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Black Keys....

Started by bold99, Oct 16, 2008, 02:26 PM

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bold99

These guys rule.

Black Keys look to open new doors
After Akron show and tour, band will produce, might work with rock heavies

By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal music writer

POSTED: 11:54 a.m. EDT, Oct 08, 2008

Shortly before their December concert at the Akron Civic Theatre, the Black Keys declared 2008 to be the year of no B.S. — the year the two West Akron-bred members would take control of their careers and their lives. With big-time representation from QPrime (who also has Metallica and Shania Twain on its roster), a highly anticipated album, Attack & Release, recorded with hot producer Danger Mouse, and several side gigs as producers on their plate, 2008 was shaping up to be the musicians' biggest yet.

Now, 11 months later, it appears Firestone High School grads Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have a pretty firm grip on all things Black Keys and will be performing a hometown show on Saturday at E.J. Thomas Hall, with the Royal Bangs opening.

The album was released on April Fool's Day and debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard charts. It quickly became the band's best-selling album, moving more than 130,000 copies to date.

Attack & Release, recorded at the famous Suma Studios in Painesville (Pere Ubu, Wild Cherry and many others), also found the band breaking out of its swampy, fuzzed-up blues rock riff comfort zone and adding layers of sonic and melodic accoutrement to its basic two-man sound.

Songs such as the single, Strange Times, with its up-tempo verses and snatches of organ, and the soulful Psychotic Girl, featuring a slinky bass line and tinkling saloon piano.

The album has guest contributors, including avant New York guitarist Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello and many others) and Carney's uncle, Ralph Carney (Tin Huey, Tom Waits), on flute. There is also a duet with Kent's up-and-coming alt-country singer Jessica Lea Mayfield on the ballad Things Ain't Like They Used to Be.

''We were nervous about the record, but we were also proud of it,'' Carney said from Asheville, N.C., where the band was to play a sold-out show at the Orange Peel. ''We were hoping it would do well and it exceeded our expectations.

''It's weird this year, because there are a lot of small bands whose records have charted. There seems to be a group of bands who have been around for years that are starting to make headway [in the mainstream]. Maybe it's just because Korn's putting out less records.''

With no competition from Korn to worry about, the band's current tour has so far been its biggest, including the headlining show Aug. 7 that drew more than 4,800 fans in Brooklyn, N.Y. Many other dates are selling out weeks in advance. In addition, the band has a new DVD coming out in the fall, a five-camera shoot that was filmed at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Ore., by Lance Bangs, who also shot the band's Strange Times video.

''Everything is going really well,'' Carney said. ''All the tours have been awesome and the new record has already outsold all our other records.''

Aside from a successful tour and album, the two have begun racking up producer credits. In 2008, Auerbach has produced records by Mayfield, harmonious Texas family band Hacienda, Cincinnati's Buffalo Killers and Kentucky duo the Black Diamond Heavies — all recorded at his Akron Analog studios.

Meanwhile, Carney has been working on the debut album by Lana Davies, daughter of the Kinks' Dave Davies, recorded at Carney's Audio Eagle Lair and Tangerine Studios in North Hill.

Carney's Audio Eagle Record label is also gearing up for the fall release of local indie pop band Houseguest's latest album, Welcome, All That's Difficult.

''I want to do more production work, but usually the bands I end up recording want to spend two and a half weeks on a record and that's kind of a big time commitment,'' he said. ''I feel busy enough right now.''

But the band's schedule, which tentatively doesn't find it back in the studio until next spring, might be filling up with requests from classic rockers who want to add some of the Black Keys' special sauce to their own musical recipes.

In the past year or so, legendary rock frontmen Robert Plant and Rod Stewart have both expressed an affinity for the Keys.

Plant counted the band among his new music makers' favorites.

''I'm very happy listening to the Black Keys,'' he said in a May Rolling Stone magazine article. ''They're Akron's most feted sons, and they owe a lot to (blues legend) Skip James, as do I. So I listen to a lot of desert stuff, some very old blues like Lemon Jefferson, and the Black Keys.''

Likewise, Stewart has brought the band's name up as a current ''must listen'' and a potential collaborator.

