Archbishop Harold Holmes – Jack White | 2025InSongs #146

1. INTRODUCTION

“Archbishop Harold Holmes” is the fifth track from Jack White’s 2024 album No Name, released via Third Man Records on August 2, 2024. Written and produced by Jack White himself, the song features:

• Carla Azar on drums
• Scarlett White on bass
• Recorded at Third Man Studio in Nashville

Though not a mainstream chart-topper, the song climbed to #2 on US Alternative Radio in mid-2025, fueled by its electrifying video and provocative lyrics. It’s a theatrical blend of rock, gospel, and spoken-word satire, wrapped in a junk-mail-style sermon.

2. HISTORY OF THE ARTIST

Jack White, born John Anthony Gillis, is a Detroit native and one of the most influential figures in modern rock. From his early days with The White Stripes to his work with The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather, White has built a legacy of raw, analog-driven music.

His solo career began with Blunderbuss (2012), and No Name (2024) marks his sixth studio album. Known for his DIY ethos, White recorded, pressed, and released the album through his own label, Third Man Records. “Archbishop Harold Holmes” showcases his flair for conceptual storytelling, blending satire with spiritual themes.

3. ON THE VIDEOCLIP

The official video, released on June 17, 2025, was directed by Gilbert Trejo and conceptualized by John C. Reilly, who also stars as the titular Archbishop2. The video features:

• 🎭 John C. Reilly as Archbishop Harold Holmes
• 🎥 Director of Photography: Amina Zadeh
• 🎨 Production Designer: Misha Lindes
• 💃 Cast includes Arrow de Wilde, Staz Lindes, Sami Perez, and more

Set in a surreal church, the video unfolds like a psychedelic sermon, only to reveal that the preacher is actually a patient in a mental institution. It’s a visual twist that echoes the song’s critique of religious saviorism and prosperity gospel.

4. 🧠 TALK NERDY TO ME

Musically, “Archbishop Harold Holmes” is a genre-bending experiment:

• Keys: E Mixolydian and E Minor
• Chord Complexity: High (72/100 on Hooktheory)
• Structure: Verse–Interlude–Verse–Chorus–Verse–Outro
• Rhythmic Style: Spoken-word cadence over distorted blues riffs
• Lyrical Style: Written like a junk letter or televangelist pitch

The song’s Mixolydian mode gives it a mystical, sermon-like quality, while the guitar tone channels vintage fuzz and gospel fervor. It’s part rock opera, part chain-mail satire, and all Jack White.

5. 🎶 MORE FROM JACK WHITE

If “Archbishop Harold Holmes” sparked your curiosity, here are more Jack White tracks worth exploring: