The Black Keys
Encyclopedia
The Black Keys are an American rock
duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach
and drummer/producer Patrick Carney
. The band was formed in Akron
, Ohio
, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S.
's Fresh Air
the name came from a schizophrenic artist named Alfred McMoore that the pair knew; he would leave incoherent messages on their answering machines referring to their fathers as "black keys" such as "D flat" when he was upset with them.
The band released their debut album, The Big Come Up
, in early 2002. The album was very successful for a new independent rock band. Along with their second album, it was recorded entirely in drummer Patrick Carney's basement on an 8-track tape recorder from the early 1980s. The album spawned two singles released as an EP
, "Leavin' Trunk
" and "She Said, She Said
". Both are cover songs; "Leavin' Trunk" is a traditional blues standard and "She Said, She Said" is originally by The Beatles
. "I'll Be Your Man" would later be used as the theme for the HBO series Hung
. "Breaks" was featured in the 2008 film RocknRolla
'
Thickfreakness era (2003) The band released Thickfreakness
in April 2003, which was recorded on a Tascam 388
in Carney's basement in 14 hours. The album was favoured by critics and spawned three singles: "Set You Free
", "Hard Row
" which was featured in the pilot episode for the FX tv show Sons of Anarchy
and a cover of Richard Berry
's "Have Love, Will Travel
". The other cover was Junior Kimbrough
's "Everywhere I Go". "Set You Free" was featured on the soundtrack
for School of Rock
, as well as the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man
.
The band released a split-EP with The Six Parts Seven
on September 16, 2003, titled The Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys EP
and featured one song by The Six Parts Seven and three songs by The Black Keys.
Rubber Factory and first live album (2004–2005) Rubber Factory
, the band's third album, was released in 2004. During Thickfreakness and Rubber Factory, the band gained recognition and popularity, boosting their career. Rubber Factory was recorded in an abandoned factory in early 2004. The factory was located in Akron, but according to Carney, was torn down in early 2010. The album featured singles "10 A.M. Automatic
", "'Til I Get My Way
", and "Girl Is On My Mind
", released as an EP. "When the Lights Go Out" was used in trailers for the film Black Snake Moan and was featured in the erotic opening sequence with co-stars Christina Ricci
and Justin Timberlake
. Additionally, "10 A.M. Automatic" was used in Live Free or Die
, The Go Getter
, the soundtrack to MLB 06: The Show
and an American Express
commercial. The Go Getter also featured "Keep Me" as did Sons of Anarchys Season 1 Episode AK-51 & Old Bones. "Grown So Ugly" was featured on Cloverfield
and "Girl Is On My Mind" on Sony Ericsson
, Victoria's Secret
, and in November 2010, Zales
commercials. Around this time, they also opened for bands such as Pearl Jam
, Beck
, Radiohead
and Sleater-Kinney
. The Kinks cover, "Act Nice and Gentle" appears in the eleventh episode of season four of Rescue Me. In the scene where Dennis Leary and Gina Gershon are getting freaky, it plays in the background.
In 2005, the band also released their first live video album, Live
, recorded at The Metro Theatre
in Sydney, Australia on March 18, 2005.
The Moan
was an extended play which was released on January 19, 2004, featuring "Have Love Will Travel", an alternate version of "Heavy Soul," and two covers.
, an EP with covers of songs by Junior Kimbrough
, a north Mississippi
blues
man, whom the band had covered on The Big Come Up and Thickfreakness. The EP was released on May 2, 2006.
Four days later, The Black Keys released their second live album, Live in Austin, TX – also known as Thickfreakness in Austin – which was recorded October 24, 2003.
Soon after, their fourth album dropped; Magic Potion
was their first release on Nonesuch Records
. The album featured four singles; "You're the One
", "Your Touch
", "Strange Desire", and "Just Got To Be
". The latter was featured on the soundtrack to the video game, NHL 08
. "Your Touch" was featured on the 2009 film Zombieland
as well as the HBO series Eastbound & Down
. The Black Keys recorded a cover of "The Wicked Messenger" for the soundtrack
of I'm Not There
and have recorded "If You Ever Slip", a song written by Jesse Harris for The Hottest State
soundtrack.
, the band's fifth album, was produced by Danger Mouse
and released on April 1, 2008, having leaked onto the internet by March 4. Attack & Release debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200
. The singles from the album were "Strange Times
", "I Got Mine
", and "Same Old Thing". "Strange Times" was featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto IV
and NASCAR 09
. "I Got Mine" was named the 23rd best song by Rolling Stone in its list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008. "I Got Mine" is used as the theme song for Canadian Police Drama TV Series The Bridge
. "Lies" was used in episodes of Big Love
and Lie to Me
, and was covered by Kelly Clarkson
live on her All I Ever Wanted Tour. "So He Won't Break" was featured on an episode of One Tree Hill
. According to an interview in Pitchfork Media
, the band was collaborating on an album with Ike Turner
, to be produced by Danger Mouse and released in 2007, but the idea was rendered impossible with Turner's death in December 2007. "Some of the stuff we ended up recording sounds like Screamin' Jay Hawkins
," said Carney.
Live at the Crystal Ballroom
is a live video album released on November 18, 2008. It was filmed April 4, 2008 in Portland, Oregon
at the Crystal Ballroom
.