''I want to make a blues record,'' Stewart told Rolling Stone at a Grammy party this year. ''You know, Muddy Waters, the old stuff, and I want it to be backed by the Black Keys.

''Do you think that they know who I am?''

While those possible collaborations have yet to move forward, the Keys have taken some tentative steps toward working with ZZ Top. Guitarist Billy Gibbons saw the band perform in New York in 2005, and after super producer Rick Rubin suggested the trio and the duo hook up for some writing and recording, Gibbons expressed his excitement at the idea.

''I'm such a big fan of those guys . . . it makes total sense,'' Gibbons said in a Billboard magazine piece. ''And that's pretty down and dirty, which is good for ZZ Top.''

''We're going to L.A. at the end of the month to try writing with them [ZZ Top],'' Carney said. ''We're going to record us just playing together trying to put together some ideas. We still haven't figured out the whole concept or what our role will be, but it should be cool.''

As to why the rock legends are digging the Keys' sound, Carney has no hypothesis, but is glad.

''I think it's cool. I'm into it. I just hope they don't like us because we remind them of something. I guess I don't want to be considered too retro. I don't know what the reason is, but if they genuinely like our music, I guess it doesn't matter why really,'' he said.

After the current tour leg ends, the Black Keys will take some time off to relax, celebrate the holidays and be with their families — Carney with his wife, former Beacon Journal staffer Denise Grollmus, while Auerbach and his wife, Stephanie, will tend to their daughter Sadie's second Christmas.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758.
Shortly before their December concert at the Akron Civic Theatre, the Black Keys declared 2008 to be the year of no B.S. — the year the two West Akron-bred members would take control of their careers and their lives. With big-time representation from QPrime (who also has Metallica and Shania Twain on its roster), a highly anticipated album, Attack & Release, recorded with hot producer Danger Mouse, and several side gigs as producers on their plate, 2008 was shaping up to be the musicians' biggest yet.

Now, 11 months later, it appears Firestone High School grads Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have a pretty firm grip on all things Black Keys and will be performing a hometown show on Saturday at E.J. Thomas Hall, with the Royal Bangs opening.

The album was released on April Fool's Day and debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard charts. It quickly became the band's best-selling album, moving more than 130,000 copies to date.

Attack & Release, recorded at the famous Suma Studios in Painesville (Pere Ubu, Wild Cherry and many others), also found the band breaking out of its swampy, fuzzed-up blues rock riff comfort zone and adding layers of sonic and melodic accoutrement to its basic two-man sound.

Songs such as the single, Strange Times, with its up-tempo verses and snatches of organ, and the soulful Psychotic Girl, featuring a slinky bass line and tinkling saloon piano.

The album has guest contributors, including avant New York guitarist Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello and many others) and Carney's uncle, Ralph Carney (Tin Huey, Tom Waits), on flute. There is also a duet with Kent's up-and-coming alt-country singer Jessica Lea Mayfield on the ballad Things Ain't Like They Used to Be.

''We were nervous about the record, but we were also proud of it,'' Carney said from Asheville, N.C., where the band was to play a sold-out show at the Orange Peel. ''We were hoping it would do well and it exceeded our expectations.

''It's weird this year, because there are a lot of small bands whose records have charted. There seems to be a group of bands who have been around for years that are starting to make headway [in the mainstream]. Maybe it's just because Korn's putting out less records.''

With no competition from Korn to worry about, the band's current tour has so far been its biggest, including the headlining show Aug. 7 that drew more than 4,800 fans in Brooklyn, N.Y. Many other dates are selling out weeks in advance. In addition, the band has a new DVD coming out in the fall, a five-camera shoot that was filmed at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Ore., by Lance Bangs, who also shot the band's Strange Times video.

''Everything is going really well,'' Carney said. ''All the tours have been awesome and the new record has already outsold all our other records.''

Aside from a successful tour and album, the two have begun racking up

producer credits. In 2008, Auerbach has produced records by Mayfield, harmonious Texas family band Hacienda, Cincinnati's Buffalo Killers and Kentucky duo the Black Diamond Heavies — all recorded at his Akron Analog studios.

