(Artist Report)

Written by: Jake Beach 

The Black Keys are an American rock duo formed in 2001 in Akron, Ohio, consisting of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums). They began as an independent act, recording music in basements and self-producing their albums, eventually becoming a key part of the 2000s garage rock revival. Blues legends like Junior Kimbrough and R.L. Burnside influence their sound.

After dropping out of college, Auerbach and Carney signed up for the indie label Alive. They released their debut album, The Big Come Up* (2002), which led to a deal with Fat Possum Records. They built a fanbase through extensive touring and frequent album releases, with their third album, Rubber Factory (2004), boosting their profile and leading to a major label deal with Nonesuch Records in 2006.

The band's big break came with the 2010 album Brothers, which won three Grammy Awards and featured the hit single "Tighten Up." Their follow-up album, El Camino (2011), also received critical acclaim, leading to their first arena tour. In 2014, they released Turn Blue, their first number-one album in several countries. After a hiatus, they returned in 2019 with Let's Rock, followed by Delta Kream (2021), Dropout Boogie (2022), and Ohio Players (2024).
Auerbach and Carney, childhood friends, established the band after leaving college. They caught the attention of indie label Alive and released their debut album, The Big Come Up (2002), which led to a contract with Fat Possum Records. Over the following decade, the Black Keys cultivated a loyal underground following through extensive touring of small venues, regular album releases, appearances at music festivals, and licensing their songs widely. Their third album, Rubber Factory (2004), garnered critical acclaim and raised their profile, paving the way for a major label deal with Nonesuch Records in 2006. After self-producing their first four albums in various makeshift studios, they worked with producer Danger Mouse on Attack & Release (2008), marking a new phase in their musical journey.

Their commercial breakthrough came with the 2010 album Brothers, which included the hit single "Tighten Up" and earned three Grammy Awards. The following year, they released El Camino, which received critical praise and reached number two on the Billboard 200, leading to their first arena tour, the El Camino Tour. This album and its popular track "Lonely Boy" won three Grammy Awards. In 2014, they released Turn Blue, their first album to reach number one in the US, Canada, and Australia. After completing the Turn Blue Tour in 2015, they took a break for a few years to focus on side projects and other artists. They made a comeback in 2019 with their ninth album, Let's Rock, and have since released three more studio albums: Delta Kream (2021), featuring hill country blues covers, Dropout Boogie (2022), and Ohio Players (2024).

Guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney met as neighbours in Akron, Ohio, when they were about eight. Both came from musical families—Auerbach is related to guitarist Robert Quine, and Carney is the nephew of saxophonist Ralph Carney. Despite being in different social circles, they became friends in high school, with Auerbach on the soccer team and Carney considered a social outcast. In 1996, motivated by their brothers, they began jamming together, with Auerbach learning guitar and Carney already equipped with a four-track recorder and drum set. After high school, they briefly attended the University of Akron before dropping out.

Auerbach sought to establish himself in the music scene by performing at small bars but realized he needed a demo to book shows in other cities. He enlisted Carney, who provided recording equipment and his basement for the project. When Auerbach's backing band failed to show up, he and Carney jammed together, forming the Black Keys in mid-2001. After reaching out to various record labels, they recorded a six-song demo. They signed with the indie label Alive in 2002.

The band got its name from Alfred McMoore, a friend who referred to their fathers as "black keys" in incoherent messages. They played their first live show on March 20, 2002, in front of just eight people. Their debut album, The Big Come Up, was recorded in Carney's basement and released in May 2002. It featured a mix of original songs and covers, gaining them a cult following and a deal with Fat Possum Records.

Their second album, Thickfreakness, was recorded in a single 14-hour session in December 2002 due to budget constraints. Released on April 8, 2003, it received strong reviews and spawned several singles. The duo toured extensively but faced burnout by year-end, leading to cancelled European dates. Despite comparisons to the White Stripes, the Black Keys continued to carve out their distinct place in the music world.

