The Black Keys
26.10.12 Brisbane Entertainment Centre
All it took to make the Entertainment Centre go insane was two guys, a drumkit and a guitar. That’s how good the songs of The Black Keys really are. With iconic guitar riffs, a signature style destined to raise the roof and pounding drums, the results transfer into an audible mesh of classic and contemporary American rock. As the kids are saying these days – these lads have definitely got swag.
The Black Keys, comprised of duo Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney [augmented by a couple of pals at times on stage], are currently celebrating the international success of their 7th album ‘El Camino’. Produced and co-written by Danger Mouse, their style has taken pacing up to eleven, as from previous concerts Auerbach began to realise that “we just [wanted] to muscle through it”. The same principle applies to their concerts, it seems, as some major muscling was brought forth.
The toe-tapping began instantly as the band opened with ‘Howlin For You’ from their 6th album ‘Brothers’, an instantly recognisable track that even non-fans can shout along to with its iconic syllable chorus. ‘Next Girl’, ‘Run Right Back’ and ‘Same Old Thing’ kept the momentum thumping along, with some clever video trickery of the band being projected with a brilliant colour grade onto the surrounding curtains an added visual pleasure.
Soon up crept one of the bands current tracks receiving copious airplay, as Auerbach slowly plucked out the opening notes of ‘Gold on the Ceiling’ to an ecstatic response. With the lights blaring and lasers pulsing they belted out one of their most popular hits to date, the pace noticeably more quickened from the recorded version. Muscling on we were.
‘Little Black Submarines’ was a definite highlight, with Auerbach standing solo with his guitar, softly lit and aweing the crowd with the steady twangs and the tale of a broken heart. It provided a subtle but powerful shift from the foot stompers – however as fans know the second half sees The Black Keys back at their distorted best.
The remaining set came from their last three albums, as they charged through tracks like a freight train – their backdrop and sound screaming of rustic America, old cars and dust. The immense crowd was bathed in a golden light and were as adrenalized as the seated by the incredible beats and riffs that The Black Keys create.
And as they announced their first farewell and the opening notes of ‘Lonely Boy’ rang out, I think everyone indulged in the urge to perform the dance made so famous in the video clip. Even those who had fought the desire in the tracks previous unleashed some serious limb flailing in this one. That’s the kind of effect you love to see at such an ecstatic concert.
The encore saw Auerbach engage in some serious sensual falsetto for ‘Everlasting Light’, and to top off one of the most energetic concerts I’ve ever had the pleasure to witness we were serenaded with ‘I Got Mine’.
Danielle Muir
