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New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
André Paine's rating
Reader rating
Jack White was genuinely moved to be playing before such a distinguished audience
Hospital beat: Meg White on drums
Pearly Whites: kings and queens at the Rivoli Ballroom gig
The return to Britain of the White Stripes has been a gloriously contrary event over the past 24 hours.
Today the Detroit duo's new album Icky Thump is celebrated on youth-obsessed Radio 1 - not known for its championing of heavy blues rock on daytime radio - with White Stripes Wednesday.
Appealing to an older demographic, yesterday afternoon Jack and Meg White performed a brief acoustic set for 20 Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital.
Then there was last night's live concert, a warm-up for the Wireless festival, which seemed straightforward enough.
Except, that is, for the venue - a wonderful old ballroom with Fifties decor, chandeliers and notices bemoaning the discarding of chewing gum on the dancefloor - and the presence of real pearly kings and queens.
The duo also wore the pearly uniform for the album cover, an expression of their love for certain British customs and inspired by a postcard sent to Jack and his wife, British supermodel Karen Elson.
The album title comes from the expression "ecky thump" used by Oldham-born Elson.
Profits from last night's show for 700 will go to charities supported by the Pearly Kings and Queens Society, as well as the Chelsea Pensioners Appeal.
With the red cushioned walls, the temperature soared, and Jack cleverly made the connection with their sweaty debut London show several years ago.
"If you ever wanted to know what our first gig in the 100 Club was like, you're sitting in it," he said, before playing Effect And Cause, one of four new songs.
It was uncomfortable, with the body odour of hundreds of male blues aficionados, and in the dim light Meg was hardly visible on drums.
But the awesome noise the pair created on stage, combined with Jack's star quality and tireless effort - he was refreshingly devoid of any tedious rock posturing - soon made it clear that everyone present will probably be talking of little else in the days ahead.
Certainly, Jack appeared reinvigorated by his side project, The Raconteurs.
Title track Icky Thump is heading to No 1 in the singles chart and the duo's thrashy rendition brought home just what a bizarre, sprawling composition it is.
But there were sweet songs, too, such as the ragged, juvenile Hotel Yorba.
In the heat, though, their set was at its most potent during the frantic tunes, including the menacing I Think I Smell A Rat, a bonkers Black Math and - for the finale - their signature anthem, Seven Nation Army.
"Get out of this room and cool off," Jack instructed us.
Then the lights went up, and the venue that hosted this pounding performance became a genteel ballroom in Brockley again.
The White Stripes are at the O2 Wireless Festival, Hyde Park tomorrow.
www.o2wirelessfestival.co.uk
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
