Dan Auerbach—best known as half of The Black Keys—will embark on a winter tour beginning November 5 in Columbus, OH. The tour, which includes shows at New York City’s Webster Hall, Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom and Philadelphia’s Theater of the Living Arts, arrives on the heels of Auerbach’s critically acclaimed solo debut Keep It Hid, recently released on Nonesuch. The album received wide praise from The New York Times, NPR’s Fresh Air, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Opening for Auerbach on the fall dates are Justin Townes Earle and Jessica Lea Mayfield. Please see below for tour details.
Keep It Hid was produced and engineered by Auerbach at his studio Akron Analog and features him playing a variety of instruments, including drums, guitar, percussion, and keyboards. Many of Auerbach’s friends and family play on the album, including his uncle James Quine, who contributes vocal harmony and electric guitar on the track “Street Walkin.” Other musicians include Jessica Lea Mayfield, who sings on the track “When the Night Comes,” and Bob Cesare, who plays drums on “Whispered Words,” a song originally written by Auerbach’s father. Of the recording process Auerbach states, “I wanted a live, organic sound. Nothing was too plotted or planned, just a lot of spontaneity.” The record was mixed by Auerbach’s good friend Mark Neill at Neill’s Soil of the South studio.
With his Black Keys bandmate Patrick Carney, Auerbach has recorded five critically acclaimed full-length albums, beginning with 2002’s The Big Come Up. 2008’s Attack & Release debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at #14, marking The Black Keys’ highest position to date. The New York Times called it a “savage, bitter concoction built on a snarling punk-rock riff,” while the Los Angeles Times called it “without doubt the Keys’ most dynamic effort yet.” Auerbach also has been busy with his own record label, Polymer Sounds, for which he produced the 2008 debut from Jessica Lea Mayfield With Blasphemy, So Heartfelt; Pitchfork praised Mayfield’s album as “fascinating and endlessly listenable.” On November 18, 2008, Nonesuch will release a DVD produced and directed by Lance Bangs titled The Black Keys Live at the Crystal Ballroom.
November 5 Newport Music Hall* Columbus, OH
November 6 The Majestic Theater* Detroit, MI
November 7 Phoenix Concert Theater* Toronto, ONT
November 8 Le National* Montral, QC
November 9 The Paradise† Boston, MA
November 11 Webster Hall† New York, NY
November 12 Theater of the Living Arts† Philadelphia, PA
November 13 Sonar* Baltimore, MD
November 14 Cat’s Cradle† Chapel Hill, NC
November 16 The Orange Peel* Asheville, NC
November 17 Variety Playhouse* Atlanta, GA
November 18 House of Blues* New Orleans, LA
November 20 Minglewood Hall* Memphis, TN
November 21 Cannery Ballroom† Nashville, TN
December 3 Turner Hall* Milwaukee, WI
December 4 First Avenue* Minneapolis, MN
December 6 The Bluebird* Bloomington, IN
December 8 Southgate House* Newport, KY
December 9 House of Blues* Cleveland, OH
Here he is performing the title track from his debut solo album, Keep It Hid:
In my opinion The Black Keys can do no wrong. Here’s more proof:
Drummer, the new band featuring Patrick Carney, drummer for the critically acclaimed duo The Black Keys, is poised for the release of their debut album, Feel Good Together. The album is set for release September 29 on Carney’s label, Audio Eagle. Carney, who plays bass for the group, joins up with four long time friends—all Ohio-based drummers—to bring the project to life. Drummer is rounded out by: Jamie Stillman of Teeth of the Hydra, formerly of Party of Helicopters (guitar), Jon Finley of Beaten Awake, also formerly of Party of Helicopters (vocals, guitar), Stephen Clements of Houseguest and Six Parts Seven (keys, vocals) and Greg Boyd of Ghostman and Sandman (drums). The band will embark on a fall tour in support of the new album. For more information about the band, please visit: www.myspace.com/drummertheband
Drummer took shape in early 2009 with one goal in mind—to have a good time. Carney says of the band’s incarnation, “We started playing together in February and within two months, we had a whole record. We have all been friends for a long time and decided that our time would be better spent making music than making snowmen and watching YouTube.” Feel Good Together was recorded and mixed in Akron, OH by Ben Vehorn (Love as Laughter) at his studio Tangerine Sound.