Meanwhile, Carney has been working on the debut album by Lana Davies, daughter of the Kinks' Dave Davies, recorded at Carney's Audio Eagle Lair and Tangerine Studios in North Hill.

Carney's Audio Eagle Record labe
Last Fair Deal Gone Down...

ItStillJaimoe

I find the Keys new musical directions interesting and generally exciting, but a big part of me longs for the days of Fat Possum.

bold99

I know what you mean but at the same time I think their last album was pretty gutsy and I love a lot of it.  When you are only working with two people at some point you need to change it up.  Luckily they still rock like the Fat Possum days live.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down...

ItStillJaimoe

I hope they don't forget their roots a la Kings of Leon and the North Mississippi Allstars.

BH

Did you see the "Live From Abbey Road" Jaimoe?  It the new songs done in the older more raw style.  It was pretty cool.
I'm digging, digging deep in myself, but who needs a shovel when you have a little boy like mine.

capt. scotty

QuoteDid you see the "Live From Abbey Road" Jaimoe?  It the new songs done in the older more raw style.  It was pretty cool.

That was awesome

"Same Old Thing" was probably my favorite song off it anyway, and "I Got Mine" was up there, but that performance just sealed it.

Theyre def still rockin like no other
The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care. - Peter Gibbons

Jaimoe

I didn't see their Live From Abbey Road gig. The TV channel I work for carries that program, but not the new season yet. I'm streaming their performance right now. Awesome stuff! Forgive me for being a raw blues fan - there isn't enough of that around, so I needlessly tend to worry when bands like the Stripes and The Black Keys branch out. I don't think there's any hope for the North Mississippi Allstars though, even though they still do blues: They can't write worth shit.

bold99

The Allstars are not that bad...they can play.  I agree their albums and never that good but seeing that live is always a good time for me.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down...

Jaimoe

QuoteThe Allstars are not that bad...they can play.  I agree their albums and never that good but seeing that live is always a good time for me.

I'm bitter towards the Allstars. I've seen them three times live and have met them all twice. Their first album hit me in the face with a clean left-hook. I loved their all-covers album, Shake Hands With Shorty - loved the mix of gritty North Mississippi delta blues with jammy flourishes and loved their ability to deconstruct blues tunes from R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough etc.. They were a breath of fresh air at the time and I bought their first album several times as gifts to my friends. And then 51 Phanton and Polaris came out and the boys, i.e. Luther, thought he could write good pop-blues tunes like Big Star. Well, they failed didn't they? I'm hoping the Allstars go back to where they came from, ignore their famous producer father's rock influences and embrace the filth and fury that is south Clarksdale.  

capt. scotty

QuoteI didn't see their Live From Abbey Road gig. The TV channel I work for carries that program, but not the new season yet. I'm streaming their performance right now. Awesome stuff! Forgive me for being a raw blues fan - there isn't enough of that around, so I needlessly tend to worry when bands like the Stripes and The Black Keys branch out. I don't think there's any hope for the North Mississippi Allstars though, even though they still do blues: They can't write worth shit.

I agree with what you saying about not enough pure blues musicians/bands anymore and see why somewhat lament the Keys newest album

However, I think start to finish as an album, Attack&Release is probably their best, and I think thats really what they might have been going for this time around. Just create and very good album that flows great.

That said, Id rather have an album that jumps back and forth between their older raw sound and their newer more refined sound.

As for the Stripes, I can never say they were purely blues. Their first couple albums have far too much hard rock/punk influence on them to ever have considered them strictly blues, those the blues influence is apparent
The thing is, Bob, it's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care. - Peter Gibbons

Jaimoe

Quote
QuoteI didn't see their Live From Abbey Road gig. The TV channel I work for carries that program, but not the new season yet. I'm streaming their performance right now. Awesome stuff! Forgive me for being a raw blues fan - there isn't enough of that around, so I needlessly tend to worry when bands like the Stripes and The Black Keys branch out. I don't think there's any hope for the North Mississippi Allstars though, even though they still do blues: They can't write worth shit.

I agree with what you saying about not enough pure blues musicians/bands anymore and see why somewhat lament the Keys newest album

However, I think start to finish as an album, Attack&Release is probably their best, and I think thats really what they might have been going for this time around. Just create and very good album that flows great.

