As you most likely already know, since we’ve been raving about it for months, Nashville based rocker Jack White is set to play his largest solo Music City show to date (and first in three years) TONIGHT, Jan. 28, at Bridgestone Arena. And, if as if that weren’t enough to make this one of the most-anticipated musical events of the year, the former White Stipe will host country legend Loretta Lynn and local guitar rocker William Tyler as his opening acts. Astonishingly, a limited numbers of tickets are still available here, so grab ’em immediately and read on for a preview.
JACK WHITE
If you live in Nashville and/or like music and/or don’t live under a rock, then you already know who Jack White is. At least you should. The Grammy award winning rocker first rose to fame as part of minimalist garage duo The White Stripes, before branching out with The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather and, in recent years, cementing his legacy with two incredible solo efforts. His most recent, Lazaretto, is something of a culmination of his varied and impressive career tuns, and, between global tour dates, headlining festival spots, award nominations, and the biggest vinyl release in history, it’s safe to say that Jack White has never been more influential. Here in Nashville, we also know him for his label/studio/complex Third Man Records, which is doing its part to keep real, worthwhile music alive, both in resurrecting classic recordings, and putting out new material from major artists as well as talented up and comers. White has really adopted and embraced Nashville as his home, and, due to his genuine love of our city and scene, we’re better off for it. The rocker’s headlining spot at Bonnaroo was one of the most mind-blowing performances we’ve ever witnessed, and, though kind of wish he was doing something like a week-long residency at The Ryman, we know he’s capable of a playing for a Bridgestone-sized crowd in a way that still feels intimate and fulfilling. If you miss out on this one you will, undoubtedly, have missed one of the best, if not the best, performances of 2015.
LORETTA LYNN
With a career that spans the course of six decades, living legend Loretta Lynn has a legacy that is almost too monumental and influential to sum up in a simple paragraph. Sometimes called the “Queen of Country Music,” and for good reason, Lynn was a pioneer in a male dominated music scene, and, with over 60 studio releases and nearly 50 million albums sold, she’s one of the most successful and beloved country artists of all time, period. Her associations over the years have been numerous and impressive, but the one that led her to a spot on this lineup was just over a decade ago, when a young Jack White, at the peak of his White Stripes fame, stepped in as a co-writer and producer to craft Lynn’s most recent release, 2004’s Van Lear Rose. Notably, the pair, who have remained friends, collaborated on a duet, “Portland, Oregon,” and just the likelihood of seeing this performed live at Bridgestone would be worth the price of admission alone.
WILLIAM TYLER
A late addition to the bill, local indie/folk/pop/experimental/instrumental rocker William Tyler, who co-owns The Stone Fox and is also associated with the groups Lambchop and Silver Jews, has been tasked with opening this epic show. Tyler is a longtime favorite of ours, and is beloved by the music press, though, comparatively, does not possess the national recognition of White or Lynn. We’re extra excited to see him on the bill because of this, since it’s a huge compliment and a testament to Jack White’s true Nashville awareness. Notably, William recorded a live session at Third Man Records’ Blue Room last year, and it will soon be released as a 7″. His most recent full-length, Impossible Truth, stands as one of the best local releases in recent years (and racked up critical acclaim worldwide).
Jack White, Loretta Lynn, and William Tyler will perform tonight, Jan. 28 at Bridgestone Arena. The show is all ages, begins at at 7 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $29.50-59.50.