With his Black Keys bandmate Dan Auerbach, Carney has recorded five critically acclaimed full-length albums, beginning with 2002’s The Big Come Up. Feel Good Together arrives on the heels of The Black Keys’ 2008 album, Attack & Release, which debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at #14, marking the band’s highest position to date. The album earned praise from The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, which called it a “savage, bitter concoction built on a snarling punk-rock riff.” Carney has also been busy with Audio Eagle, which has recently released material from the Royal Bangs and Other Girls.
DRUMMER FALL TOUR DATES
*with The Royal Bangs
†with Other Girls
October 8 Southpaw* Brooklyn, NY
October 9 Johnny Brenda’s* Philadelphia, PA
October 10 Mercury Lounge* New York, NY
October 11 T.T. the Bear’s* Cambridge, MA
October 12 DC9* Washington, DC
October 13 The Ottobar* Baltimore, MD
October 14 Local 506* Chapel Hill, NC
October 15 The Pilot Light* Knoxville, TN
October 16 The Earl* Atlanta, GA
October 17 Mercy Lounge* Nashville, TN
October 19 Skull Alley* Louisville, KY
October 20 Spin Nightclub* Indianapolis, IN
October 21 High Noon Saloon* Madison, WI
October 22 7th Street Entry* Minneapolis, MN
October 23 Schubas Tavern* Chicago, IL
October 24 Beachland Ballroom*† Cleveland, OH
Wow, this could be awesome. Read more from Spinner.com:
As ZZ Top enter into their 40th year of making music together, the little old band from Texas have a lot of secrets to their incredible staying power. One of them, for guitarist Billy Gibbons, is keeping up on new music. To that end, the rockers will get a hand from the Black Keys on ZZ Top’s next album.
“They’re couple of really fresh blues-based rockers that truly say it,” Gibbons tells Spinner of the Keys.
The forthcoming album is being produced by Rick Rubin, and Gibbons believes the pairing should result in a pretty raw sound. “We’ve enjoyed a friendship with Rick, which now includes an opportunity to focus our collective energy in a studio setting, which is actually more like bringing the live show into the room,” Gibbons says. “The art of capturing the maverick rogue called ‘live in the studio’ is what Rick does so well — better than anyone.”
Here we go once again… the season of “Best Of” lists! Here at SoundMojo I’ll throw my Top 20 Albums of 2008 into the never-ending pile of opinionated lists that inevitably feature a variation of the same 50 bands or so… Without further ado, here are the 20 albums that I enjoyed the most this year:
20. Metallica - Death Magnetic
It’s nowhere close to Metallica’s best album, but its Metallica back doing what they do best with long intro’s, long guitar solo’s and songs that are actually interesting! Finally.
19. Santogold -Santogold
Nothing this year sounded as varied as this album. Santogold had a bit of everything on this album and somehow it all sounds fantastic. An indie/new wave/rock/electro hybrid that does not disappoint. Check out LES Artistes.
18. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
Anthemic Scottish indie rock. Sad songs that make you want to raise your fists in the air. “The Modern Leper” is one of the best songs of the year.
17. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
I’ve had my complaints about Coldplay in the past… I was a fan of the first 2 albums, but things then took a turn for the worse… Chris Martin was in the spotlight as much as Bono and their music took a nose dive. Enter producer Brian Eno and whammy! the band has its creativity and inspiration back. Viva La Vida expanded their sound and still left it accessible to the masses… a great album from start to finish.
16. Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
Alright I’ll say it. Jack White is my hero. Consolers of the Lonely is a solid album of rock, hard rock, folk rock and garage rock. The band is somewhat of a side project from the White Stripes, but based on this album the Raconteurs are a force to be reckoned with and Jack could probably front another two bands.
15. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
While not as immediately grabbing as their 2005 debut, Wold Parade have crafted another classic album in At Mount Zoomer. The album does seem more mature, but everything you loved about Apologies to the Queen Mary is still there, its just a little harder to dig into. Once you do dig in, everything makes sense.
14. Constantines - Kensington Heights
This album seems to explode with the opening song of “Hard Feelings” and then steadily slow down with each progressing tune, but rest assured this is some of the steadiest songwriting the band has recorded. This band deserves to be much bigger than they are. “Trans Canada” is one of my favorite songs of the year.
13. Shearwater - Rook
Shearwater is made up of parts of Okervil River and Kingfisher, but based on this debut album the bands vision is unified and the creativity and potential seems huge. Dramatic and theatric vocals stand out, but the layered sound is equally as impressive.