Auerbach aimed to make a name for himself by performing at local bars but needed a demo to expand his reach. He teamed up with Carney, who offered his basement and recording equipment. After they jammed together, they formed the Black Keys in mid-2001. They recorded a six-song demo and signed with Alive in 2002.

The band's name came from Alfred McMoore, who referred to their fathers as "black keys" in erratic messages. They played their first live show on March 20, 2002, to a small audience of eight. Their debut album, The Big Come Up, was released in May 2002. It mixed original tracks and covers, gaining a cult following and leading to a contract with Fat Possum Records.

Their second album, Thickfreakness, was recorded in one 14-hour session in December 2002 and released on April 8, 2003. It received positive reviews and notable singles. The duo toured extensively but faced fatigue by the end of the year, cancelling European dates while still establishing their unique identity in the music scene despite comparisons to the White Stripes.

In 2007, producer Danger Mouse collaborated with Ike Turner and invited the Black Keys to write songs for a project. However, the collaboration fell apart after Turner passed away in December. The Black Keys transformed their songs into their fifth studio album, Attack & Release, with Danger Mouse as the producer. This marked their first album recorded in a professional studio, released on April 1, 2008, debuting at number 14 on the Billboard 200. Four singles came from the album, including "Strange Times," featured in Grand Theft Auto IV, and "I Got Mine," used as the theme for the Canadian show The Bridge.

On October 17, 2008, the Black Keys opened for Devo in Akron to support Barack Obama. In November, they toured Europe and released the concert video Live at the Crystal Ballroom. By 2009, tensions rose between band members Auerbach and Carney, mainly due to Carney's issues. Auerbach released his solo debut, Keep It Hid, leading Carney to form the indie band Drummer.

Later that year, they reconciled and performed at the 2nd Annual Roots Picnic. In late 2009, they released Blakroc, a collaborative album with various hip-hop artists recorded in Brooklyn. Auerbach mentioned they had been preparing for the project since their teenage years.

In 2010, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys released their sixth album, Brothers, which was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio and produced by Danger Mouse. The lead single, "Tighten Up," topped the Alternative Songs chart for 10 weeks and won the MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video. Brothers debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, selling 1.5 million copies and winning three Grammy Awards.

In 2011, they faced tour cancellations due to exhaustion but released their second single, "Howlin' for You," which reached gold certification. Their seventh album, El Camino, released in 2011 with Danger Mouse, included the lead single "Lonely Boy," which became their biggest hit and won Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song in 2013.

Their eighth studio album, Turn Blue, was released in 2014. It features a more psychedelic rock sound and debuted at number one, earning Grammy nominations. After a brief hiatus following a 2015 festival performance, Auerbach and Carney focused on solo projects.

The Black Keys returned on March 7, 2019, with the single "Lo/Hi. " This was followed by their album "Let's Rock," which included the successful second single "Eagle Birds." They later released Delta Kream, an album of hill country blues covers, on May 14, 2021. This was followed by their eleventh studio album, "Dropout Boogie," on May 13, 2022.
They contributed "No Lovin'" to the compilation album "Tell Everybody!" on August 11, 2023, and their twelfth album, "Ohio Players," is set to be released on April 5, 2024.

My colleagues at Soundwave Music Media and I remain committed to delivering comprehensive rock music reports to our audience. We encourage you to support our initiative by purchasing a Soundwave shirt or hat and engaging with our sponsors. Your support is invaluable as we continue our mission to bring you the best in rock music coverage. Stay tuned for our next update.

ATTENTION ALL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS!

If you're passionate about your music and you're ready to take your career to the next level, you need to reading this. In today's world, getting your music out there isn't just a dream; it's a reality. You don't need a big record label holding you back. You need freedom, control, and the tools to succeed. Soundwave Music Media has a special deal just for you. Use this link and code below to receive  20% off your DistroKid membership. Get your music out there and you maybe the next artist we report on.