BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
In a psychedelic, garage rock, boogie-woogie testament to their diversity, The Black Keys delivered an electrifying two hour performance to a sold out crowd at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley Sunday night.
Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach (L-R) of The Black Keys perform Sunday night at the Greek Theatre.
The Akron duo of lead singer/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney presented a Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy career spanning 22 song collection of their hits presented in a highly energetic fashion. Anyone that implies the band isn’t electrifying live is simply out of touch with reality.
Returning to the road after abruptly cancelling their 2024 arena tour due to a costly dispute with their former management, the duo of Auerbach and Carney regrouped by doing what they do best, getting back into the studio and producing another quality studio album, No Rain, No Flowers, their 13th, (set for release this August) to take on the road with them.
Much can be said about the relationship between Auerbach and Carney, but being in the studio for 3 1/2 months straight working on the new album only served to strengthen the bond of a near quarter century collaboration and friendship for the duo, each of which is still in their mid 40’s.
Carney stated in a recent interview: “We have a very strong relationship. I know we’re having more fun now then we were the first ten years of the band.” Auerbach added: “We’re actually able to enjoy ourselves in a way we never were now. We’re really looking forward to playing more shows, and making music.” Carney concluded: “There’s something transportive about music that on your worst day you can put on even the saddest song and somehow it is uplifting. You feel heard. You feel it resonates. It’s a magical thing.”
The Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney performs in concert Sunday night at the Greek Theatre.
Completely eschewing playing any tracks from 2024’s solid Ohio Players album, The Keys still managed to play cuts from ten of their albums, including an elongated opening medley of “Thickfreakness,” “The Breaks,” and “I’ll Be Your Man” from their two earliest albums, released in 2002 and 2003 respectively.
The Black Keys theme of dipping into the wayback machine continued with “Your Touch” from 2006’s Magic Potion as a dramatic curtain opening revealed a a four man rhythm section of musicians to support the bombastic Carney and Auerbach’s screeching guitar, maintaining a thread of the blues throughout the evening.
A tour of the bands deep discography continued with more well known hits as “Howlin’ for You,” “Gold on the Ceiling,” “Fever” and “Wild Child” followed, much to the delight of a highly enthusiastic crowd which was standing through almost the entire show.
Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys jams at The Greek Theatre Sunday.
Auerbach’s bluesy guitar grooves continued to delight thru “I Got Mine,” the funky sway of “Everlasting Light,” and “Next Girl” before the band performed the chaotic “The Night Before,” the first of two tracks from the upcoming album. The soulful boogie would continue, with the nostalgic title track of their upcoming album “No Rain, No Flowers” a few songs later.
Workmanlike renditions of “Heavy Soul” and “She’s Long Gone” concluded the regular set, leading to what seemed like an extended break before the band returned to the stage one final time with “Little Black Submarines” and the encore closer “Lonely Boy,” both from 2011’s El Camino.
The band’s No Rain, No Flowers Tour continues with a show at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Tuesday night before moving further south to San Diego the following day.