12. The Verve - Forth
Another comeback album, this one was probably my most anticipated, and while not as spectacular is their older albums, Forth is pretty damn enjoyable. There was the obligatory single, “Love is Noise” which tried to recapture the mainstream glory of “Bittersweet Symphony”, and while the song was actually pretty good, it seemed a bit out of place on the album. More interesting were the psychadelic, spacey, guitar epics.
11. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Americana music with great story telling. This album sounds like it was recorded in the mid 70’s and tracks like “Furr” and “God and Suicide” are some of my favorite songs of the year. Sometimes it doesn’t get much better than acoustic guitars and tall tales.
10. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
This was one of those albums that was buzzed about so much that I thought for sure I would hate it. Afro-pop infused indie rock from preppy college kids? Ya right… It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable albums of the year and probably one of the most unique debut albums in a while. Quirky songs and memorable vocals mixed with strong melodies, I guess the hype has to be right sometimes?
9. The War on Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues
For me this band came out of nowhere to be one of my most consistent listens all year long. With vocals that are a dead ringer for Dylan circa 1965 and melodies that will embed themselves in your head for days, I found this band incredibly interesting. With equal parts folk rock shuffle and shoegaze shimmer, I can’t wait to hear what these guys do next. Check out the song “Taking the Farm“.
8. Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
Comeback album #4 on this list… Ok, Oasis never really went away, but it seems that every album since “(Whats the Story) Morning Glory” has been a comeback album, and Dig Out Your Soul finally delivers. Gone are the acoustic guitars and blatant rips of classic tunes, but back is the intesity and confidence of a band that knows how to deliver rock and roll. Oasis won’t convert any new fans with this album, but they’ve realised that and its now one of their greatest strengths. Its also nice to hear Noel writing consistently and also have the rest of the band contribute quality tunes.
7. The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
The Stills have been up and down over the last few years. Their debut was acclaimed, the follow up was different and thus confused fans, so they had decisions to make for album 3. They either regress back to their initial post-punk sound, continue in the rootsy sound of their second album, or combine everything and hope for the best. I’ve enjoyed everything the band has released and thankfully they chose option 3. With Oceans Will Rise they’ve crafted an expansive album of sounds and styles that flows together very nicely. Check out “Hands on Fire” and “Everything I Build” for an idea of the bands current sound.
6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
There is an interesting back story to this album that includes a secluded cabin in the woods, but I’ll let you look that up yourself. Whats important is that this is one of the prettiest albums of the year with falsetto vocals that should knock you flat. This is beautiful, melodic, acoustic-based music that you won’t soon forget. Listen to “Skinny Love” for an idea.
5. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Another album that rode the hype wave for a while before I finally listened to it. Another pleasant surprise. This one was hipster art students creating psychedelic electro indie-pop. Ya right again… wrong, awesome. The songs on this album are like an explosion of colour in your brain. Endlessly catchy, but at the same time interesting and layered this band is definitely on to something. “Time to Pretend” might be the song of the year.
4. Cut/Copy - In Ghost Colours
In Ghost Colours is an album that I slowly came to love over the year. One by one I would hear different songs on the album until I finally realized that all of them were fantastic. This is the best combination of Indie rock and Electro-dance music I’ve ever heard and fans of either genre would have no trouble getting into the album. Its like the band takes all the good parts of both genres and builds an exciting, creative and multi-dimensional style of their own. Check out “Feel the Love” or “So Haunted”.
3. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
God I love the Black Keys. Dirty, minimalist blues-rock from 2 dudes from Akron, Ohio that will make you wish you played guitar. Attack and Release sees the band fleshing out their sound with more texture and space as opposed to the blast of distortion that dominated their early music. Adding Gnarls Barkley mastermind Danger Mouse as the producer was a genius move and his hazy production elevates the Black Keys into new territory. A band that seemed so restricted by its 2 instrument delivery now seems like it has unlimited potential. Check out the song “I Got Mine“.
2. Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue
Is it possible for Montreal to continue producing such great bands at such a consistent rate? I was skeptical at first, but after one listen I was sold. Parc Avenue is a shambolic indie masterpiece of an album that takes cues from classic rock and progressive rock, folk and roots. Where this band goes next? I have no idea… but I’m looking forward to it. Check out songs like “Faerie Dance” and”Feedback in the Field” for an idea of the range on this album.
