The Black Keys are one of my favorite rock bands. They’re catchy, upbeat, and throw down some awesome beats. So attending the Atlanta concert was an easy decision.
Each one of their CDs has a different style of music. In fact I’m listening to to their best album right now, El Camino. The duo has sold more than a million copies of this record in the US.
Last time, I saw The Black Keys was at Aaron’s Amphitheater. I was excited to see the band perform their new songs live at Philips Arena in Atlanta. I was in for an experience, as the acoustics at Philips are some of the best in the city.
The Opening Act
The Flaming Lips opened for The Black Keys when they visited Atlanta in 2013. The band is now touring with St. Vincent.
They’re an indie pop band that is known for their hit single “Digital Witness.” Although I’m not too familiar with St. Vincent’s collection, I enjoyed their set. Lead guitarist, Annie Clark was awesome. They were a solid choice for a band to warm up the audience.
Set List
The Opening Song:
There was about a 30-minute gap between the performances. With my luck, I headed for Hawk Walk to grab an ice cold beer, and The Black Keys opened with one of my favorite songs, “Dead and Gone.” The set continued as follows:
Next Girl
Run Right Back
Same Old Thing
Gold on the Ceiling
Strange Times
Nova Baby
Leavin’ Trunk
Too Afraid to Love You
A Girl like You
Money Maker
Gotta Get Away
She’s Long Gone
Fever
Tighten Up
Your Touch
Loney Boy
Encore:
Weight of Love
Turn Blue
Little Black Submarine
Concert Review
As noted, I’ve seen The Black Keys before. The duo was fantastic the first time. Over the course of their 2-hour set, Dan Auerbach (guitar) and Patrick Carney (drums) engaged with the audience at a new level. They ran onto the stage with one of their quintessential songs and kept the beat going with another great hit.
However, Auerbach comes off a shy guy. He doesn’t talk much, dance, and is fairly reserved on the stage. For this generation’s greatest American rock-band, they are definitely not The Rolling Stones.
Most bands now use wireless receivers for their guitars. Auerbach is far too traditional and plugs in his guitar the old fashioned way, with a cord.
These guys rock hard! Many critics compare their sound to Led Zeppelin. Songs off the band’s new CD, Turn Blue, were a big hit in Atlanta, as the Ohio-born band uses blusey, Southern-inspired melodies on these hits.
One major difference between this tour was bassist Richard Swift joined the duo on the stage. The keyboardist John Wood, did a great job adding to the funk of the songs. In order to light up the songs from their new CD, Auerbach needed the support from Wood and Swift.
The band finished their first set with “Lonely Boy.” This song is always a crowd pleaser. It’s fun watching fans imitate the dance moves from the music video.
After more than a 10 minute break, the American rockers returned for a short encore. The group closed out the evening with “Little Black Submarines.” Often said to their most Zeppelin-esq song.
They were well taken and well received. More than 14,000 seats were filled and they did a great job mixing up their music.
