The Black Keys have always had respect for the past while firmly entrenching themselves into the future. The duo’s latest offering of guitar-laden indie edginess comes in the form “El Camino” due out Dec. 6th on Nonesuch Records. Produced by Danger Mouse and The Black Keys, the 11-track album was recorded at singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio in the band’s new hometown of Nashville during the spring of 2011.
Akron, Ohio natives Auerback and Patrick Carney of the Black Keys follow in the footsteps of bold individualism set forth by Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders and Devo. Why would the blue collar rubber factory capitol of the world spawn such great music? Is it the dreary mechanized environment of Akron that strikes a creative vein in its citizens who are yearning to break out? No one knows for sure, but the Black Keys find themselves at the apex of the indie rock world. Their last album "Brothers" went gold and generated airplay on commercial radio stations across the country. Many of these so-called radio programmers thought The Black Keys were a new artist, completely oblivious to the band's numerous studio albums that have been released since 2002.
El Camino takes the Black Keys to the next level; One part T-Rex, one part The Cramps and one part Led Zeppelin with a healthy sampling of their own Akron-infused sensibilities. Durng their ten year journey to success, Dan and Pat have never forgotten where they came from. The cover of El Camino is a picture of the orignial road weary van that The Black Keys toured the country in. A fitting reminder of where the Black Keys started and how far they've come.
The Black Keys will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live Dec. 3 with host Steve Buscemi (of Board Walk Empire and Reservoir Dogs). While Dan and Pat are in New York, stops will be made on the Colbert Report and Late Night with David Letterman. Looking forward to an American tour, although European dates take the band through mid February. Official 2012 North American tour kicks off in March. I think Madison is about due for a show this time around. Overture Hall anyone?
Track listing:
Lonely Boy
Dead and Gone
Gold on the Ceiling
Little Black Submarines
Money Maker
Run Right Back
Sister
Hell of a Season
Stop Stop
Nova Baby
Mind Eraser
Lonely Boy
Tour Dates
12/03/2011 New York, NY Saturday Night Live
12/05/2011 New York, NY Webster Hall
12/06/2011 New York, NY Colbert Report
12/07/2011 New York, NY Late Night with David Letterman
12/11/2011 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre - KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas
01/23/2012 Antwerp, Belgium Lotto
01/24/2012 Lille, France Zenith
01/25/12 Paris, France Zenith
01/27/12 Hamburg, Germany Sporthalle
01/28/12 Berlin, Germany Arena
01/30/12 Milan, Italy Alcatraz
01/31/12 Zurich, Switzerland Maag Hall
02/01/12 Eindhoven, Holland Klokgebouw
02/03/12 Nottingham, UK Capital FM Arena
02/04/12 Edinburgh, UK Corn Exchange - SOLD OUT
02/06/12 Manchester, UK O2 Apollo - SOLD OUT
02/07/12 Manchester, UK O2 Apollo
02/09/12 London, UK Alexandra Palace
02/10/12 London, UK Alexandra Palace - SOLD OUT
U.S. Tour
03/06/12 * Portland, ME Cumberland Co. Civic Center
03/07/12 * Boston, MA TD Garden
03/09/12 * Washington, DC Verizon Center
03/10/12 * Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
03/12/12 * New York, NY Madison Square Garden Arena
03/13/12 * Montreal, QC Bell Centre
03/14/12 * Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
03/16/12 * Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse
03/18/12 * Grand Rapids, MI Van Andel Arena
03/19/12 * Chicago, IL United Center
03/20/12 * Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
03/23/12 * Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center
*Arctic Monkeys support