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
What is there to say about this band. If you haven’t listened to them then you have no idea what your in for. The song “White Winter Hymnal” stopped me in my tracks. Upon hearing it I had to immediately had to stop everything and find out more about this band. With nothing but an earlier ‘08 EP, the band is brand new. The music sounds like its from another era and the vocal harmonies are so rich and beautiful it will blow your mind. The band is drawing from a multitude of Folk and Rock influences, but its takes a fresh and direct vocal approach that fills the album with such grandeur that its hard to believe this is a debut album. Like I said, what is there really to say… listen to “White Winter Hymnal” and you should get it.
Thats it! On to 2009. Some notable bands releasing albums next year include:
- Midlake
- Arctic Monkeys
- Superdrag
- Phoenix
- Muse
- Grizzly Bear
- Beirut
- The Strokes
Maybes: Arcade Fire, Wilco, Daft Punk???
Here’s a cool article from RollingStone.com detailing the Black Key’s recent studio experience with producer Danger Mouse:
Suma studios in rural northeast Ohio has an amazing history: In its 1970s heyday, it was the birthplace of both Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” and Pere Ubu’s Dub Housing. More recently, Akron locals the Black Keys settled down there with Gnarls Barkley’s Danger Mouse — the first outside producer that the avant-blues duo has ever worked with.
In the cavernous main room, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney plunks away at a bass while singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach vamps on an electric piano. As the pair lock into an awkward waltz-time figure, Danger Mouse (real name Brian Burton) watches from the control room. “Keep playing it slow, then we’ll reverse it and speed it up,” Danger calls through the control-room microphone. The thus-twisted track is played back; Auerbach bellows, “When you work the streets, darlin’/Make sure your sneaker laces, they get tied” — and suddenly a song appears from what seemed like drowsy noodling.
In early 2007, Danger Mouse began work on a comeback album by rock & roll pioneer Ike Turner. Danger enticed the Keys (”One of my favorite bands,” he says) to write some songs for the project. The Keys turned in demos for Turner to learn, but when sessions bogged down, the project was temporarily shelved. The band eventually decided to make the tunes the heart of its fifth album, and Danger Mouse was the natural choice as producer. “Even when we gave the songs to Ike, they felt like Black Keys songs,” Auerbach says.
The result is the first Black Keys record that rewards headphone scrutiny, with enfolded layers of bass guitar, Moog fizz, bongos and female vocal harmonies (from Jessica Lea Mayfield, a local teenage singer discovered by Auerbach). Danger Mouse’s dusted arrangements and electronic touches are deftly incorporated, while Carney’s drumming sounds awesomely like Ringo Starr. “Same Old Thing” rides a woozy, Wu-Tang-y groove and features flute and bass harmonica from former Tom Waits sideman Ralph Carney, Patrick’s uncle. “Lies,” a song the Keys originally gave to Turner, is a fearsome slow blues perfectly suited to Auerbach’s woolly howl and Carney’s animal-like kit-bashing. “We wanted to make an album whose sounds are as varied as our musical tastes,” says Patrick Carney, whose tour-bus mixtapes run from early Cypress Hill to post-rock pals Six Parts Seven. “We used to record an entire album in fourteen hours,” says Auerbach. “This time we’d spend fourteen hours on one song.”
The finished album plays as an oddball tribute to its inspiration, Turner, who passed away in December. Danger Mouse remains philosophical about how it all turned out. “Hopefully people will get to hear a song or two that was finished from the sessions with Ike,” he says. “But it’s for the best that these songs became Black Keys songs. That’s what they were meant to be.”
Also, check out the bands MySpace page for a listen of their new single from these recording sessions for the upcoming release, Attack and Release.
After just recently starting to listen to The Black Keys (who are kickass) I stumbled across this pretty awesome video for their song “10am Automatic” off of the Rubber Factory album. The video is directed by actor/comedian David Cross and is a spoof of a religious cable access show featuring a bizarre host and an audience of senior citizens. Pretty much mid-sentence the host stops and introduces the Black Keys and a barrage of fuzzed out dirty blues rock takes center stage. Some of the looks from the old people are absolutely hilarious and don’t miss the classic shot of the host taking a double sip of his coffee… Bizarre stuff for sure, but it makes for a unique and pretty memorable video. Check it out:
http://www.theblackkeys.com
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