Line Forms Early For Jack White Concert At Cain's Ballroom In Tulsa

He's not scheduled to take the stage until tonight, but fans of musician Jack White are already in line outside Cain's Ballroom in downtown Tulsa waiting to see his sold-out show.

White is kicking off a summer tour with his appearance at Cain's, supporting his new album "Lazaretto".

Fulton Pace, 16, says he and a friend, 17-year-old Dillon Skalla, got in line at 8:30 Thursday morning. They weren't first. They said the first person in line told them she arrived at 6:15 a.m.

"I thought about getting here at 5 a.m.," said Pace.

He said Thursday's show will be the 7th time he's seen Jack White in concert. He and Skalla paid $300 for their two tickets on StubHub, after the show sold out in just minutes.

The two high school students, who will be seniors at Riverfield Country Day School in Tulsa this fall, said waiting all day for the show will be worth it.

"We didn't have to miss work for this, but we would," Pace said with a smile.

Alan Spaulding, 25, is a contracts specialist with the F.A.A. in Oklahoma City. He bought four tickets for the show, including one for his brother, Andrew, who's celebrating his 23rd birthday today.

Thursday's show will be the fourth time Spaulding's seen White at Cain's. He and his brother got in line at 8:15, because those previous shows taught them how things work.

The first time they arrived at 11 a.m. the day of the show.

"We thought we were going to be crazy getting here early. We weren't. It's general admission and it's standing-room only so your spot depends on what time you get here."

This time he and his brother brought lawn chairs, a cooler, water, snacks and umbrellas for use in either rain or bright sunshine.

The people waiting in line are well-behaved and respectful of each other, he said, probably because they've seen each other at so many other Jack White concerts.

Spaulding took Thursday and Friday off from his job, where his devotion to Jack White is well known. "They know that's about the only thing I take off work for."

"He's like the Willy Wonka of rock and roll," said David Snider, 51. Snider works for a law firm in Oklahoma City and also took Thursday and Friday off to see the show.

Snider saw Jack White perform in Bricktown in 2003 and was immediately hooked.

"I've seen hundreds of concerts. It was the best show of my entire life."

Since then he's seen him 13 more times either as a solo artist or in his bands, The White Stripes, The Raconteurs and Dead Weather.

Snider even took a leave and followed a tour, catching White's shows as far away as San Francisco and Louisville.

"You sort of have to buy into it like you do Willy Wonka and DisneyWorld. I don't want to see behind the curtain."

Judging by the enthusiasm of the other people waiting in line with him, he's in good company.

Alan Spaulding said White treats his fans with as much respect as they do him.

"Dedication to his fans. He wants to give something to his fans, he's not just playing the show to make money, he's enjoying the experience with his fans," he said.