Their recent release ‘Brothers’ entered the Billboard charts at number 3, their tracks have been featured on film, television and video game soundtracks, as well as being used for several advertising campaigns.
So why, now, on their 6th studio album have the blues inspired duo The Black Keys from Acron, Ohio hit it big? As with most mysteries the source is usually the best place for the answer.
Dusty roads, harmonicas and sprawling cotton fields in the oppressive 50’s are images intrinsically linked with the rise of blues in the musical consciousness. A cold November night in Brixton is however the home, for two nights, of the soul-licked sounds of The Black Keys British tour, and thousands of their adoring fans.
The night got off to a start with support in the form of The Walkmen who rather aptly for a support band warmed up the crowd nicely with their synth-fused upbeat indie-rock.
The Ohio duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney were soon on stage and in front a full house despite the tube strike, which had kicked off as the doors opened. Joking about the unfortunate travel arrangements front-man and guitarist Dan apologized to the expectant crowd, claiming he and his band mate had closed the tube system in order to hold a giant rave at the end of the night.
The music that ensued was far from the hard house electronic trance associated with a rave as the duo laid down the heavy delta blues riffs and throbbing beats that have made them an underground success. A set dominated, rather expectedly, by hits from their recent release ‘Brothers’ was also littered with tracks from their earlier work pleasing new and old fans alike.
Arriving to a rapturous applause Auerbach and Carney kicked things off immediately and after playing several songs in their rawest form with just drums and guitar between them, despite more than holding their own they were joined onstage by extra musicians to re-create live, a denser dirtier sound present on their albums.
With this the crowd at Brixton became enthralled by the hits spilling from the compellingly dressed stage. Auerbach’s voice, which is nothing short of faultless, rang out as the duo jammed and improvised their way through large parts of the set, creating a unique live experience and gave them the opportunity to demonstrate their true musicianship. With hits such as ‘Next Girl’ and “Thickfreakness” the crowd indulged themselves in the raw sensual music more closely associated with Preservation Hall of New Orleans than that of Brixton Academy.
Never failing to demonstrate that they are true masters of the steel guitar sound dominant in their back catalogue, Auerbach and Carney also flexed their rock muscle as many of the album tracks were played live with and intensity and heaviness not present on the pre-recorded versions.
As the end of the evening approached a suitably frenzied version of ‘Strange Times’ from their ‘Attack and Release’ album got the crowd jumping in what had otherwise been a mellow evening of music paying homage to the blues kings such as Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson whilst intermittently laying down guitar licks to make even the Jimmy Page and Slashes of the world nod in approval.
A true delight and display of why The Black Keys, after 6 studio albums, are now gaining the critical and commercial success deserved by two clearly incredibly talented individuals who have not just been inspired by the deep south sounds but really made them their own.
Picture Courtesy of Stepan Mazurov