On October 17, 2008, The Black Keys was an opening act for fellow Akron-area band Devo
at a special benefit concert at The Akron Civic Theater for presidential candidate Barack Obama
. Chrissie Hynde
of the Pretenders, also an Akron native and Firestone High School
graduate, followed their set. In November, they toured through Europe together with Liam Finn
. On June 6, 2009, The Black Keys performed along with The Roots
, TV on the Radio
, Public Enemy, Antibalas
, and other acts at the 2nd Annual Roots Picnic on the Festival Pier in Philadelphia. They also joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards
judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.
On February 10, 2009, vocalist and guitarist Dan Auerbach released his debut solo album, Keep It Hid
. During this time, drummer Patrick Carney formed an indie band called Drummer
, who are currently signed to Carney's Audio Eagle Records
label. Drummer released their debut album Feel Good Together
on September 29, 2009.
Blakroc is a collaborative album featuring The Black Keys and several hip hop artists
released on Black Friday
. The project was supported and brought together by Damon Dash
, who is a big fan of the band. The album features rappers among the likes of Mos Def
, Ludacris
, RZA
, Raekwon
, Pharoahe Monch
, Q-Tip
, NOE
, Jim Jones
, Nicole Wray
, M.O.P.
, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard
. The album was recorded in Brooklyn, New York. Auerbach said on the official Blakroc site, "Pat and I have been preparing for this record since we were 16."
was released on May 18, 2010, featuring a 15 track listing. The album was produced by The Black Keys and Mark Neill, and was mixed by Tchad Blake
. The song "Tighten Up
" (featured on the FIFA 11
soundtrack) was released before the album as a single, along with "Howlin' for You" (featured on the NHL 11
soundtrack and used as the theme song to the Australian Police Drama TV Series Cops L.A.C.
. It is also featured in the movie Limitless
. The Toronto Blue Jays
baseball franchise has also used a portion of it in their promotional advertisements during the 2011 season.) on the B-side. Brothers sold over 73,000 copies in its first week, giving it a #3 ranking on the Billboard Albums chart, their highest yet. Furthermore, the single "Tighten Up" has become their most successful single, reaching the top spot on the US Alternative charts. The Brothers CD has a thin thermal film on the surface, which changes colors depending on the temperature of the surroundings and ranges from completely black to a creamy surface with writing when placed in a CD player. There are two cut tracks from this album that have been released as well. "Ohio" pays homage to the home of The Black Keys, and "Chop and Change" was featured on the soundtrack
of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. The song "She's Long Gone" was used to promote the second season of "Swamp People" on History Channel.
The Black Keys also helped judge the 9th annual Independent Music Awards
to support independent artists' careers.
On October 19, The Black Keys released iTunes Sessions which is part of a series of live albums by iTunes
and released exclusively on iTunes.
On November 26, 2010 The Black Keys released a special edition Record Store Day Black Friday Double 12" vinyl (45 RP) + 10" w/6 Bonus Tracks, CD, Poster called, Brothers for independent record stores.
On December 1, 2010, it was announced The Black Keys were nominated for four Grammy Award
s including Best Rock Song and Best Alternative Album
.
Rolling Stone magazine placed Brothers at #2 on the Best Albums of 2010 and "Everlasting Light" at #11 on the Best Singles of 2010. On December 14, 2010, Spin magazine named The Black Keys the Artist of the Year for 2010
On January 8, 2011, The Black Keys performed on Saturday Night Live
.
In February 2011, they released a short musical film called Howlin For You starring Tricia Helfer
, Diora Baird
, Sean Patrick Flanery
, Christian Serratos
, Corbin Bernsen
, Todd Bridges
, and Shaun White
.
The Black Keys were nominated for three Billboard Music Awards: Top Alternative Artist and Top Rock Album and Top Alternative Album for their album, Brothers.
On June 11, 2011 The Black Keys played at the 10th annual Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee. They were a headliner for the four day festival and performed on "What Stage".
On August 6, 2011 The Black Keys performed at the 1st annual Kanrocksas music festival at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. They played on "Stageasaurus Rex" and just before Muse, who was the headlining band for the day.
On July 14, 2011, the Black Keys revealed in an interview with Spin
that they had finished work on the album, comparing the sound to influences such as The Clash
and The Cramps
. The names of two songs on the album were also revealed to be "Lonely Boy
" and "Little Black Submarine". The album's title was later revealed to be El Camino
, and is due to be released on December 6, 2011.
On August 13, 2011, The Black Keys played at the 4th annual Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. They played before Muse
, performing on the "Land's End" stage.
On October 26, 2011, The Black Keys released "Lonely Boy", the first single from El Camino.
As of November 29, 2011, five songs from El Camino, "Lonely Boy," "Gold on the Ceiling," "Little Black Submarines," "Sister," and "Run Right Back," are available to stream from the band's website.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach
Dan Auerbach
Daniel Quine Auerbach is an American musician. A multi-instrumentalist, he is best known as the guitarist and vocalist for The Black Keys, a blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. He is married to Stephanie Gonis, with whom he has a daughter, Sadie Little Auerbach, born in 2008.- Childhood and early...
and drummer/producer Patrick Carney
Patrick Carney
Patrick J. Carney is a multi-instrumentalist best known as the drummer for The Black Keys, a blues-rock band from Akron, Ohio...
