BEHIND THE SCENES OF JIMMY FALLON

[KNARF]

Off-day from work
+ Jack White on Jimmy Fallon
= Getting my ass on the stand-by line at 5AM

I waited til 9AM in the pouring rain while over 100 people showed up to join the line.
I was #5 on line, but heard sometimes no one gets in.
At 9AM everyone gets a stand-by ticket with a number written on it
and we’re directed to return at 3:15PM and stand in number order.

Standby line KNARF.JPG

The girl who had #3 does not show up so now I’m #4 in line.
Despite a hundred people behind me, It’s a very tense moment waiting to see if anyone will get in.
Suddenly 90-something people behind me hang their heads low as they’re escorted off the line by NBC staff.
The Jack White gods grant the 1st 30 people on line entry. 30 people erupt in excitement.

Jimmy Fallon Ticket KNARF.jpg

Aside from me & a girl who told me she’s in the opening credits of UGWNL,
8 of the 10 people in the front of the line never heard of Jack White.
They were all tourists who are fans of Jimmy Fallon. I was the only local on that line. Bizarre, but I’ll take it!

THIS IS THE PART THAT REVEALS WHAT’S ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.
SO IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW, DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.

They sit me right in the center of this tiny studio.I see Jack White’s mom behind me with Jack’s son.
The legendary Clint Eastwood is the guest. After Clint, Jack comes on as a guest to talk about the Ultra LP.
Jack’s outfit is AMAZING!!! Elvis Presley AMAZING! (Minus stones & glitter)
Jack brings Fallon thru all the Ultra vinyl features.

Members of the Roots band apparently did not know anything about this Ultra LP because their shocked reactions were genuine.
They flip out when Jack explains the label can be played cause it’s pressed over grooves in the vinyl.
Then when Jack explains the angel hologram, Jimmy Fallon & the Roots band completely lose it.
They all turn into little children as they look on in amazement.

CUT TO COMMERCIAL BREAK (This is what you won’t see on TV)

The second the commercial break starts, several members of the Roots run to Fallon’s desk
and look at the record in bewilderment. It’s a full-on football huddle.
Other people from the film crew all gather around to look at the record
which is made to spin with a pencil thru it. They’re going crazy over it.

It took about 20 minutes to set up the stage cause they could not set it up behind the curtains because the stage comes out.
So when there’s a commercial break tonight that’s about 1.5 minutes, in person it was actually over 20 minutes.
Jack comes on and then shockingly Meg White….Ok, I could not resist. (My dreams haunt me)
Lets just say it was a KILLER performance and Jack’s voice has never sounded better.
(except at the greatest Jack White show ever at Governor's Ball)

After the amazing performance is over, the show ends.

But...

Jack plays another song for the audience. I’m guessing for online content. Just One Drink.
Jack plays about 2 verses, then suddenly cuts the performance short and commands the band to stop,
then he grabs the mic and addresses the audience:

“I don’t want you people to have to grab a coffee to stay awake on the way home.
It’s my job to make sure you leave hear awake. Now lets do this right”

They start again, but this time Daru does this incredible building drum bashing thing and Jack sings the song
with a completely different swagger. It was night & day. it was as if he needed to do a few verses just to warm up.
It must be hard coming in cold and performing just a song. He did not feel it and instead of settling with the 1st start,
he restarted it to a crowd that clapped the entire time. It was magical.

LINK TO THE NON-TELEVISED PERFORMANCE: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/segments/7126

No photos were allowed. Strict rules and I was not gonna chance it.
Towards the end, Jimmy Fallon runs around thru the crowd and when he comes down,
I high five him. I’m wearing my black III Jack White shirt with a grey sport jacket and grey hat.
Think the cameras may have caught me. We'll see later.

After the performance I overhear Jack’s mom talking to a guy next to her and telling him that
Jack started playing in high school and that anything he did was always great.

I had to get this memory down before I forgot all the details. I’m happy to share it with all of you.

Not bad for a rainy Monday in the big city.

[Jettkoral]

You're my hero.

[arewhyehen]

30 people?? That's awesome! I was thinking of going to NYC to see this, but hell, after RSD, I don't think even a tonight show performance can top it.

[hellosmith]

you're my greatest foe.

[Kali Durga]

Holy crap, Frank!

[Alabama Woody]

Congratulations, could not have happened to a nicer person. Making memories - priceless !!!

[Lisa03]

Awesome!!! Loved reading this!

[KNARF]

Link to non-televised performance of Just One Drink: http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/segments/7126

Notice he jumbles a lyric at 2:03 "You watch TV. I Drink Gasoline"

I love when this happens. It makes that performance unique since you'll most likely never hear it that way ever again.

[knoxvle]

Thanks Frank!

[dreamover]

i was in new york for governors ball and had tickets to thursday's show (damon albarn performed). it really is such a special experience. when i got the tickets i was wondering... "could jack be on this day since he'll be in town for the fest". i got another great gov ball performer, but alas missed jack. the governors ball performance was incredible though. very cool a few JW fans made it into the taping though!

[John Tom]

Thanks a lot for sharing such an awesome experience!

[mojoryan]

Fantastic, man! I love that his mum was there, and that she made the "everything he does is ..." comment. Mom's are the best, and I love that his mom is a part of his life in this way.
Congrats, man.

[HadItUpTohere]

That was an awesome read! Thanks You described it so well I almost feel like I got to see a bit of it.

[KNARF]

Cool. Thank you! Happy you enjoyed it. It was surely a special experience.