Jack White, 'SNL': Rocker Goes Solo With Twang, Crunch and Male/Female Bands

Now that he's gone solo, Jack White has a new color scheme -- black and white -- and, apparently, two new backing groups, both of which he brought last night to 'Saturday Night Live.'

Benefiting from what was likely a sizable audience hoping to see host Lindsay Lohan self-destruct (she didn't), the former White Stripe, Raconteur and Dead Weather-man made his solo debut, performing two songs from his forthcoming 'Blunderbuss' album. On the first, 'Love Interruption,' he played rootsy troubadour, strumming an acoustic guitar and dueting with soulstress Ruby Amanfu, a vision in gown and gloves.

Behind the two singers stood a five-piece all-female band, replete with a fiddler, bow-wielding upright bassist and drummer whose thudding called to mind a certain lady percussionist from Jack's past.

For 'Sixteen Saltines,' White returned with an electric guitar and all-male crew. The instruments -- fiddle, upright, keyboard -- were essentially the same, but the sound morphed from country rock to proggy garage. As White doubled over and bashed away, his nattily dressed drummer grew too enthused to keep seated.

In all, White was onstage for about six minutes, but in that time, he proved a versatile tradesman -- a master of both twang and crunch -- and equal-opportunity employer of first-rate sidemen and women. At a time when unemployment is rampant, companies are cutting benefits and even the host of 'SNL' can't seem to hold down a steady gig, this singer, songwriter, guitarist, label boss, sometime actor and full-time defier of expectations is truly an inspiration to us all.