. The band was formed in Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S.
Early history and The Big Come Up (2001–2002)
The Black Keys are an American blues rock band from Akron, Ohio. According to an interview on NPRNPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
the name came from a schizophrenic artist named Alfred McMoore that the pair knew; he would leave incoherent messages on their answering machines referring to their fathers as "black keys" such as "D flat" when he was upset with them.
The band released their debut album, The Big Come Up
The Big Come Up
-Personnel:*Dan Auerbach - guitar, vocals*Patrick Carney - drums, producer*Patrick Boissel - album cover design*Robert Kramer - album cover design, photography*Dave Schultz - mastering...
, in early 2002. The album was very successful for a new independent rock band. Along with their second album, it was recorded entirely in drummer Patrick Carney's basement on an 8-track tape recorder from the early 1980s. The album spawned two singles released as an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, "Leavin' Trunk
Leavin' Trunk/She Said, She Said
Leavin' Trunk/She Said, She Said is a limited edition vinyl EP by The Black Keys. It was released on the independent label, Isota Records - only 1000 hand-numbered copies were produced. The two songs were pressed onto a clear vinyl record, and the hand-printed slip cover included a photograph of a...
" and "She Said, She Said
Leavin' Trunk/She Said, She Said
Leavin' Trunk/She Said, She Said is a limited edition vinyl EP by The Black Keys. It was released on the independent label, Isota Records - only 1000 hand-numbered copies were produced. The two songs were pressed onto a clear vinyl record, and the hand-printed slip cover included a photograph of a...
". Both are cover songs; "Leavin' Trunk" is a traditional blues standard and "She Said, She Said" is originally by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. "I'll Be Your Man" would later be used as the theme for the HBO series Hung
Hung (TV series)
Hung is a comedy-drama series, which premiered on HBO on June 28, 2009. The series was created by Dmitry Lipkin and Colette Burson and stars Thomas Jane as Ray Drecker, a struggling suburban Detroit high school baseball coach who resorts to male prostitution. The second season premiered on June 27,...
. "Breaks" was featured in the 2008 film RocknRolla
RocknRolla
RocknRolla is a 2008 British crime film written and directed by Guy Ritchie, and starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Strong, Toby Kebbell, Tom Hardy, Idris Elba, Karel Roden, and Thandie Newton...
'
Thickfreakness era (2003) The band released Thickfreakness
Thickfreakness
-Personnel:* Dan Auerbach - guitar, vocals, bass on track 4* Patrick Carney - drum kit, production...
in April 2003, which was recorded on a Tascam 388
TASCAM
TASCAM is the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation, headquartered in Montebello, California. Tascam is credited as the inventor of the Portastudio, the first cassette-based multi-track home studio recorders. Tascam also introduced the first low-cost mass produced multitrack recorders...
in Carney's basement in 14 hours. The album was favoured by critics and spawned three singles: "Set You Free
Set You Free (The Black Keys song)
"Set You Free" is a single by blues-rock band The Black Keys from their second album, Thickfreakness. It was recorded in Patrick Carney's basement at his old house in Akron, Ohio....
", "Hard Row
Hard Row
"Hard Row" is a single by American blues-rock duo The Black Keys from their second album Thickfreakness. The song, along with the rest of Thickfreakness, was recorded in drummer Patrick Carney's basement on a 1980 8-track recorder...
" which was featured in the pilot episode for the FX tv show Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
and a cover of Richard Berry
Richard Berry
Richard Berry was an African American singer, songwriter and musician, who performed with many Los Angeles doo-wop and close harmony groups in the 1950s, including The Flairs and The Robins....
's "Have Love, Will Travel
Have Love, Will Travel
"Have Love, Will Travel" is a 1959 song written and recorded by Richard Berry.-Covers:In its most known instantiation, the garage rock-protopunkers The Sonics covered the song in 1965 and it appeared on their album Here Are The Sonics of that year...
". The other cover was Junior Kimbrough
Junior Kimbrough
David "Junior" Kimbrough was an American blues musician. His best known work included "Keep Your Hands Off Her" and "All Night Long". Music journalist Tony Russell stated "his raw, repetitive style suggests an archaic forebear of John Lee Hooker, a character his music shares with that of fellow...
's "Everywhere I Go". "Set You Free" was featured on the soundtrack
School of Rock (soundtrack album)
- Awards :The soundtrack was nominated for the Grammy Awards of 2004 for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.-Charts:...
for School of Rock
School of Rock
School of Rock, also called The School of Rock, is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, written by Mike White, and starring Jack Black...
, as well as the 2009 comedy I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man
I Love You, Man is a 2009 American comedy film originally titled Let's be Friends and written by Larry Levin before John Hamburg rewrote and directed the film...
.
The band released a split-EP with The Six Parts Seven
The Six Parts Seven
The Six Parts Seven was an American post-rock band formerly based in Kent, Ohio. The band was founded in 1995 by brothers Allen and Jay Karpinski , who had earlier played with Old Hearts Club, a band of similar style...
on September 16, 2003, titled The Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys EP
The Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys EP
The Six Parts Seven/The Black Keys is a split-EP by Ohio bands The Six Parts Seven and The Black Keys. Released in 2003, it featured "A Blueprint Of Something Never Finished" by The Six Parts Seven and three live tracks from The Black Keys...
and featured one song by The Six Parts Seven and three songs by The Black Keys.
