Crowd boos decision to limit seating to 600 lucky fans

Premier Paul Okalik can only hope the western premiers are this much fun.

Rock n' roll duo The White Stripes landed in Iqaluit last week for the third and final stop on their groundbreaking Arctic tour. And 600 lucky fans were not disappointed as the band played 90 energetic minutes.

Even the premier, who hosts fellow leaders from Western Canada in Iqaluit next week, was there.

"We wanted to let more people in but the fire marshal said ‘nuh-uh,'" lead singer Jack White told the audience, who loudly booed municipal officials as rock crowds are wont to do. "Man, I don't want anybody to catch fire."

The fire marshal's office limited tickets for the show to 600, even though there was room for hundreds more.

The Detroit duo was in full gear by their third song, a fiery rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene" that kicked straight into the heavy, riff-laden title track of the band's new album Icky Thump, and the already-sweaty sea of faces was nodding along in time.

The band played most of their hits, including "Seven Nation Army," "Fell In Love With A Girl" and "The Hardest Button to Button."

But material from their new album was the strongest. "I'm Slowly Turning Into You" featured an extended slide guitar solo, dropping away to almost nothing and then storming back to an explosive finish. And the rollicking "Little Cream Soda" ended with squalls of feedback and Jack knocking over the microphone next to Meg's drum kit, nearly hitting her with it.

By the end of the Stripes' four-song encore, as Jack and Meg stood at the foot of the stage, with Jack waving a Nunavut flag, both the band and the audience were covered in sweat.

Bonnie Osborne of Iqaluit said the show was "awesome."

"My sister here was not a fan at all, thought it was crazy, insane music, screaming guitars…and when they started singing "Jolene," which is her name, she became an instant fan. She's converted for life."

Adam Jewis, 17, of Iqaluit said he wasn't really a White Stripes fan before the show, but the band's energetic performance won him over.

"I think it was pretty rad because I've never seen anyone live before," he said.

Iqaluit born singer Lucie Idlout played a solid, if short, 20-minute set for an adoring hometown crowd whom she won over quickly by tossing out dozens of t-shirts.