Pitchfork

If the boat show and the bus show and the park show and the classroom show taught Canadian fans of the White Stripes anything, it was to expect the unexpected as the duo set forth on a comprehensive tour of the land up north. But even with those precedents in mind, we doubt anybody was prepared for the Stripes' final secret show (or shall we say "show") on Canadian soil, which took place yesterday (July 16) in downtown St. John's, Newfoundland before the pair's scheduled gig that night at the Mile One Centre.

If Jack and Meg appear to be smiling extra wide when they take the stage in the following YouTube video, it's probably because they know something you and the gathered St. John's masses don't. We won't spoil it, other than to say if you have 49 seconds to spare, it's worth a look:


"We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada," sums up an excited Jack. Laughs galore, but you gotta feel for the kid without a Mile One ticket who trekked all the way out there for a practical joke (although, according to this CBC News report, fans were warned).

Thanks to reader Brendan O'Neill for the tip!

And with Canada officially conquered, the Stripes return to the States this weekend.

Homecoming:

07-22 Portland, ME - Cumberland Civic Center ^
07-23 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena ^
07-24 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden #
07-25 Wallingford, CT - Chevrolet Theater ^
07-27 Wilmington, DE - Grand Opera House ^
07-28 Fairfax, VA - Patriot Center ^
07-29 North Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues ^
07-30 Birmingham, AL - Sloss Furnaces ^
07-31 Southaven, MS - Snowden Grove Park Amphitheater ^
09-15 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Festival)
09-18 San Diego, CA - The Embarcadero *
09-19 Inglewood, CA - The Forum *
09-21 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre *
09-24 Anchorage, AK - George M. Sullivan Sports Arena *
09-26 Seattle, WA - Paramount Ballroom *
09-27 Seattle, WA - Paramount Ballroom *
09-28 Boise, ID - Idaho Center Theater *
09-29 Salt Lake City, UT - The "E" Center *
09-30 Jackson Hole, WY - Snow King Center *
10-02 Rapid City, SD - Rushmore Plaza Civic Center *
10-03 Fargo, ND - Fargo Civic Auditorium *
10-04 Lincoln, NE - Pershing Center Auditorium *
10-06 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom *
10-07 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom *
10-11 Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium *
10-24 Glasgow, Scotland - SECC
10-25 Manchester, England - MEN Arena
10-26 Newcastle, England - Metro Arena
10-28 Birmingham, England - NEC
10-29 Cardiff, Wales - International Arena
10-31 Sheffield, England - Hallam Arena
11-01 Nottingham, England - Arena

^ with Dan Sartain
# with Grinderman, Porter Wagoner
* with Cold War Kids