Wednesday, August 10, 2011
interview with The Black Keys
Band of Brothers: The Black Keys
05/17/2010 09:38 AM
PHOTOS BY ANTWAN DUNCAN
One of the most important things to know about the Black Keys is that they are from Akron, Ohio, the unglamorous city best known for its rubber plants and the grime, sweat, and hard work that are their symbolic byproducts. The blues rock duo, who proudly titled their third album Rubber Factory several years ago, are the first to admit those geographical roots are central to their band's identity. "Growing up in Akron made us bitter," says singer Dan Auerbach. "But it also made us competitive and hard-working."
Over the course of six albums (and occasional side projects), the Black Keys have explored a primordial, sludgy style, soundtracks to so-called blue-collar anguish, human frustration, and hope at large. A million album sales later, the Keys are set to release Brothers (Nonesuch), an album named for the bond its troubled but rewarding creative process triggered. These new songs see the band achieve new levels of hybridity, as they skillfully incorporate elements of soul, psychedelia, and even hip-hop into their earthy sound.
Over the course of six albums (and occasional side projects), the Black Keys have explored a primordial, sludgy style, soundtracks to so-called blue-collar anguish, human frustration, and hope at large. A million album sales later, the Keys are set to release Brothers (Nonesuch), an album named for the bond its troubled but rewarding creative process triggered. These new songs see the band achieve new levels of hybridity, as they skillfully incorporate elements of soul, psychedelia, and even hip-hop into their earthy sound.
ConcertLivewire's exclusive interview with The Black KeysAug. 4, 2003
Photo by Tony Bonyata
Photo Below by Melanie Pullen
Down and Dirty with The Black Keys' White Blues
ConcertLivewire's exclusive interview with The Black KeysAug. 4, 2003
With The White Stripes, The Ravonettes and Whirlwind Heat already proving that three's a crowd, does the world really need another simplistic rock duo? When that bass-less twosome happens to be The Black Keys - an Akron, Ohio-based blues-rock duet that spits out some of the nastiest rock, seasoned with the gut-bucket soul from Northern Mississippi - the answer is a resounding hell yes!
Formed by guitarist / vocalist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney when they were still in high school, the band has slowly progressed, over the years, away from some of their early rural blues influences, incorporating a more direct, stripped-down form of honest rock 'n' roll, as proven on their latest albumThickfreakness. But as both members will attest to, the blues is still a main ingredient in their recipe, it's just not necessarily the first thing to hit the palette.
The Black Keys
Biography
The Black Keys are a two-man blues-rock group from Akron, Ohio, United States which formed in 2001, consisting of singer and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. The band name was inspired by a schizophrenic artist and friend in Akron, who used the term “black keys” to describe things he disliked or people he did not trust. The Black Keys have roots in traditional blues and psychedelic rock stylings.
They released their first album, The Big Come Up, in 2002, followed by Thickfreakness in 2003, andRubber Factory in 2004. October 2005 saw the release of the DVD Live, recorded live at The Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia March 18, 2005. In 2006 they released Magic Potion, as well as the lesser-known Chulahoma and a single version of Your Touch.
They released their first album, The Big Come Up, in 2002, followed by Thickfreakness in 2003, andRubber Factory in 2004. October 2005 saw the release of the DVD Live, recorded live at The Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia March 18, 2005. In 2006 they released Magic Potion, as well as the lesser-known Chulahoma and a single version of Your Touch.
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