ARTISTS WE LOVE- THE BLACK KEYS

The Black Keys are awesome. They are also my fellow countrymen, hailing from Ohio (Akron, though, not Cincinnati). The Grammy-award winning pair has sold close to two million records, which is really a shame, because they should be selling at least triple that. The alternative-blues-rock duo is made up of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney.

The band was formed in 2001, with the name “black keys” coming from a psychotic artist who would leave incoherent messages on their voicemails, which included calling their fathers “black keys,” according to an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air.

They’ve put out six albums, starting with ‘The Big Come Up’ in early 2002. It, along with their second album Thickfreakness (April 2003) was recorded on an early 1980s 8-track tape recorder in Carney’s basement. The third album, Rubber Factory, was released in 2004; the album was recorded in an abandoned rubber factory. The factory, located in Akron, was torn down in 2010.

By now, The Black Keys had gained more recognition and popularity. Their music was being featured in commercials and movies, and they were opening for bands like Radiohead. They also released their first live video album (“Live”) from a March 18, 2005 concert in Sydney, Australia.

On May 2, 2006, The Black Keys released their first solo EP, Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough, which covers Mississippi bluesman Junior Kimbrough’s songs. A few days later, they released their second live album from a concert in Austin, Texas. Their fifth album, Attack & Release, was accidentally leaked on the internet, and therefore debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200. The Black Keys began expanding their projects outside the band by this time, performing at the 2nd Annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, sitting on a judging panel at the Independent Music Awards, releasing solo albums, forming another band (Drummer, whose members include Carney and other fellow Ohio born and bred musicians), and Blakroc, a collaborative album which Auerbach said, “Pat and I have been preparing for this record since we were 16.” The album features The Black Keys and several hip hop artists, and is supported by Damon Dash.

Their latest album, Brothers, sold 73,000 copies in the first week and sat at the #3 ranking on the Billboard Albums chart. This album features the fabulous “Tighten Up,” whose music video is also very creative and funny:

The Black Keys were nominated for four Grammys: Best Alternative Music Album, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance. They won best alternative music album and Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The bands combination electric rock and old times blues is a combination of smooth vocals and incredible instrumentals.

Their Pandora station is amazing as well, with a healthy mix of The Black Keys, bluesmen like John Lee Hooker, classic rock bands like The Doors, and more current alternative rock bands, like the recently broken up White Stripes. They are a band not to be missed and listened to at every opportunity.

Here’s “Howlin’ for You”:

See their website http://www.theblackkeys.com/ for concert information.

-Julie Robison, Staff Writer

julierobison@prippie.com