Rubber Factory and first live album (2004–2005) Rubber Factory
Rubber Factory
- Personnel:*Dan Auerbach: guitars, vocals, fiddle, lap steel, hand claps*Patrick Carney: drums, percussion, hand claps...
, the band's third album, was released in 2004. During Thickfreakness and Rubber Factory, the band gained recognition and popularity, boosting their career. Rubber Factory was recorded in an abandoned factory in early 2004. The factory was located in Akron, but according to Carney, was torn down in early 2010. The album featured singles "10 A.M. Automatic
10 A.M. Automatic
"10 A.M. Automatic" is a single by The Black Keys. It is from their album Rubber Factory and was released in 2004.-Track listing:All songs written by Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, unless noted otherwise.# 10 A.M. Automatic...
", "'Til I Get My Way
'Till I Get My Way/Girl Is On My Mind
"'Til I Get My Way/Girl Is On My Mind" is a split single by The Black Keys. It features "'Til I Get My Way" and "Girl Is On My Mind"; both songs from their third album Rubber Factory.- Cultural references :...
", and "Girl Is On My Mind
'Till I Get My Way/Girl Is On My Mind
"'Til I Get My Way/Girl Is On My Mind" is a split single by The Black Keys. It features "'Til I Get My Way" and "Girl Is On My Mind"; both songs from their third album Rubber Factory.- Cultural references :...
", released as an EP. "When the Lights Go Out" was used in trailers for the film Black Snake Moan and was featured in the erotic opening sequence with co-stars Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci
Christina Ricci is an American actress. Ricci received initial recognition and praise as a child star for her performance as Wednesday Addams in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values , and her role as Kat Harvey in Casper...
and Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
. Additionally, "10 A.M. Automatic" was used in Live Free or Die
Live Free or Die (film)
Live Free or Die is a 2006 American comedy film starring Aaron Stanford, Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Michael Rapaport, Judah Friedlander, Kevin Dunn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach...
, The Go Getter
The Go-Getter (film)
The Go-Getter is a 2007 American independent road movie directed and written by Martin Hynes. The film stars Lou Taylor Pucci, Zooey Deschanel, and Jena Malone. In the film, 19-year-old Mercer steals a stranger's car to embark on a road trip to find his estranged brother and tell him that their...
, the soundtrack to MLB 06: The Show
MLB 06: The Show
MLB '06: The Show is a baseball video game for PlayStation 2 and PSP. The game was produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, primarily by SCE's San Diego Studio, which was formerly known as 989 Sports. It was the only first-party MLB-licensed video game for the 2006 season drawing attention to the...
and an American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
commercial. The Go Getter also featured "Keep Me" as did Sons of Anarchys Season 1 Episode AK-51 & Old Bones. "Grown So Ugly" was featured on Cloverfield
Cloverfield
Cloverfield is a 2008 American disaster-monster film directed by Matt Reeves, produced by J. J. Abrams and written by Drew Goddard.The film follows six young New Yorkers attending a going-away party on the night that a gigantic monster attacks the city...
and "Girl Is On My Mind" on Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
, Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
, and in November 2010, Zales
Zale Corporation
The Zale Corporation is, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, a leading specialty retailer of jewelry in North America. The Zale Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in 1993...
commercials. Around this time, they also opened for bands such as Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
and Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
. The Kinks cover, "Act Nice and Gentle" appears in the eleventh episode of season four of Rescue Me. In the scene where Dennis Leary and Gina Gershon are getting freaky, it plays in the background.
In 2005, the band also released their first live video album, Live
Live (The Black Keys album)
Live is a live DVD release by rock duo The Black Keys released on October 4, 2005. It was recorded from a show at The Metro Theatre in Sydney, Australia on March 18 2005.-Track listing:# 10 A.M...
, recorded at The Metro Theatre
The Metro Theatre
The Metro Theatre is a music venue located on George Street, in the central business district of Sydney, Australia. The venue was redeveloped, from two former cinemas, by property developer Leon Fink....
in Sydney, Australia on March 18, 2005.
The Moan
The Moan
*The 2-track single vinyl edition is purple....
was an extended play which was released on January 19, 2004, featuring "Have Love Will Travel", an alternate version of "Heavy Soul," and two covers.
Magic Potion and other releases (2006–2007)
The Black Keys released Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior KimbroughChulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough
[*] A longer and cover version of "My Mind is Ramblin'", clocking at 7:05, was released on the Sunday Nights: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough tribute compilation, released in 2005 by Fat Possum Records....
, an EP with covers of songs by Junior Kimbrough
Junior Kimbrough
David "Junior" Kimbrough was an American blues musician. His best known work included "Keep Your Hands Off Her" and "All Night Long". Music journalist Tony Russell stated "his raw, repetitive style suggests an archaic forebear of John Lee Hooker, a character his music shares with that of fellow...
, a north Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
man, whom the band had covered on The Big Come Up and Thickfreakness. The EP was released on May 2, 2006.
