The intersection of country music and devil-themed rock has produced an unlikely controversy, as self-described "Satanic" duo Twin Temple found themselves removed from country artist Charley Crockett's upcoming tour dates — only to receive a high-profile invitation from Jack White.
Jack White Extends an Invitation
On Friday, White took to Instagram to publicly offer Twin Temple an opening slot at his September 29th concert at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. "Twin Temple, would you like to open my show in L.A. on September 29th at the Hollywood Palladium? Let me know. Get in front of me Satan!" he wrote, playfully reversing the title of the White Stripes' 2005 album "Get Behind Me Satan," itself a reference to a biblical passage from Matthew 16:23.
The duo, consisting of singer Alexandra James and guitarist Zachary James, responded with enthusiasm in the comments. They described themselves as lifelong fans, noting that "Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground" was one of the first songs Alexandra ever learned on guitar. They had already been planning to attend the show, they said, and called it "a most infernal pleasure to play the devil's music with you."
Singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis, known for her work with Rilo Kiley, also voiced support in the comments, writing "Viva Anton LaVey!" — a reference to the late founder of the Church of Satan. Twin Temple's repertoire includes tongue-in-cheek tracks such as "Lucifer, My Love" and "Let's Have a Satanic Orgy."
Charley Crockett Stands Firm
Crockett, an acclaimed country artist known for his traditionalist style, addressed the situation on Instagram the same day. He defended his decision to remove the duo from his bill without apology.
"I won't conform and I'm not sorry," Crockett wrote. "There are many things I've done in my life to apologize for but this ain't one of them." His lengthy post touched on opening acts in general, spiritual power, and what he described as "shameless exhibitionists possessed by the desire to be famous and have the public's adoration" within the entertainment industry.
Without directly naming White, Crockett appeared to reference the public nature of White's invitation when he wrote that he would not advertise charitable gestures because doing so amounts to self-promotion. He suggested that opening for him could itself be transformative: "Shit you might get you a life changing gig just by standing next to me. That's magic."