XL Recordings

Jack White's 'other' band The Raconteurs were the highlight s of the third day of Spain's Benicassim Festival (July 19).

To us Yanks unwilling to plunk down the extra dough for HD cable, Nigel Godrich's basement sounds like a realm of great mystery, like Kraftwerk's studio, or wherever Kevin Shields has been holed up for the last decade. But, every so often, the superproducer/gracious host lets folks slip down the stairs for a little program he calls "From the Basement", featuring sets from the likes of Thom Yorke, Sonic Youth, Jarvis Cocker, the White Stripes, PJ Harvey, the Shins, and more.

The show has aired on the net (our DSL at home sucks, too), in the UK on Sky Arts, and in the States on a channel I don't get called Rave HD. This fall, however, "From the Basement" will go quite wide, as it graces the Independent Film Channel's new Tuesday night lineup [from The Hollywood Reporter, via Idolator].

"From the Basement" will debut on IFC September 30 as part of the network's "Automat" block of shows aimed at the young male demographic. "The Henry Rollins Show", which features the hardcore icon chatting with/mildly intimidating your favorite stars, and sketch comedy show "The Whitest Kids U' Know" are also due to hit "Automat".

It's a bit unclear as to whether Godrich and company will tape new episodes of the show for IFC, but as a member of their target demographic, let me just say: get Animal Collective.

The Raconteurs' mainman Jack White finally made it to the T In The Park festival tonight (July 12) - five years after a car accident forced his 'other' band The White Stripes to pull out of the festival.

Photo by Matt Jordan

Well, this is random: Two years after moving to Nashville from his hometown of Detroit, Jack White has written a poem honoring the Motor City.

According to the Detroit Free Press, where his poem appears [via Stereogum], the White Stripes frontman is making an act of penance of sorts for comments he made about the city's music scene in a recent Rolling Stone article about White's other band, the Raconteurs.

White explained his comments ("I couldn't breathe anymore in that scene") to the Free Press by saying they were not "a representation of my feelings about Detroit the city, a town that I have strong feelings about...nor were they expressions about its citizens."

White prefaced his poem thusly: "The following poem is the Detroit from my mind, the Detroit that is in my heart, the home that encapsulates and envelops those who are truly blessed with the experience of living within its boundaries."

Check out the poem, "Courageous Dream's Concern", below. White's Raconteurs dates are after that.

Courageous Dream's Concern

I have driven slow,
three miles an hour or so,
through Highland Park, Heidelberg, and the
Cass Corridor.
I've hopped on the Michigan,
and transferred to the Woodward,
and heard the good word blaring from an
a.m. radio.
I love the worn-through tracks of trolley
trains breaking through their
concrete vaults,
As I ride the...

Read More

The White Stripes' front man Jack White has written a poem to celebrate the city of Detroit to make it clear that he loves the city.

The White Stripes frontman has composed a paean to his beloved Motor City

The Last Shadow Puppets played a surprise gig at Glastonbury tonight (June 28) - and were joined by Jack White.

The White Stripes track is the latest in a long line of indie footie chants

Meg White made a surprise appearance on stage in Detroit on Saturday night (June 7), as The Raconteurs played a show at the Fillmore in their hometown.