Pitchfork

Long before the MTV glitz and glamour, the Icky Thump, the Raconteurs, the indie film appearances, and even the "are they married, or are they siblings (or both!)??" query-storm, Jack White was slapping bass for a beloved Detroit garage rock combo known as the Hentchmen. Occasionally he'd hop to lead guitar, and every once in a great while he'd sing lead on the Farfisa-happy act's traditionalist rock'n'roll jams.

The Hentchmen, still very much alive and kicking, turn 15 this year, and to celebrate they're hitting us with a disc of early hits called Hentch.Forth.Five. The 14-track set collects tunes originally released back in 1998 on an EP, a 12", and two singles, all "remixed, remastered, [and] touched up" by Dan Currie, according to lead Hentchman John "Johnny Volaré" Szymanski. It "should be out in about two months" on Italy Records, which celebrates its own 10th anniversary this year.

All 14 tracks feature White in one capacity or another. Our candy-striper plays bass on a bunch, contributes lead guitar to three tunes, and lays down a lead vocal on "Some Other Guy", plus backup vocals on several other tracks. It's a unique opportunity to hear Jack just prior to the release of the Stripes' self-titled 1999 debut.

The Stripes, as previously reported, have Icky Thump out June 19 via Warner Bros. and a bunch of festival dates lined up. The Hentchmen, sans White, rock a quartet of dates in late May and late June.

Hentch.Forth.Five:

01 Some Other Guy
02 Psycho Daisies
03 Yesterday's Trash
04 L.A.M.F.
05 Automatic
06 Gawker Delay
07 Me and My Monotone
08 Little No More
09 Carry Me Home
10 Big Screen Lover
11 Rock and Roll Cancer
12 Clubwagan
13 Ham N' Oil
14 Psycho Daisies 2

Hentchmen dates:

05-25 Detroit, MI - Lager House
06-21 Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall *
06-22 Green Bay, WI - Main Stage Bar & Grill *
06-23 Chicago, IL - Subterranean *

* with the Fleshtones

White Stripes dates:

06-01 Nuerburgring, Germany - Rock am Ring Festival
06-02 Nurnberg, Germany - Rock im Park Festival
06-04 Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
06-09 Lisbon, Portugal - Alive Festival
06-11 Paris, France - Zenith
06-14 London, England - Hyde Park (O2 Wireless Festival)
06-15 Leeds, England - Harewood House (O2 Wireless Festival)
06-17 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival