When the Black Keys released their debut album, ‘The Big Come Up,’ on May 14, 2002, it didn’t sound like one of rock’s next big things. It really didn’t sound much like the future of anything, with its bluesy garage stomp so heavily rooted in the past. It’s raw, it’s primitive, it’s low-fi and it’s part of the early-‘00s indie-rock landscape that was grasping for some relevance in a post-millennium age run by machines.
You’ve seen them at parties, lurking in the corner, waiting to engage in battle disguised as conversation. They’re indie rock know-it-alls, and no matter what band or musician you mention, they’ve got an opinion — strong and almost certainly negative — ready to ram down your throat
Founded back in 1968, the Quebec City Summer Festival returns for its 46th annual run on July 4-14. The lineup features a wide variety of top-name acts, among them the Black Keys, Passion Pit, MGMT, Def Leppard, Foreigner, Weezer and the Wu-Tang Clan.
The Black Keys’ 2002 debut, ‘The Big Come Up,’ hit like a smack on the side of the head. Two white kids from Akron with a guitar and basic drum kit channeled old-school bluesmen just as you’d imagine two white kids from Akron with a guitar and basic drum kit would: loudly, sloppily and with enough DIY spirit to overcome the occasional flaws. The next year’s follow-up, ‘Thickfreakness,’ was more of the same. Just louder and sloppier.
What could be cooler than the Black Keys and the Stooges, side by side? That's the concept behind this split 7-inch single from Rhino's Side by Side series, which features contemporary acts (in this case the Black Keys) covering classic tracks by iconic artists (here, the iconic Stooges' 'No Fun'), which appear on the flip side.
The Forecastle Festival is back for its eleventh annual run and will take place from July 12-14 at the scenic Waterfront Park in Louisville, Kent. This year’s lineup showcases the Avett Brothers, the Black Keys, the Flaming Lips, Alabama Shakes and dozens more.
As an official sponsor for Record Store Day, which takes place nationally on April 20 and celebrates the culture surrounding still-standing indie record stores, Warner Bros. are rolling out limited edition vinyl treats from artists like the Black Keys, the Flaming Lips and Tegan and Sara.
The Beale Street Music Festival is back for its 2013 installment, and this year's highly anticipated event is set to take place from May 3-5 at Tom Lee Park in Memphis, Tenn., as part of the Memphis in May International Festival. The lineup has just been announced, and it features the Black Keys, the Flaming Lips, the Roots and many more.
The Black Keys' rise from humble Akron, Ohio, garage duo to Grammy-grabbing, arena-rocking, platinum rock stars has been a gradual one -- with no shortage of headline-worthy moments. In other words, it's perfect fodder for the big scr
The Black Keys rocked the stage at the 2013 Grammy Awards with an upbeat performance of ‘Lonely Boy’ – which won Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance – alongside Dr. John and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
