Linkin Park fans are distinguished by their baggy combat trousers and skate belts; fans of bands such as The Cooper Temple Clause and The Strokes are easily identified by their scruffy hair, beat up leather jackets and tight trews.

But the White Stripes appear to have a real mixed bag of followers - cyber punks (yes really), elderly goths and footie fans mill around together. Then of course there are the *die-hard* fans who swan about wearing red and white. This makes them look like twats though.

Anyway, all the above are gathered at the Brixton Academy for the first of two sold out shows from the bro/sis/husband/wife duo.

First up are Mr. Jack White's old band, The Go, who seem to be an unfunny parody of Spinal Tap. The singer (incidentally wearing boots with heels - ewww) throws himself around onstage, falling over invisible obstructions and clapping constantly. Well, at least he was enjoying himself. Jack White did himself a big ol' favour by leaving this band...

Next on are The Whirlwind Heat, a band who have been taken under Mr.White's wing recently (spotting a pattern here?). Comprising drums, bass, vox and God-awful synth, they prove that everything that comes out of Detroit is not necessarily good. The drummer is excellent and should form his own band. The singer, on t'other hand, should be strangled with his mic wire and his Moog keyboard set on fire immediately. In fact, that would have been much more entertaining.

In between bands we are treated to a large screen at the back of the stage showing Thunderbirds and old Felix The Cat episodes - makes waiting all the more bearable. And then, amongst a vast cacophony of screams, The Stripes take to the stage, thundering into new track 'Black Math'. Without pausing for breath Jack tears into 'I Think I Smell A Rat' with his trademark high pitched sqeals.

The tone's then brought down a notch as the blisteringly sexy cover of 'Jolene' seductively fills the air. How a heterosexual male singing 'Jolene, please don't take my man' can ooze pure sex and passion is beyond belief, but Jack pulls it off.

The Stripes blast through some songs off the new album (the chart topping No. 1 'Elephant', blah, blah..) but this isn't a showcase reeking of "buy my album" - no, no, no, this is a scorching set. 'The Hardest Button To Button' promises to be a future live favourite with Meg stealing the audience's hearts, proving that she can belt out a tune if needs must. She has all of the Academy in the palm of her hand as she saunters through 'In The Cold, Cold Night'.

The highlight's of tonight's show have to be the old favourites. The sweltering rendition of Son House's 'Death Letter' gets everyone pogoing insanely whilst the first track that Jack ever wrote, 'Screwdriver', brings the house down with its heavy, raw and oppressive riff.

Make no mistake, the White Stripes are quite capable of filling a large venue as they are of playing a spit 'n' sawdust blues watering hole.