Four days later, The Black Keys released their second live album, Live in Austin, TX – also known as Thickfreakness in Austin – which was recorded October 24, 2003.
Soon after, their fourth album dropped; Magic Potion
Magic Potion (album)
-Cover art:The cover art depicts a Fabergé egg. Inside the album is a picture of a fried egg. The back cover depicts a falcon....
was their first release on Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
. The album featured four singles; "You're the One
You're the One (The Black Keys song)
"You're the One" is a single from The Black Keys, from their album Magic Potion. It was released February 26, 2007 as a download.-Track listing:# You're the One# The Way I Feel When I'm With You # Work Me...
", "Your Touch
Your Touch
"Your Touch" is a single from the The Black Keys fourth album, Magic Potion.The song was featured in the 2009 film Zombieland, episode 1 of Eastbound and Down, and runs during the opening scenes of the "Manic Monday" episode of the HBO series Entourage.-Track listing:# Your Touch # Strange Desire #...
", "Strange Desire", and "Just Got To Be
Just Got To Be
"Just Got To Be" is a single by The Black Keys. It is from the album Magic Potion. It was released in 2007.-Cultural references:"Just Got To Be" was used in the soundtrack of the 2007 video game NHL 08....
". The latter was featured on the soundtrack to the video game, NHL 08
NHL 08
-Soundtrack:-Easter Eggs:* Wells Greeno-McNeil is the name of a child for the Make-A-Wish Foundation whose wish was to have his name and likeness in a videogame.* The default created player names are of the game's developers....
. "Your Touch" was featured on the 2009 film Zombieland
Zombieland
Zombieland is a 2009 American zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screenplay written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin as survivors of a zombie apocalypse...
as well as the HBO series Eastbound & Down
Eastbound & Down
Eastbound & Down is an American comedy television series broadcast on HBO, starring Danny McBride as Kenny Powers, a former professional baseball pitcher, who after an up and down career in the major leagues is forced to return to his hometown middle-school in Shelby, North Carolina, as a...
. The Black Keys recorded a cover of "The Wicked Messenger" for the soundtrack
I'm Not There (soundtrack)
The soundtrack album for the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There was released as a double CD on October 30, 2007. It features only one recording by Dylan himself—his previously unreleased recording of the title song "I'm Not There" recorded during The Basement Tapes' sessions in 1967—plus...
of I'm Not There
I'm Not There
I'm Not There is a 2007 biographical musical film directed by Todd Haynes, inspired by iconic American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Six actors depict different facets of Dylan's life and public persona: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw...
and have recorded "If You Ever Slip", a song written by Jesse Harris for The Hottest State
The Hottest State
The Hottest State is a 2006 drama directed and written by Ethan Hawke, based on Hawke's 1996 novel of the same name. The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2006, and received a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 24, 2007. It ran for 5 weeks and grossed...
soundtrack.
Attack & Release and the Blakroc project (2008–2009)
Attack & ReleaseAttack & Release
- Notes :* "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be" features a duet between Dan Auerbach and then 17-year-old bluegrass/country singer Jessica Lea Mayfield.* "Strange Times" is featured in the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV as well as NASCAR 09....
, the band's fifth album, was produced by Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
and released on April 1, 2008, having leaked onto the internet by March 4. Attack & Release debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The singles from the album were "Strange Times
Strange Times (The Black Keys song)
"Strange Times" is the first single from The Black Keys' album Attack & Release. It was released online in March 2008.The song has been featured in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto IV on the in-game radio station "Radio Broker", and has reached #40 on US Modern Rock Radio Airplay charts...
", "I Got Mine
I Got Mine (The Black Keys song)
"I Got Mine" is the second single from The Black Keys' album Attack & Release. It was released in mid-2008. The song was number 23 on Rolling Stones list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008.-Cultural references:...
", and "Same Old Thing". "Strange Times" was featured in the video games Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open world action video game published by Rockstar Games, and developed by British games developer Rockstar North. It has been released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video game consoles, and for the Windows operating system...
and NASCAR 09
NASCAR 09
NASCAR 09 is the twelfth installment in the EA Sports NASCAR series, it is the sequel to 2007 game NASCAR 08. It is developed by EA Tiburon and released on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and mobile phones in North America on June 10, 2008. On March 12, 2008, EA announced Jeff Gordon as...
. "I Got Mine" was named the 23rd best song by Rolling Stone in its list of the 100 Best Songs of 2008. "I Got Mine" is used as the theme song for Canadian Police Drama TV Series The Bridge
The Bridge (TV series)
The Bridge was a Canadian police drama commissioned by CTV and CBS starring Aaron Douglas. The name of the series is derived from the bridge which separates the wealthy Rosedale neighborhood of Toronto with one of its poorest, St. James Town....
. "Lies" was used in episodes of Big Love
Big Love
Big Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy...
and Lie to Me
Lie to Me
Lie to Me is a 2009-2011 American television series.Lie to Me may also refer to:* Lie to Me , a South Korean drama series* "Lie to Me" , an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...
, and was covered by Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
live on her All I Ever Wanted Tour. "So He Won't Break" was featured on an episode of One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
. According to an interview in Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
, the band was collaborating on an album with Ike Turner
Ike Turner
Isaac Wister Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, arranger, talent scout, and record producer. In a career that lasted more than half a century, his repertoire included blues, soul, rock, and funk...
