The Red Stripes - The White Stripes Tribute

The White Stripes called it quits back in 2011, so the only way to hear Seven Nation Army rattle a room in person now is a tribute that does it right. The Red Stripes take on that job, two people making a surprising amount of noise with a guitar, a drum kit, and almost nothing else. It is the same idea that made Jack and Meg White such a force, strip a rock band down to its bones and play loud enough to fill the gaps.

Expect the songbook you want. The stomp of Seven Nation Army, the sprint of Fell in Love with a Girl, the slow blues crawl of Ball and Biscuit, plus the ragged singalongs off White Blood Cells and Elephant. The look is part of the deal too, the red, white, and black that the White Stripes built their whole world around. It is raw garage blues, more feel than polish, which is exactly how these songs are supposed to land.

The Vanguard is the right room for it. A few hundred people, a general admission floor, and no real distance between you and the band, so a stripped down racket like this hits hard. Better still, the date is Halloween night, so count on costumes, a loud crowd, and a downtown Arts District buzzing before the doors even open. Get there early, find a spot near the front, and plan to be on your feet.