Detroit rockers the White Stripes -- lead guitarist Jack White and drummer Meg White -- drew a lively crowd to Arva Flour Mills, just north of London, for a guerrilla concert in advance of their sold-out show at the John Labatt Centre last night. About 300 people turned out for the nine-song, half-hour show. (Mike Hensen, Sun Media)

LONDON, Ontario - The White Stripes definitely had something left after playing Arva.

The former husband-and-wife duo of Detroit rockers Jack and Meg White were in brilliant form at the John Labatt Centre about six hours after playing a surprise show at the Middlesex County community.

Just another fresh twist in the White Stripes' amazing Canadian tour of all the provinces and territories, eh?

With about 5,400 young fans cheering them on, the duo finished with a classic slice of Americana, Leadbelly's ode to the Boll Weevil.

They had hit the stage with Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground as Meg White -- in white top and black slacks -- began to pound the drums in her two-fisted style and Jack White -- all in red except for black shoes -- made like a guitar-riff god.

By the second number, Jack White had pitched his belt into the crowd. It didn't hurt that it was Icky Thump, the title track and big hit from the tour's reason for being, a Top 5 album of the same name.

Last night, Icky Thump tunes included rawer than CD versions of You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told), which arrived in the 30-minute encore/second set and a slice of Catch Hell Blues.

The White Stripes' command of a minimalist Led Zep, bluesy guitar-heavy rock was impressive enough over 90 minutes to qualify as a contender for the year's top concert.

But what surprised this recent convert to White Stripe nation was the sharp visual style and fascinating wordplay to go with the stripped down music.

For much of the night, the huge red backdrop was dominated by the shadowy image of Meg White caressing her drums like a Kill Bill warrior.

Many critics spend a lot of time rightfully praising the darkly handsome Jack White, his guitar skills and admiration for the legacies of Robert Plant and Son House.

But to this critic, much of the White Stripe delight came in watching Meg White thrash away dutifully at her kit and then pause time and again to sweep her hair off her face.

The effect was mesmerizing, like a Warhol superstar in rock mode, and was the rock-like foundation for Jack White's animation and bursts of guitar fury.

The fans obviously love her, too. One of the biggest cheers of the night came for her vocal spot on In the Cold, Cold Night. Tellingly, Jack White disappeared toward the back of the red, red stage and knelt with his back to the audience as he accompanied her quietly on guitar.

The two went off hand-in-hand at the end of the first hour, provoking five minutes of standing ovation time until they returned for the last 30 minutes. Jack White did refer to Meg as his "sister," a sibling fiction the two seem determined to maintain on stage.

He also claimed, "I'm a nice guy once you get to know me," late in the encore. It was a statement he admitted made Meg smile.

They're a mysterious band.

No mystery was the encore that sped along to include an extended rip through Seven Guitar Nation, with Jack White doing lots of guitar slapping and the crowd filling in when he fell silent, something he does better than many other arena rockers.

Other favourites during the night included The Hardest Button to Button, The Big Three Killed My Baby and I Just Don't Know What to do with Myself.

Such blues-drench relationship disaster songs are perfect for Jack White's voice and guitar.

To this critic, the true highlight was hit with The Union Forever about 45 minutes into the show. Jack White made one of his rare trips up the red, red stairs to the stage's upper level and as a bit of stage smoke swirled around his feet, sang a song derived almost entirely from the great American film classic, Citizen Kane.

Orson Welles' masterpiece was born again in a collage of songs, dialogue and twisted references by the Detroit rocker.

That moment will be hard to top during the 2007 concert season. That's true of the White Stripes last night. U.S. rockers who can mix the best of Zeppelin with the deep meaning of Leadbelly and the dark side of the American dream with Kane will always be in short supply. So, too, are U.S. rockers with red maple leaf images on their amps and an Ontario flag to flutter late in the show.

Walkup sales help bumped the show up from 3,200-seat RBC Theatre format.