Jack White Rocks Hangout Fest, Avoids Getting A Tan

Headliner White closed out the first day of the beachfront festival in Alabama with a set long on hits, solos.
By James Montgomery

Jack White performs at Hangout Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama
Photo: WireImage

GULF SHORES, Alabama — Judging by his cadaverous complexion, Jack White probably doesn’t make it out to the beach all that often. Which is probably why his Friday night set at the Hangout Festival felt less like a headlining gig and more like one long (long) victory lap: He was determined to enjoy the experience.

Sure, White took the stage long after the sun had set over the stretch of white-sand beach the Hangout calls home (it’s definitely the only fest where going barefoot is not only a viable option, but practically encouraged), but spurred on by the cheers of a raucous crowd and cooled by the gentle breeze of the Gulf, he tore through a wild 90-minute set. It was one that dove deep into his back catalog — featuring not only White’s new Blunderbuss tunes, but also songs from the White Stripes, the Dead Weather, the Raconteurs and the Danger Mouse-helmed Rome project too — and saw him break out roughly 100 fret-assaulting guitar solos, two backing bands … and exactly one fedora.

He spoke barely a word (and nary a metaphor) during his time onstage, preferring instead to let the music do the talking. Or, more precisely, the yelling. Because from the moment he kicked things off with a high-octane version of the Stripes’ “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” to the second the final echoes of “Seven Nation Army” were escaping out into the night air, White was plenty loud. And equally loose. “I Cut Like a Buffalo,” “Love Interruption” and (especially) “Ball and Biscuit” each unspooled over several minutes, with White stomping and pulling solos from his guitar, goofy smile on his face, while both of his crack backing bands followed close behind. It was clear that, on Friday night, White wanted to jam.

Which is why, in just about every conceivable way, this wasn’t the kind of show you’d expect from the normally uptight White. Of course, he was still dressed like a country mortician and, sure, he made his backing bands dress in near-matching unis (black for his male band, the Buzzards; white for the female counterpart, the Peacocks), and the lighting scheme onstage never strayed from “ethereal blue,” but he seemed to draw genuine joy from letting his songs breathe: He turned “Hotel Yorba” into a hoedown, lent extra punch to new tracks like “Sixteen Saltines” and “Hypocritical Kiss” and led the audience in an extended chant during “Army,” which has almost inexplicably become his signature song on both sides of the Atlantic.

Maybe it had something to do with the Gulf Stream, the postcard-perfect setting of the Hangout Fest (they have palm trees on the beach!) and the day of terrific music he was closing out — Friday also featured standout sets from Wilco, Alabama Shakes and Yelawolf, to name just a few — or maybe White just wanted to cut loose. But last night, his solos rang loud and proud, his voice was voluminous and creaky in all the right ways, and both of his bands proved worthy traveling partners on the lengthy musical excursions on which he led them.

In short, White certainly seems to be enjoying life as a solo artist. Especially when he’s playing the songs he made with others. Now, if he could only work on that tan … you get the feeling he’d become a regular down here at the Hangout.

Did you catch Jack White’s set at the Hangout Festival? Share your reviews in the comments!

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Jack White Rocks Hangout Fest, Avoids Getting A Tan is a post from: Your Social Niche

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Kanye West Had To ‘Get Used To’ Big Kardashian Family

‘With Kanye I was like, ‘Why are you hiding in our pantry in my mom’s kitchen?’ Khloe jokes about sister Kim’s BF.
By Jocelyn Vena

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West
Photo: Splash News

Kanye West may seem like he’s already one of the Kardashians, but turns out it took him a minute to warm up to them. According to her sister Khloé, Kim’s beau initially experienced some shell shock when hanging with reality TV’s first family.

“He said, ‘I’m an only child; there’s, like, so many of you,’ ” Khloé recalled in a chat with Ryan Seacrest on Friday (May 18).

Fans will get to see Kanye warming up to the Kardashian crew themselves when E!’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” returns for another season on Sunday. But Khloé told Seacrest her husband, Lamar Odom, had similar trouble getting used to her very large family.

“I remember Lamar, at first it took him a minute to get used to us, but now Lamar loves it,” she said. “With Kanye I was like, ‘Why are you hiding in our pantry in my mom’s kitchen?’ And he’s like, ‘There’s just so many of you guys, and you guys are all so loud and friendly and talk.” And I’m like, ‘Get used to it buddy, because I like it.’ It’s just a lot at one time.”

Being an only child like Yeezy is added to his initial discomfort, but he isn’t the lone only child the Kardashians have welcomed.

“[My boyfriend] Scott [Disick] and Lamar are only children too,” Kourtney shared. “I think we attract only children. I don’t think [Kanye] knows what’s going on [when he hangs out with us]. Like, what we’re talking about, are we being serious? Is this a joke?”

The initial shock of the Kardashians seems to have worn off, though. Usmagazine.com spotted Kanye hanging out with Kim and her family at Kourtney’s May 12 baby shower. In one snapshot, a smiling Kanye sits next to Kim, who’s playing with her nephew and Kourtney’s son, Mason.

Khloé’s hubby, Lamar, has also apparently bonded with Yeezy. The pro baller even seems to have his sights set on the music industry. “Lamar raps to [Kanye] all the time. Kim is like, ‘You’re going to freak this guy out,’ ” Khloé said. “But it’s funny.”

Will you tune into see Kanye on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians”? Tell us in the comments!

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Raven-Symone: ‘My Sexual Orientation Is Mine’

‘I’m living my PERSONAL life the way I’m happiest,’ actress tweets in response to a tabloid report she is gay.
By Jocelyn Vena

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Raven-Symoné has taken to Twitter to address a National Enquirer report that she is gay. The tabloid published a story this week that the “Sister Act” star is currently dating “America’s Next Top Model” contestant, AzMarie Livingston, and that they are living together in New York City.

According to sources, “Raven has lost almost 30 pounds, has done a whole image makeover, and now she is the star of ‘Sister Act’ on Broadway. She’s at a point now where she doesn’t care what her family thinks, and she’s in love with AzMarie. She’s a lesbian and wants to live that way.”

The tabloid further reports that the 26-year-old’s family does not approve of her lifestyle, however, “she told her parents she loves them, but her home — especially her bedroom — is nobody’s business, and she was not going to back down, so they needed to accept it, period.”

While Raven-Symoné neither confirmed nor denied the speculation on Friday, when she took to Twitter to open up about the rumor, she did make it clear that whatever she does in her personal life is her business.

“I’m living my PERSONAL life the way I’m happiest,” she tweeted. “I’m not one, in my 25 year career to disclose who I’m dating. and I shall not start now. My sexual orientation is mine, and the person I’m datings to know. I’m not one for a public display of my life.”

She continued that “however that is my right as a HUMAN BEing whether straight or gay. To tell or not to tell. As long as I’m not harming anyone. I am a light being made from love. And my career is the only thing I would like to put on display, not my personal life. Kisses!”

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