, to be produced by Danger Mouse and released in 2007, but the idea was rendered impossible with Turner's death in December 2007. "Some of the stuff we ended up recording sounds like Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Jalacy Hawkins , best known as Screamin' Jay Hawkins was an American musician, singer, and actor...
," said Carney.
Live at the Crystal Ballroom
Live at the Crystal Ballroom
Live at the Crystal Ballroom is a live DVD by American blues-rock band The Black Keys. It was released November 18, 2008 and was directed by Lance Bangs...
is a live video album released on November 18, 2008. It was filmed April 4, 2008 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
at the Crystal Ballroom
Crystal Ballroom (Portland, Oregon)
Crystal Ballroom, originally built as Cotillion Hall, is a historic building in Portland, Oregon, United States. Cotillion Hall was built in 1914 as a ballroom, and dance revivals were held there through the Great Depression...
.
On October 17, 2008, The Black Keys was an opening act for fellow Akron-area band Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
at a special benefit concert at The Akron Civic Theater for presidential candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. Chrissie Hynde
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen "Chrissie" Hynde is an US musician best known as the leader of the rock/new wave band the Pretenders. She is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, and has been the only constant member of the band throughout its history.-Early life and career:Hynde is the daughter of a part-time...
of the Pretenders, also an Akron native and Firestone High School
Firestone High School
Harvey S. Firestone High School is a public high school located on the northwest side of Akron, Ohio. It is one of seven high schools in the Akron Public Schools district. The high school currently offers programs such as the Visual and Performing Arts, International Baccalaureate Program, and...
graduate, followed their set. In November, they toured through Europe together with Liam Finn
Liam Finn
Liam Mullane Finn is a New Zealand musician and songwriter. Born in Australia, he moved to New Zealand as a child...
. On June 6, 2009, The Black Keys performed along with The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio
TV on the Radio is an American art rock band formed in 2001 in Brooklyn, New York, whose music spans numerous diverse genres, from post-punk to electro and free jazz to soul music....
, Public Enemy, Antibalas
Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Antibalas is a Brooklyn-based afrobeat band that is modeled after Fela Kuti's Africa 70 band and Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive Orchestra...
, and other acts at the 2nd Annual Roots Picnic on the Festival Pier in Philadelphia. They also joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.
On February 10, 2009, vocalist and guitarist Dan Auerbach released his debut solo album, Keep It Hid
Keep It Hid
Keep It Hid is the debut solo album by the American blues-rock musician Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, released in 2009 on Nonesuch Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Dan Auerbach, except where noted.# "Trouble Weighs a Ton" – 2:19...
. During this time, drummer Patrick Carney formed an indie band called Drummer
Drummer (band)
Drummer is an indie rock band from Akron, Ohio. The band was founded by The Black Keys' drummer Patrick Carney who plays bass guitar. All the members of the band are drummers in other groups from Ohio.-History:...
, who are currently signed to Carney's Audio Eagle Records
Audio Eagle Records
Audio Eagle Records is an independent record label started in 2005 by musician Patrick Carney. The label has signed mainly bands from Ohio, Patrick Carney's home state.According to their MySpace page, the label has now gone out of business....
label. Drummer released their debut album Feel Good Together
Feel Good Together
Feel Good Together is the debut album by indie rock band Drummer, released on September 29, 2009. It was released on band member Patrick Carney's label Audio Eagle Records.-Recording history:...
on September 29, 2009.
Blakroc is a collaborative album featuring The Black Keys and several hip hop artists
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
released on Black Friday
Black Friday (shopping)
Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day, most major retailers open extremely early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season, similar to Boxing...
. The project was supported and brought together by Damon Dash
Damon Dash
__NOINDEX__...
, who is a big fan of the band. The album features rappers among the likes of Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, Ludacris
Ludacris
Christopher Brian Bridges , better known by his stage name Ludacris, is an American rapper and actor. Along with his manager, Chaka Zulu, Ludacris is the co-founder of Disturbing tha Peace, an imprint distributed by Def Jam Recordings...
, RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
, Raekwon
Raekwon
Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with...
, Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch
Pharoahe Monch is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex lyrics, complex delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.-Biography:...
, Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
, NOE
Noe
-Places:*Noe Valley, neighborhood in San Francisco*River Noe, tributary of the River Derwent in Derbyshire, England*Noé, Haute-Garonne, France*Noé, Yonne, France*Noe Station, in Osaka, Japan, on the Keihan Main Line*Noe Middle School, in Louisville, Kentucky...
, Jim Jones
Jim Jones (rapper)
Joseph Guillermo Jones II , better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper and original member of The Diplomats, also known as Dipset. He is Co-CEO of Diplomat Records...
, Nicole Wray
Nicole Wray
Nicole Monique Wray, also known as simply Nicole, is an American R&B and hip hop singer. Her 1998 debut single, "Make It Hot"—written and produced by Timbaland and co-written by and featuring Missy Elliott—was certified gold.-Musical career:...
, M.O.P.
M.O.P.
M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hip hop duo. The duo, composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up," released on...
, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard
Ol' Dirty Bastard
Russell Tyrone Jones was an American rapper and occasional producer, who went by the stage name Ol' Dirty Bastard or simply ODB...
