Nick Valensi Joins Jack White Onstage at Hollywood Palladium

Nick Valensi joined Jack White onstage at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Monday night, marking the first time White has ever played his song "Bless Yourself" live.

The Strokes guitarist, on a "temporary break" from his band since May, performed two songs with White: the Raconteurs' "Broken Boy Soldier" and "Bless Yourself," a track from White's 2024 album, No Name. White posted video from the concert on his website under the link "Download Live Video."

What did the performance look like?

Footage White posted from the show captured the two guitarists in a classic-rock exchange, trading pentatonic lead riffs in a style the source compared to the Allman Brothers.

The collaboration carries weight for anyone who followed rock at the turn of the millennium. White, with the White Stripes, and Valensi, with the Strokes, helped usher in the garage-rock revival of the early 2000s, and their paths have crossed repeatedly over three decades.

What is the history between them?

The two have shared stages before:

• August 2002: White joined the Strokes at Radio City Music Hall, playing "New York City Cops" with the band.
• Later that same month: White repeated the appearance at the Reading festival.
• Monday night: Valensi returned the favor in Los Angeles.

Why is Valensi available?

The Strokes announced Valensi's hiatus in May, roughly a month after his final gig with the group at Coachella. Steve Schiltz replaced him on rhythm guitar for the band's Reality Awaits Tour, which wrapped earlier in September.

The timing made Monday's appearance possible. When Valensi returns to the Strokes, he can cite precedent for the outing, as the source wryly noted: "We were on a (temporary) break!"

White plays the Hollywood Palladium again on Tuesday night, leaving the door open for Valensi to make a second appearance.