The Black Keys 2/05/2004

It’s been one hell of a ride for Akron’s The Black Keys. In the past twelve months they’ve released their critically acclaimed sophomore long player, Thickfreakness, toured the globe, played a handful of large festivals, and opened for the likes of Beck. After the chaos and meteoric rise of the past year, Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach are back home recording their third album, and took the first weekend in March to treat their hometown fans to a pair of intimate sold out club dates.

As if the audience didn’t need reminding, Auerbach began the first night’s 65-minute set by addressing the eager crowd, letting everyone know “We’re The Black Keys, and we’re from Akron, Ohio.” And although Auerbach is initially the more visible and upfront of the two, playing guitar and singing, it was Carney’s demolition of the drums that defined the night. Often exchanging his right drumstick for a maraca or tambourine, Carney was as fluid and maddening a drummer as any, dictating the pace of the songs and set, compelling Auerbach to follow his every lead.

Between Carney’s incessant drumming and Auerbach’s howling, feedback heavy guitars and vocals, The Black Keys have perfected an era of classic rock that was all but extinct. Pulling equally from Thickfreakness and Big Come Up, the duo maintained a feverish pace throughout the set, showing a true penchant for resuscitating a lost genre. Songs such as “Have Love Will Travel,” “Thickfreakness,” and “Heavy Soul” all resonate the retro kitsch of 60s blues-rock, borrowing heavily from the likes of Cream, Led Zeppelin and even The Beatles. But The Black Keys haven’t just recycled 40 year old music; they’ve updated it for a new era. And similar to The White Stripes, created a live sound that is louder and fuller with two musicians than many four-piece bands will ever have.