Jack White Shares Two Star Tabernacle Single ‘Itchy’

Recently, Jack White‘s record label Third Man Records announced details for its Vault Package #27 which includes three live concert recordings of White’s pre-The Whites Stripes former bands: The Go, Jack White and The Bricks and Two Star Tabernacle, All of the releases come from live recordings made at the Cass Corridor’s Gold Dollar in Detroit in the late 1990’s. Today, the track “Itchy” by Two Star Tabernacle premiered via Rolling Stone and can be streamed below.

The previously unheard original song was taped live on January 16, 1998 at the Gold Dollar. Here’s how Third Man describes the entire Two Star Tabernacle LP:

While the band only released two songs (both covers) while they were together, the group was a jumping-off point for the critically-regarded band Blanche. Two Star is also where Jack White debuted some songs that would later become known the world over through the White Stripes. This particular set by Two Star Tabernacle, recorded at the Gold Dollar on January 16th, 1998, features spirited takes of “So Long Cruel World” and “Garbage Picker” which would find more-refined lives on Blanche’s If We Can’t Trust the Doctors… album. White’s “Hotel Yorba” and “Now Mary” renditions are twangier older siblings to how they exist on “White Blood Cells.” Of supreme interest to audio archeologists is the White-penned song “Itchy” all spirit and rockabilly rhythm that has yet to find a place in any of his subsequent musical endeavors. Splendid covers of Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons” help round out the set of a band, while mentioned often, is infrequently heard. The equal parts country and punk are in full effect here. Take heed.

Head here to sign up to purchase Vault Package #27 ahead of the January 31st deadline.