. The album was recorded in Brooklyn, New York. Auerbach said on the official Blakroc site, "Pat and I have been preparing for this record since we were 16."
Brothers (2010–2011)
BrothersBrothers (The Black Keys album)
Brothers is the sixth album and Grammy Award-winner of Best Alternative Music Album by American blues-rock duo, The Black Keys. The album was announced on March 2, 2010 by Pitchfork Media and became the band's third release from Nonesuch Records on May 18, 2010...
was released on May 18, 2010, featuring a 15 track listing. The album was produced by The Black Keys and Mark Neill, and was mixed by Tchad Blake
Tchad Blake
Tchad Blake is an American record producer, audio engineer, mixer and musician.He has worked with numerous artists and musicians, including State Radio, Apartment 26, Elvis Costello, Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Tom Waits, Richard Thompson, Brazilian Girls, Sheryl Crow, November 2nd, Travis, Marike...
. The song "Tighten Up
Tighten Up (The Black Keys song)
"Tighten Up" is the first single from The Black Keys album, Brothers, released on May 18, 2010. Dan Auerbach told The Sun how this song came about: "That was the last song we did for the record...
" (featured on the FIFA 11
FIFA 11
FIFA 11 is the 18th title in Electronic Arts' FIFA series of football video games. Developed by EA Canada, it was published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label...
soundtrack) was released before the album as a single, along with "Howlin' for You" (featured on the NHL 11
NHL 11
NHL 11 is an ice hockey video game celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the NHL series. The game was developed by EA Canada, published by EA Sports, and released in North America on September 7, 2010, with all other regions receiving the game within two weeks...
soundtrack and used as the theme song to the Australian Police Drama TV Series Cops L.A.C.
Cops L.A.C.
Cops L.A.C. is a 2010 Australian television police drama, which screened on the Nine Network. The series followed the work of officers at the Seaview Local Area Command, a fictitious police response area of the 'State Police' set in harbourside Sydney, New South Wales...
. It is also featured in the movie Limitless
Limitless
Limitless is one of the world's largest private superyachts. She was built in 1997 by German shipmaker Lürssen, designed under the direction of Jon Bannenberg. The overall length is 96,25 m , the width 12,50 m...
. The Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
baseball franchise has also used a portion of it in their promotional advertisements during the 2011 season.) on the B-side. Brothers sold over 73,000 copies in its first week, giving it a #3 ranking on the Billboard Albums chart, their highest yet. Furthermore, the single "Tighten Up" has become their most successful single, reaching the top spot on the US Alternative charts. The Brothers CD has a thin thermal film on the surface, which changes colors depending on the temperature of the surroundings and ranges from completely black to a creamy surface with writing when placed in a CD player. There are two cut tracks from this album that have been released as well. "Ohio" pays homage to the home of The Black Keys, and "Chop and Change" was featured on the soundtrack
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (soundtrack)
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse is the soundtrack album to the film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. It is the third soundtrack in the film's chronology, and was released on June 8, 2010. The soundtrack was once again co-produced by Alexandra Patsavas, the music supervisor for the previous two films...
of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. The song "She's Long Gone" was used to promote the second season of "Swamp People" on History Channel.
The Black Keys also helped judge the 9th annual Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
to support independent artists' careers.
On October 19, The Black Keys released iTunes Sessions which is part of a series of live albums by iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
and released exclusively on iTunes.
On November 26, 2010 The Black Keys released a special edition Record Store Day Black Friday Double 12" vinyl (45 RP) + 10" w/6 Bonus Tracks, CD, Poster called, Brothers for independent record stores.
On December 1, 2010, it was announced The Black Keys were nominated for four Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s including Best Rock Song and Best Alternative Album
Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album
The Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums in the alternative rock genre at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards...
.
Rolling Stone magazine placed Brothers at #2 on the Best Albums of 2010 and "Everlasting Light" at #11 on the Best Singles of 2010. On December 14, 2010, Spin magazine named The Black Keys the Artist of the Year for 2010
On January 8, 2011, The Black Keys performed on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
.
In February 2011, they released a short musical film called Howlin For You starring Tricia Helfer
Tricia Helfer
Tricia Janine Helfer is a Canadian actress and former model, best known for her roles as Number Six in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and television series, "Carla" on Burn Notice, and FBI Special Agent Alex Rice on Dark Blue, as well as for hosting the first season of Canada's...
, Diora Baird
Diora Baird
Diora Lynn Baird is an American actress and former model for Guess? who has appeared in films such as Wedding Crashers and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning .-Early life:...
, Sean Patrick Flanery
Sean Patrick Flanery
Sean Patrick Flanery is an American actor known for such roles as Connor MacManus in The Boondock Saints, Greg Stillson in The Dead Zone and for portraying Indiana Jones in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, as well as Bobby Dagen in Saw 3D.He is currently known for his role as Sam Gibson on The...
, Christian Serratos
Christian Serratos
Christian Marie Serratos is an American actress. She is best known for portraying Angela Weber in Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse, which are based on the Twilight novels by Stephenie Meyer.-Early life:...
, Corbin Bernsen
Corbin Bernsen
Corbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor and director, known for his work on television. He is best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law, and as retired police detective Henry Spencer on the USA Network comedy-drama series Psych...
