andrew bird, belle and sebastian, helmet, sigur rose, punk/hardcore stuff like jawbreaker, dillinger 4, dillinger escape plan, his hero is gone, sunny day real estate. and that is just a small sampling of guitar oriented music, which makes up only a small percentage of the music i listen to on a regular basis.

It sounds like you've only heard the White Stripes, and not much of it at that. Maybe listen to the guy before you disparage him so thoroughly. He in fact is quite talented, has many songs with very little guitar (let alone wankery) and has a wonderful sense of melody. Perhaps check out Blunderbuss or some Raconteurs stuff. Or just do what you want, but it's kinda lame to besmirch someone so roundly when you clearly don't have a sense of the guy's output.

 

[3bc]

It sounds like you've only heard the White Stripes, and not much of it at that. Maybe listen to the guy before you disparage him so thoroughly. He in fact is quite talented, has many songs with very little guitar (let alone wankery) and has a wonderful sense of melody. Perhaps check out Blunderbuss or some Raconteurs stuff. Or just do what you want, but it's kinda lame to besmirch someone so roundly when you clearly don't have a sense of the guy's output.

I'm sure that's a fair criticism, I definitely have a very loose acquaintance with his most popular music. But life's too short. When the top 5-10 spotify songs are all dreadful (IMO), I'm not going to go hunting for the deep cuts.

And for you know what's and giggles, I did a youtube of Jack White guitar solos. Since he's famously been in a really popular band with just a drummer and guitarist, not seeing the need for bass on many songs, I thought I'd make sure he wasn't some secret virtuoso that doesn't come across in a radio friendly singles cut, and the video was not flattering. Kind of like a wannabe Johnny Greenwood style guitar playing/soloing with out the interest or harmonization. Which seems very on brand based on my casual familiarity with his music.

 

[JKos]

@3bc ,
Try some Raconteurs.