That said, Id rather have an album that jumps back and forth between their older raw sound and their newer more refined sound.

As for the Stripes, I can never say they were purely blues. Their first couple albums have far too much hard rock/punk influence on them to ever have considered them strictly blues, those the blues influence is apparent

I should have prefaced my Stripes/blues reference. I can hear blues down deep in virtually all their songs, even when they do punk/garage rock tunes and even the piano stuff from the Satan album. The Black Keys are a pure blues band that are branching out into other areas, not that I'm not a fan of that. I do like Magic Potion a ton and some of the songs (the one's I've heard) off the new album. I didn't care for the first single "Strange Times" though, but it sounds much better live.

I also agree with you regarding jumping back and forth between styles and genres. The Keys are masters at pacing which makes their albums successful; it's impressive coming from a fairly basic two-piece set-up. Man, I'm thinking of slapping on Thickfreakness right now.

bold99

Its funny how different the Stripes and Keys are.  Journalists used to be really lazy and compare them for obvious reason but if you have seen them live they are worlds apart in my opinion.

I think the Stripes have the old blues feeling but it mixed with a ton of different influences.  Jack White knows his blues but I don't think he relies on that too much.  They hit me really hard when they first came out because there were not too many people around at the time playing anything like that.

The Keys are more in the vein of Cream to me.  Just a great hard rock blues band.  Electrified Country Blues, nothing better.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down...

ManNamedTruth

I got to see both The Black Keys and The Raconteurs at NAMU Fest this summer in Pittsburgh, both were amazing. I'd love to see White Stripes someday. I think the new Black Keys is probably their best, its alright to venture into new territory as long as it works.
As far as North Mississippi Allstars go, I only have Electric Blue Watermelon and it only ok. Some good songs and some I don't like at all. I heard their new song on the radio and thought it was terrible!
That's motherfuckin' John Oates!

Jaimoe

QuoteI got to see both The Black Keys and The Raconteurs at NAMU Fest this summer in Pittsburgh, both were amazing. I'd love to see White Stripes someday. I think the new Black Keys is probably their best, its alright to venture into new territory as long as it works.
As far as North Mississippi Allstars go, I only have Electric Blue Watermelon and it only ok. Some good songs and some I don't like at all. I heard their new song on the radio and thought it was terrible!

The first NMA's album, Shake Hands With Shorty, is their best and one of the best blues albums of the decade. Nothing else in their canon is essential.

dragonboy

The Black Keys' vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach will release his debut solo album early next year.

Keep It Hid is due for release in the US on February 10. Auerbach will then embark ona short 11-date tour beginning on February 28 in Washington D.C.

Speaking to Billboard, he revealed: "It's all over the map...there's some real dark tunes and some psychedelic rumbas. It's all that stuff I grew up playing - all those bluegrass harmonies. I experimented a little bit with instrumentation."
God will forgive them. He'll forgive them and allow them into Heaven.....I can't live with that.

bold99

QuoteThe Black Keys' vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach will release his debut solo album early next year.

Keep It Hid is due for release in the US on February 10. Auerbach will then embark ona short 11-date tour beginning on February 28 in Washington D.C.

Speaking to Billboard, he revealed: "It's all over the map...there's some real dark tunes and some psychedelic rumbas. It's all that stuff I grew up playing - all those bluegrass harmonies. I experimented a little bit with instrumentation."


Really excited about this.....he has Hacienda backing him and a few cool guests...I'm going to see him in Boston and possibly the Keys in NYC in Feb.  One of my favorite bands going right now.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down...

Grateful Chabo

the keys are the shit...im excited about the solo album too.  nobody did kimbrough like they did
"Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul."

weeniebeenie

I got Things Ain't Like They Used To Be in a compilation and I always say that I've gotta invest in some of their albums but I always forget to.
How loud can silence get?

bold99

QuoteI got Things Ain't Like They Used To Be in a compilation and I always say that I've gotta invest in some of their albums but I always forget to.

Do it..you will not be disappointed.
Last Fair Deal Gone Down...

ManNamedTruth

The new DVD is out, FYI. Might pick it up next week.
That's motherfuckin' John Oates!