, Todd Bridges
Todd Bridges
Todd Anthony Bridges is an American actor. He is best known for his childhood role as Willis Jackson on the NBC/ABC sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and for his recurring role as Monk on the UPN/CW sitcom Everybody Hates Chris...
, and Shaun White
Shaun White
Shaun Roger White is an American professional snowboarder and skateboarder. He is a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He rides regular stance, twelve and negative three degrees on his board.-Early life:Shaun White is an Irish American...
.
The Black Keys were nominated for three Billboard Music Awards: Top Alternative Artist and Top Rock Album and Top Alternative Album for their album, Brothers.
On June 11, 2011 The Black Keys played at the 10th annual Bonnaroo music festival in Manchester, Tennessee. They were a headliner for the four day festival and performed on "What Stage".
On August 6, 2011 The Black Keys performed at the 1st annual Kanrocksas music festival at the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. They played on "Stageasaurus Rex" and just before Muse, who was the headlining band for the day.
El Camino (2011-present)
The Black Keys began recording for their seventh studio album around March 2011. They reportedly recorded in Dan's new studio in Nashville, Tennessee.On July 14, 2011, the Black Keys revealed in an interview with Spin
Spin (magazine)
Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...
that they had finished work on the album, comparing the sound to influences such as The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and The Cramps
The Cramps
The Cramps were an American rock band, formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated much over their existence, with the husband and wife duo of Interior and lead guitarist Poison Ivy the only permanent members...
. The names of two songs on the album were also revealed to be "Lonely Boy
Lonely Boy (The Black Keys song)
"Lonely Boy" is a song by rock band The Black Keys, and it is the first single from their 2011 album El Camino. The song is also the A-side of a promotional 12-inch single, released in commemoration of Record Store Day's "Back to Black" Friday event....
" and "Little Black Submarine". The album's title was later revealed to be El Camino
El Camino (The Black Keys album)
El Camino is the seventh album by American blues-rock duo The Black Keys. The album was announced on October 10, 2011 by Pitchfork Media and will become the band's fourth release from Nonesuch Records on December 6, 2011...
, and is due to be released on December 6, 2011.
On August 13, 2011, The Black Keys played at the 4th annual Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. They played before Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
, performing on the "Land's End" stage.
On October 26, 2011, The Black Keys released "Lonely Boy", the first single from El Camino.
As of November 29, 2011, five songs from El Camino, "Lonely Boy," "Gold on the Ceiling," "Little Black Submarines," "Sister," and "Run Right Back," are available to stream from the band's website.
Discography
Studio albums- The Big Come UpThe Big Come Up-Personnel:*Dan Auerbach - guitar, vocals*Patrick Carney - drums, producer*Patrick Boissel - album cover design*Robert Kramer - album cover design, photography*Dave Schultz - mastering...
(2002) - ThickfreaknessThickfreakness-Personnel:* Dan Auerbach - guitar, vocals, bass on track 4* Patrick Carney - drum kit, production...
(2003) - Rubber FactoryRubber Factory- Personnel:*Dan Auerbach: guitars, vocals, fiddle, lap steel, hand claps*Patrick Carney: drums, percussion, hand claps...
(2004) - Magic PotionMagic Potion (album)-Cover art:The cover art depicts a Fabergé egg. Inside the album is a picture of a fried egg. The back cover depicts a falcon....
(2006) - Attack & ReleaseAttack & Release- Notes :* "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be" features a duet between Dan Auerbach and then 17-year-old bluegrass/country singer Jessica Lea Mayfield.* "Strange Times" is featured in the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV as well as NASCAR 09....
(2008) - BrothersBrothers (The Black Keys album)Brothers is the sixth album and Grammy Award-winner of Best Alternative Music Album by American blues-rock duo, The Black Keys. The album was announced on March 2, 2010 by Pitchfork Media and became the band's third release from Nonesuch Records on May 18, 2010...
(2010) - El CaminoEl Camino (The Black Keys album)El Camino is the seventh album by American blues-rock duo The Black Keys. The album was announced on October 10, 2011 by Pitchfork Media and will become the band's fourth release from Nonesuch Records on December 6, 2011...
(2011)
Awards and Nominations
- Grammy Awards
- 2011 – Awarded Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for "Tighten Up".
- 2011 – Awarded Best Alternative Music Album for Brothers.
- 2011 – Awarded Best Recording Package for Brothers.
- 2011 – Nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Black Mud".
- 2011 – Nominated for Best Rock Song for "Tighten Up".
- 2012 - Nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for "Dearest" from "Rave On Buddy HollyRave on Buddy HollyRave On Buddy Holly is a compilation album by various artists released on June 28, 2011 through Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group and Hear Music. The title of the tribute album to musician Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash in 1959 at age 22, refers to the song "Rave On", one of his biggest...
".
External links
- The Fresh AirFresh AirFresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
interview (38 min 18 sec) from 2011-01-31 - Nashville SceneNashville SceneNashville Scene is an alternative newsweekly in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1989, became a part of Village Voice Media in 1999, and later joined the ranks of sixteen other publications after a merger of Village Voice Media with New Times Media early in 2006. In 2009 the paper was...
cover story. Keys to the City: The Black Keys have moved to Nashville. What does that say about them — and what does that say about us?