If you ask any long-time fan how they want to see The Black Keys, they’ll reminisce about days of old; small venues, hidden clubs, a tiny stage in the corner of a bar where they are the house band just jamming out their instant classics. That’s the dream anyway, but it’s been 18 years since they rocked the small stage at ‘The Mason Jar’ (now ‘The Rebel Lounge’) here in Phoenix, AZ, and the band has been playing arenas and sheds for over a decade now.
That early fan would certainly have doubts about how Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach could somehow level up to an amphitheater-size concert experience such as October 10th, where Akron’s favorite duo hit Phoenix’ Ak-Chin Pavillion near the end of their long-awaited Dropout Boogie Tour.
Well, with a backup band of four and two guests (Kenny Brown (guitarist for RL Burnside) and Eric Deaton (bassist for Junior Kimbrough), who were the catalysts for the group’s interest in blues and played on the Black Keys’ Delta Kream album), along with some of the most professional and creative lighting and video design this side of the Mississippi, Phoenix was left in awe.
Before we even get into the setlist, let’s set the stage and talk about the next level of visual design and art direction that held the crowd’s attention throughout the entire show.
While The Black Keys waxed poetic, the gorgeously choreographed lighting & video design helped create dramatic arcs of its own, surprising the audience with something new for every song; like when the video wall would suddenly be revealed to be transparent – revealing a giant grid of bright stage lights, or when just the backlights were used, dimmed down, to create a twilight effect as ballads played on. The stage continued to impress with impressive video montages of their live performance mixed with abstractions and graphics throwing nods and winks to both their album art and blues albums of old.
The Black Keys started their set Monday evening throwing it back to the early aughts with “I Got Mine” from their 2008 album, Attack & Release, and then “Howlin’ For You” from their 2010 album Brothers. While the two original members from Akron, Ohio, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney were front and center, the four touring members including percussion, bass, keys, and guitarist helped fill the outdoor venue with electrifying sound.
The set continued for a total of 22 songs from their entire discography, sure to please fans from all stages of their 21 years as a band. “Everlasting Light” had everyone dancing as the bright stage lights flew overhead, swayed back and forth with the hips, and synched to claps and snaps. Love filled the air in more ways than one.
There was no better way to follow up the Brothers album opener than with the second song off the five-time nominated Grammy album. “Next Girl,” the biggest breakup song of 2010 paired gritty psychedelic visuals and a darker stage to help create a beautifully spiteful, yet joyous sing-along that everyone could get behind.
A magical delight and well-welcomed pause happened as the lights dimmed low and Kenny Brown, slide guitar master, who played along RL Burnside along with Eric Deaton took over for the backup band and joined Carney and Auerbach in five cover songs off their Delta Kream album (2021) and “Have Love, Will Travel” off 2003’s Thickfreakness.
Mixing the past and present with a multi-generational musical pitch has been The Black Keys’strength, as this Valley of the Sun effort proved that the populist formula still sticks.
Photos by Justin Katz
