Jack White and Stephen Colbert Celebrate New Single With Last-Minute Live Show

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"Less talk," proclaimed Stephen Colbert from a makeshift concert stage. "More rock!"

As Colbert goes, so goes his nation -- and hundreds flocked to New York's Hi Line park this morning for a last-minute appearance by the satirical talk show host and his sincere rock'n'roll mentor Jack White. The occasion, announced the previous night on 'The Colbert Report,' was the physical release of Colbert's White-produced Third Man Records single. 'Charlene II (I'm Over You).'

The event wraps up a week of White appearances on Colbert's Comedy Central show. Arriving onstage around an hour or so after the Third Man Records mobile record store van opened for business, the duo and backing group the Black Belles kicked things off with an a cappella version of the U.S. national anthem before White let Colbert take the lead on a spirited rendition of their new tune.

Through the Black Belles were essentially Gothic ornamentation onstage -- with the exception of live guitar, Colbert sang to a backing track -- the comedian still managed to use them as joke fodder. "I was against removing the roof," he said of the tent that was put in place before the show during a light rainfall. "But the Black Belles are so witchy, if it rains they may melt."

After Colbert completed his song -- and high-fived everyone onstage -- he and White signed nearly every album that was sold from the Third Man van while interviewing each other for the segment to air next week.

Watch Jack White and Stephen Colbert Sing the National Anthem Live at Hi Line

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