Jack White Plays Two In Historic Setting For Take Away Shows

Way back in 2006, before web video series featuring live performances were the norm, La Blogothèque launched a series called Take Away Shows which brings musicians to public places for beautiful and intimate sessions. Over the past eight years Arcade Fire, Phoenix, Bon Iver and Alabama Shakes have been among the many acts that have performed as part of the Take Away Shows series. Today, the latest installment has been posted and it features Jack White and three members of his band performing at the historic Château de Fontainebleau in Paris.

Take Away Shows installments are known for their artistry and aesthetics and the Jack White episode continues that trend. Jack, Lillie Mae Rische, Dominic Davis and Fats Kaplin perform the White Stripes classic “The Same Boy You’ve Always Known” in the surreal environs of Saint-Saturnin Chapel within Château de Fontainebleau. Then, Jack and Lillie Mae tackle “Entitlement” off the recently-released Lazaretto LP sitting on a perch towards the top of Fontainebleau Castle. Watch:

Here’s the write up on the clip on La Blogothèque:

Walking through the Fontainebleau castle’s grandeur, the privilege of being alone in this place steeped in history was not lost on any of us, nor was the honor of watching Jack White sat in a corner, casually playing on his old guitar.

The June afternoon went by too quickly and left us feeling that what just happened wasn’t real life. That Jack never really walked through the heavy door of the Saint-Saturnin Chapel. That his voice, so wonderfully familiar, and yet so intimidating at the same time, never really echoed against the stained-glass windows. His and Lillie Mae’s boots never treaded upon the stairs to the rooftop of the castle, and their eyes never gazed upon the astonishing alignment of its formal French gardens while singing an amazing strip down version of “Entitlement.”

All this could have been a dream if “The Same Boy You’ve Always Known” hadn’t then lingered, haunting the chapel long after Jack White’s departure.

The bells began to ring as we were leaving, pulsating through our every fibre and signalling the end to a day we still weren’t entirely sure happened. With their vibrations still lingering through our bones, we gave a collective last look over what had, only moments prior, been the scene of the most surreal Take Away Show we’ve ever done. As we closed the chapel doors and walk away, I swear I could hear Jack’s footsteps behind us.